Professional Learning

Washington adopted a definition and standards for professional learning to guide the preparation and delivery of high quality professional learning for those responsible for planning, facilitating, and sponsoring professional learning.

Definition of Professional Learning

Washington State law, adopted by the Legislature in March 2016, delineates professional learning standards for content, process, and context (HB 1345).

The term "professional learning" means a comprehensive, sustained, job-embedded, and collaborative approach to improving teachers' and principals' effectiveness in raising student achievement. The definition is codified in RCW 28A.415.430.

ESSA defines professional development as activities that are an integral part of school and local educational agency strategies for providing educators…with the knowledge and skills necessary to enable students to succeed in a well-rounded education and to meet the challenging state academic standards; and are sustained (not stand-alone, 1-day, or short-term workshops), intensive, collaborative, job-embedded, data-driven, and classroom-focused. (View ESSA)

Standards for Professional Learning

Standards for professional learning provide guidance on the preparation and delivery of high quality professional learning to those responsible for planning, facilitating, and sponsoring professional learning.

Washington State Standards for Professional Learning align well with those of Learning Forward, a national organization devoted exclusively to advancing professional learning for student success. These standards establish clear expectations for districts, schools, and educational agencies to implement high-quality professional learning.


For a side-by-side look at the Washington and Learning Forward standards, with questions districts might ask of their professional learning strategies, see A Standards for Professional Learning Crosswalk (PDF)

	Content Clear goals and objectives relevant to desired student outcomes that are aligned with state, district, school, and educator goals and priorities (RCW 28A.415.432, 1 a-b).
	Process Based on data analysis and measured to determine that it meets targets; promotes collaboration to achieve identified goals; advances educators’ ability to apply professional learning to specific content; and models good pedagogical practice (RCW 28A.415.432, 2 a-e).
	Context Makes use of relevant resources to meet goals; facilitated by a knowledgeable professional; and designed so that sessions connect and build upon each other for a coherent and useful learning experience for educators (RCW 28A.415.432, 3 a-c).

Resources and Materials

FAQ: The More You Know

• Transforming Professional Learning: Lessons from the Field
• Executive Summary

Resources and materials from Learning Forward

• Learning Forward website
• Overview of Learning Forward Standards for Professional Learning
• Quick Reference Guide: Standards for Professional Learning
• Learning Forward Resources (may require membership)
• Article: Developing a Comprehensive Professional Learning System
• Standards Assessment Inventory (SAI2) Information Packet
• Article: Innovation Configuration Maps
• Article: Guiding District Implementation of Common Core State Standards: Innovation Configuration Maps

Other Research-Based Articles and Information

• Article: David Conley, Building on the Common Core
• Article: Margaret Heritage et al., Fundamentals of Learning, Resource #2
• Article: Ben Jensen et al., Beyond PD: Teacher Professional Learning in High-Performing Systems
• Report: Laurie Calvert, Moving from Compliance to Agency: What Teachers Need to Make Professional Learning Work
• Lessons from Kentucky DOE professional learning project: Seizing the Moment: State Lessons for Transforming Professional Learning

Professional Learning Information from Selected State Departments of Education websites

• Arizona, Professional Learning Resources
• Connecticut, Developing a High-quality Professional Learning System
• Delaware, Professional Learning
• West Virginia, Standards | Professional Learning