Professional Development School Initiative
Professional Development Schools (PDS) are collaboratively
planned and implemented partnerships for the academic
and clinical preparation of interns and the continuous
professional development of both school system and institution
of higher education (IHE) faculty. The focus of the PDS
partnership is improved student performance through research-based
teaching and learning.
Maryland Partnership for Teaching and Learning
Professional Development Schools: An Implementation
Manual
PDS Implementation in Baltimore County Public Schools
The BCPS Blueprint for Progress, in alignment with No
Child Left Behind and the Bridge to Excellence
in Public Schools Education Act, indicates the importance
of developing, hiring, training, and retaining highly
qualified teachers in improving the achievement of all
students and in eliminating achievement gaps. The implementation
of PDS partnerships specifically supports the Blueprint
for Progress Performance Goal 3: All students will be
taught by highly qualified teachers. To meet this
goal, the BCPS Master Plan 2003-2008, identifies
the importance of partnerships with institutes of higher
education and calls for “a systemic process for
the delivery of Professional Development Schools that
meet academic and clinical preparation needs of interns
and continuous development of faculties.” The Professional
Development Schools Implementation Protocol ensures
consistent procedures systemwide for the implementation
of PDS partnerships. All BCPS schools along with
their IHE partners are required to follow the Professional
Development Schools Implementation Protocol.
