Professional learning focuses on equitable access, opportunities, and outcomes for all students, with an emphasis on addressing achievement and opportunity disparities between student groups. Quality professional learning increases educators’ capacity to improve learning outcomes for all students, focusing on those with special needs; those with cultural, racial, and linguistic differences; those from disadvantaged socioeconomic backgrounds; and those in foster care. Professional learning helps educators develop equitable and inclusive policies and align them with implemented practices. Quality professional learning facilitates safe, fair, and respectful school environments for all students and improves educators’ understanding of the cultural, intellectual, social, emotional, and physical needs of each learner.

Professional learning reflects evidence-based approaches, recognizing that focused, sustained learning enables educators to acquire, implement, and assess improved practices. Quality professional learning is purposeful, focused, and sustained over time. Quality professional learning provides many opportunities for educators to analyze their practice and apply new learning. Quality professional learning is relevant—building on the skills, knowledge, and learning needs of educators across career stages, grade levels, assignments, and contexts. Quality professional learning employs diverse, research-based learning designs, with an emphasis on the active engagement of educators.

Quality professional learning facilitates the development of a shared purpose for student learning and collective responsibility for achieving it. Quality professional learning builds a culture of collaboration and mutual trust by facilitating opportunities for educators to work together to strengthen their practice and improve student learning. Quality professional learning builds the capacity of educators to commit to shared ownership and accountability for effective professional practice and student learning. Quality professional learning includes external collaborations that provide effective options for educators with diverse experiences and needs to improve their practice.

Educators and counselors meet across disciplines and school levels, at times with college stakeholders and industry partners, with a focus on vertical alignment and understanding of the STEAM related knowledge and skills students need as they progress through the system.