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Professional Learning

Collaborative professional development aligned to student learning and standards that prepares, trains, and recruits high-quality teachers, principals, paraprofessionals, and other staff.

Professional learning is a product of both externally provided and job-embedded activities that increase educator knowledge and change instructional practice in ways that support student learning. In California, professional learning opportunities are provided by a variety of entities. The selection of professional learning providers is made at the local level with schools and districts determining the areas of focus based on local needs. Local educational agencies (LEAs) may use the Quality Professional Learning Standards to help them make choices about professional learning that are informed by research.

The California Department of Education (CDE) provides guidance for high quality professional learning programs and administers federal and state programs that support educator excellence and equity. There are several state and federal programs that provide funds for professional learning through allocations and competitive grants.

Below you will find information regarding California professional learning standards, guidance, and programs. Please see the CDE Becoming an Educator web page for information and resources for becoming an educator in California public schools.

Standards and Guidance

Standards and guidance to support educator excellence and equity.

Standards

Educator Professional Standards
Resources related to the performance standards for teachers, administrators, and professional learning systems that are intended to help develop the knowledge, skills, and attitudes needed to increase capacity and improve educator effectiveness.

Quality Professional Learning Standards
Quality professional learning standards identify characteristics of professional learning that are most likely to support educators in building individual and collective capacity to meet professional, school, and student performance expectations.

Classified Staffing Ratio Workgroup
The California Department of Education will convene the Classified Employee Ratio Workgroup outlined in Assembly Bill 1273 External link opens in new window or tab..

Local Control and Accountability Plan Addendum

Title II, Part A Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP) Addendum Criteria & Guidance
Criteria, guidance, and resources for LEAs to meet the provisions of the LCAP Federal Addendum Title II, Part A—Supporting Effective Instruction section.

Educator Equity: LCAP Addendum Criteria & Guidance
Criteria, guidance, and resources for LEAs to meet the provisions of the LCAP Federal Addendum Title I, Part A—Educator Equity section.

Teacher Assignment Monitoring Outcomes
Reports and data about teaching assignment monitoring outcomes disaggregated by subject area, school type, school grade span, teacher credential level, and teacher experience level.

Guidance

Curriculum Area Professional Learning
Professional learning guidance and resources organized by curriculum areas.

Educator Excellence
Information and resources regarding educator excellence aligned to the Greatness by Design report from the Educator Excellence Task Force.

Asset-Based Pedagogies
Guidance and resources for delivering instruction that focuses on the strengths diverse students bring to the classroom.

Supporting LGBTQ+ Students
Instructional guidance, law, and policies for local educational agencies to support Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Questioning (LGBTQ+) students and provide safe learning environments that protect the health and safety of LGBTQ+ students.

Professional Learning Opportunities
The CDE Professional Learning Opportunities database offers a list of in-person and online statewide professional learning opportunities sponsored by the CDE, county offices of education, local educational agencies, and institutions of higher education as well as other not-for-profit agencies.

Educator Evaluation Systems
Information for districts, the general public, and interested parties who wish to learn more about teacher and principal evaluation at the local, state, and national levels.

Peer Assistance and Review
Information for districts, the general public, and interested parties who wish to learn more about the use of the Peer Assistance and Review (PAR) process at the local, state, and national levels.

Questions:   Professional Learning Support Division | PLSD@cde.ca.gov | 916-323-6440 
Last Reviewed: Friday, December 20, 2024
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