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State Report Card
Professional Development
WHAT YOU ARE LOOKING AT This table shows how much each of the state’s school districts has spent on professional development – training for the professional staff – both averaged over the past three school years and in the most recent school year (2002-03). The expenditures are listed as per-pupil expenditures; the districts are ranked by average per-pupil expenditure over the past three years. The table also give a snapshot of student performance: percent proficient on three selected subtests from among the state assessments, one at each school level (elementary, middle, and high school). Note that not all districts have schools at all three levels. Finally, this table shows teacher mobility –
what percentage of teachers have been teaching in their building
for three years or fewer. WHAT YOU ARE LOOKING FOR You are looking to see not just how much districts are spending on training their teachers, but also to see whether this training is producing results. We would hope and expect that an investment in professional development would lead to improved student achievement. The percent of students who reached proficiency on selected tests is just a snapshot of student achievement. The table does not show whether the schools in each district are improving, nor does it take into account the differences in populations within each district. Some districts have much higher levels of poverty than others. Still, the table gives you a rough sense of the correlation between expenditures and results. Teacher mobility is also a significant factor. Some districts may be spending money to train teachers, but high turnover prevents the investment from taking root and improving the culture of teaching and learning.
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