Partnerships

Professional Development Schools

The College of Education has partnerships with 56 professional development schools in Indiana . A professional development school is an elementary, middle, or high school that works collaboratively with faculty to develop and demonstrate exemplary learning practices, provide field-based preparation for our teacher education students and discover new educational knowledge.

What is a College of Education Professional Development School (PDS)?

A Professional Development School is an elementary, middle, or high school that partners with the College of Education for a mutually beneficial collaboration. The school partners with the College of Education by one or more of the following:

• Provides early field experiences for education students
• Develops learning programs for diverse students
• Demonstrates new understandings and professional responsibilities for experienced educators
• Collaborates with an education faculty member for research purposes  

How can a school become a PDS?

Professional Development School partnerships are based on the Holmes Partnership, of which Purdue's College of Education is a charter member. The Holmes Partnership is a group of universities, public school districts, teacher associations, and local and national organizations focused on improving teaching and learning. In addition to partnering with the College of Education the school must also commit to the Holmes Partnership goals:

• High quality professional preparation
• Simultaneous renewal of public schools and teacher education programs
• Equity, diversity, and cultural competence
• Scholarly inquiry and programs of research
• School and university-based faculty development
• Policy initiation  

What are the benefits of being a PDS?

Participating as a Professional Development School provides:

• Opportunities to participate in action research based on issues that are important to individual schools
• Interactions with students and professors about current evidence-based research practices
• New ideas for improving teaching and learning
• Simultaneous renewal of schools and teacher education
  

Here is a list of our current Professional Development Schools: