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Contact: Meg Grant
210.558.1902
mgrant@edvanceresearch.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 13, 2007

REL Southwest reviews Evidence on How Teacher Professional Development affects Student Achievement

San Antonio The Regional Educational Laboratory Southwest (REL Southwest), run by Edvance Research (formerly run by SEDL), has released research that provides education professionals and policymakers with key findings from an examination of more than 1,300 studies identified as potentially addressing the effect of teacher professional development on student achievement. Noteworthy findings include:

• Only nine (9) of the 1,300 studies examined in three key content areas (mathematics, science and reading and English/language arts met What Works Clearinghouse evidence standards.
• Teachers who receive substantial professional development an average of 49 hours in the nine studies can boost their students achievement by 21 percentile points.
• Studies that had more than 14 hours of professional development showed a positive and significant effect on student achievement from professional development.

Dr. Phyllis Hudecki, Executive Director of the Oklahoma Business and Education Coalition, states Although professional development has long been considered a key component in improving instruction, we really know very little about the actual relationship between professional development and improving student achievement.

Demonstrating the affect of teacher professional development on student achievement is difficult. This research report illustrates that future studies of the effect of professional development on both teachers and students would be particularly useful.

Hudecki added This study is a real eye-opener and gives us a valuable tool to guide our thinking about future investments in professional development. It should cause us pose the simple question: Will this professional development strategy result in improved student achievement? This will put the focus where it belongs and help target scarce resources in the right direction.

The comprehensive research report may be accessed through the link: http://ies.ed.gov/ncee/edlabs/projects/project.asp?id=70

REL Southwest, at Edvance Research, is one of ten educational laboratories in the Regional Educational Laboratory Network (REL Network). REL Southwest serves the states of Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas and works for the benefit of over 6.5 million students, over 400,000 teachers in approximately 14,000 schools in grades pre-kindergarten through college in this five-state region.  The REL Network encompasses ten geographical regions that span the nation with its primary mission being to serve the educational needs of designated regions. The REL Network uses applied research, development, dissemination, and training and technical assistance to bring the latest and best research and proven practices into school improvement efforts. http://edlabs.ed.gov/RELSouthwest

Educators in the southwest region may obtain technical assistance through the REL Reference Desk by calling 1-877-EDVANCE   (1-877-338-2623) or e-mailing RELinfo@edvanceresearch.com

Founded in 2005, Edvance Research, Inc. is a research enterprise with a mission to be a leader in the advancement of rigorous research, specializing in the education arena. The company is headquartered in San Antonio, Texas. www.edvanceresearch.com