Motivating In-Service Participation

School Administrator, Oct, 1997

What is the motivation for teacher participation in professional development activities?

According to a recent report from the U.S. Department of Education:

* Fifty percent or more of full-time public school teachers participated in professional development during the school year. Topics covered included methods of teaching in their subject field, student assessment and cooperative learning in the classroom.

* Forty-eight percent received released time from teaching, and 41 percent received scheduled time for professional development. Twenty-two percent received none of the available types of support.

* Public schools teachers were more likely to receive professional growth credits and released and scheduled time from teaching than were private school teachers. Private school teachers were more likely to receive tuition and/or fees.

* Teachers in their first three years of teaching were more likely to have participated in a formal teacher induction program than were teachers with four or more years of experience.

Copies of the report, "Teachers' Participation in Professional Development" (NCES 97-926), are available from the National Library of Education by calling toll-free 800-424-1616.