Benefits and Range of Services

Why Choose ASCD for Capacity Building?

• ASCD has been educators' professional learning partner for over 65 years.
• ASCD is the trusted source for educators for translating research to practice through programs, products, and services.
• ASCD’s professional development has always supported the focus on short-term investments for long-term benefits in changing teacher and leader practices that support increased student achievement.

Range of Services

ASCD is committed to providing a range of professional development services to develop educators into local experts in specific instructional and leadership practices.

These services include

• Workshops scheduled at various intervals to teach specific instructional and leadership practices.
• Ongoing follow-up work in targeted schools and classrooms for observation and feedback.
• Facilitation by ASCD Faculty members of meetings with teacher leaders and administrators, with follow-up lessons and classroom visitations focusing on objectives determined by administrators, teacher leaders, or teachers.
• Ongoing follow-up support in setting up demonstration classrooms as models for school and districts.
• Regular meetings involving ASCD Faculty members and district administrators, principals, and other school leaders to assess and reflect on program implementation and progress in achieving the district or school’s student achievement goals and objectives.
• Ongoing follow-up professional development with principals and other administrators to assure support for teachers and teacher leaders in implementing specific instructional practices and to influence changing leadership practices in service to the support.
• Follow-up by ASCD Professional Development Coaches with teacher leaders and administrators to support them in planning, leading, and implementing job-embedded professional development with their colleagues. The work includes the use of books, online products, and practical application tools to support ongoing learning and sustainability.

Professional Development Coaching

ASCD Professional Development Coaches support experienced teacher leaders and administrators in learning how to lead effective school-based professional learning in the areas they are implementing. The work of these coaches focuses on sustainability of instructional and leadership practices to ensure local capacity building. Coaches are also available to conduct professional development audits to assure that professional development plans are aligned with school improvement plans.

Professional Development Planning and Evaluation

ASCD Professional Development staff and Professional Development Coaches work with district, school, regional, or state leaders to develop a professional development plan focused on capacity building and including the five levels of professional development evaluation. This plan includes development of data-gathering tools and processes; ongoing follow-up with leadership to ensure appropriate data are gathered; collaboration with ASCD Regional Program Staff to conduct user focus groups of implementers’ successes, challenges, and follow-up needs; and ongoing work and communication with ASCD Faculty, Regional Program Staff, and district, school, regional, and state leadership to monitor and assure quality implementation.