What is the SDLC?

SDLC National Initiative:

The SDLCs are a project of the National Staff Development Council (NSDC), an 11,000+ member national organization committed to high levels of learning and performance for all students and staff members. The SDLCs advocate for state and local policies and practices that support outstanding staff development. They guide the work of small, action-oriented groups in communities throughout their states, helping to create schools in which "all students learn at high levels." The first group of SDLCs was in California, Maryland, Missouri, New York, and Texas. There was a second tier of SDLCs in Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, and Louisiana. The initial effort was partially funded by the Edna McConnell Clark Foundation. Since the original 10 states began their work in 1998, other states have joined in utilizing their own resources. Further funding continues to be sought to fund this important work.

MSDLC State Initiative:

MSDLC Overview

In 1998, Missouri received a grant through NSDC from the Edna McConnell Clark Foundation to create a Missouri Staff Development Leadership Council (MSDLC). This one-year grant provided startup funding for the formation of a statewide planning team that designed and implemented an advocacy plan for state and local policies and practices to support outstanding staff development.

Rationale

Research continues to emerge that builds the link between high quality staff development and student achievement. Teachers and school leaders have begun to rely on the rich, continuous growth opportunities that quality staff development can provide. However, in the best sense of collaboration, it is impossible to be the best we can be in isolation. When we bump up against the restrictions of external support and understanding through limits of time, financial resources, human capital and high quality processes, we begin to realize the necessity of creating new ways of supporting our work.

Belief Statement

We believe that the challenge and opportunity of the MSDLC is to collectively advocate for high quality staff development for professional learning. Further, we believe that the message coming from the MSDLC must be framed around the following:

• What high quality professional learning looks like;
• What high quality professional learning can do for student achievement;
• Deep understanding and use of the NSDC Standards;
• A clear definition of a "quality teacher;"
• The issues that are urgently in need of action;
• Evidence of the impact quality staff development can make.

MSDLC Vision

To bring staff development to the forefront and put student growth at the center of all we plan and do. In this context, partnerships will join together with a shared understanding that the need for ongoing professional growth opportunities for all educators must become a local, state and national issue. They will be united partnerships of individuals and organizations that will work collectively to educate policy makers, school boards and educators about what constitutes high quality, effective staff development and, conversely, what does not. The partnerships will work and advocate for local and state involvement in staff development and student learning. The intent of these action-oriented groups will be to influence policies, resources and practices that support outstanding staff development for educators.

MSDLC Mission

To support schools in which all students and adults learn and perform at high levels.

Goals

1.        To create partnerships that will join together with a shared understanding that the need for ongoing professional growth opportunities for all educators must become a local, state and national issue.

2.        These partnerships will work collectively to educate policy makers, school boards and educators about what constitutes high quality, effective staff development, and, conversely, what does not.

3.        These partnerships will work and advocate for local and state involvement in staff development and student learning.