Patterns of Teacher Professional Development in Florida

Florida Joint Center for CitizenshipOctober, 2008

Patterns of Teacher Professional Development in FloridaProfessional development resources are not

distributed evenly across instructional areasResources appear to be concentrated in areas where a

teaching endorsement requires a specific number of hours of training and in areas that are tested by the FCAT

Between 2004 and 2007, districts reported An average of 1.7 million hours of reading professional

developmentAn average of 1.2 million hours of bilingual

education/ESOL professional developmentBoth of these areas require a teaching endorsement

Patterns of Teacher Professional Development in FloridaBetween 2004 and 2007, districts reported an average

ofOver 500 thousand hours of computer education

professional developmentJust under 300 thousand hours of mathematics

professional developmentAbout 268 thousand hours of language arts professional

developmentAbout 190 thousand hours of science professional

development Reflecting the important relationship between assessment

and professional development, science training increased by more than 47 percent in anticipation of a science FCAT

Only about 79 thousand hours of social studies – which is not assessed – professional development

Professional Development: The Big Picture

Source: Florida Department of Education. Data reflect all professional development reported by districts

Professional Development by Subject

Source: Florida Department of Education. Data reflect all professional development reported by districts