Professional Development

Like medical and legal professionals, educators need and deserve access to continual and high-quality professional education. EDC develops, implements, and evaluates professional development programs for teachers and administrators at every stage of their career growth—from university-based, pre-service programs to continuing education programs integrated into the daily work of experienced teachers. In the U.S., many of our professional development projects focus on helping teachers and administrators deepen their content knowledge through immersion in rigorous challenges and close analysis of student work. Many of our global projects focus on helping educators integrate active learning approaches into more traditional classroom practices. On a broader level, we work to restructure professional development systems by creating "communities of practice" within and among schools.

New York Comprehensive Center (NYCC)

The New York Comprehensive Center (NYCC) is one of 16 regional comprehensive centers that are federally funded to implement the mandates of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB). In doing so, NYCC engages the New York State Education Department in using research-based findings and rigorous evidence. The Center provides technical assistance services to meet the Department’s priority needs and further the key initiatives of the US Department of Education. Additionally, the NYCC works with the State on emerging needs based on new statutes and policy mandates.

New England Comprehensive Center (NECC)

The New England Comprehensive Center (NECC) is one of 16 regional comprehensive centers that are federally funded to implement the mandates of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB). The NECC engages state education leaders in using research and best practice to meet the goals of NCLB. Our purpose is to design and deliver technical assistance services that meet education leaders’ priority needs, further the key initiatives of the U.S. Department of Education, and have the greatest potential for building states’ capacities to help districts and schools improve.

Indonesia Kindergarten Program Expands

Audio lessons are transforming classrooms in Indonesia.

EDC is improving the quality of basic education across Indonesia by training kindergarten teachers to use Interactive Audio Instruction (IAI) .

The Art of Diversity

Integrating the arts into the curriculum enriches the school and the community.

An EDC program that integrates the arts into the curriculum is making school more culturally relevant to students.

Connecting Science and Literacy: A Professional Development Program for Elementary Teachers

CSE, along with literacy consultants from the Tufts University Center for Applied Child Development, are nearing completion of a set of professional development materials to be published by Heinemann Press in the summer of 2009. The Connecting Science and Literacy Program (CSLP) is designed to enhance the understanding of this connection and its relationship to the development of scientific reasoning skills and conceptual understanding.

Media and Digital Design Curriculum

EDC is working with ConnectEd: The California Center for College and Careers, with support from The James Irvine Foundation, to develop a curriculum for career sector academies in California public high schools. This project focuses on the arts, media and entertainment (AME) sector.

New Mexico Reading First Initiative Evaluation

CCT is evaluating New Mexico’s statewide implementation of the Reading First program, the literacy component of the federal No Child Left Behind Act. The primary goal of the New Mexico Reading First (NMRF) initiative is to improve students’ literacy skills by changing how teachers address literacy in grades K–3. New Mexico hopes to improve student achievement in literacy by providing intensive professional development to teachers, helping districts select quality reading programs and materials, engaging in ongoing assessment, and ensuring curriculum coherence across grade levels.

Educational Quality Improvement Program 3: Learning and Earning for Out-of-school Youth (EQUIP3)

The Educational Quality Improvement Program 3 (EQUIP3) is a Leader-with-Associate Award that is designed to improve earning, learning, and skill development opportunities for out-of-school youth in developing countries.

Innovative Technology Experiences for Students and Teachers (ITEST) Learning Resource Center (LRC)

The Innovative Technology Experiences for Students and Teachers (ITEST) program is designed to increase opportunities for students and teachers to learn about and use information technologies within the contexts of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. The program supports both youth-based projects with strong emphases on career and educational paths, and comprehensive projects for students and teachers.

Boston Science Partnership

The Boston Science Partnership is a five-year NSF-funded Math and Science Partnership project designed to improve science teaching and learning in Boston’s middle schools and high schools, to enhance university-level teaching by STEM faculty, and to ensure the university partners’ continued support for and faculty involvement in science education. The Partnership involves the Boston Public Schools, the University of Massachusetts/Boston, and Northeastern University as the principal partners. Harvard Medical School and the College Board participate as supporting partners.