A school system's most important asset is its teaching force. And, the most important investment a school board, administrators, and parents can make in a school system is to ensure that teachers continue to learn. Continuous, high-quality professional development is essential to the nation's goal of high standards of learning for every child.

The AFT has long recognized that a research-grounded knowledge base is essential to professional practice.  The ER&D Program was created in 1981 to encourage classroom educators to improve their practice and their students’ performance by becoming users of research.  The American Educational Research Association awarded ER&D its highest honor as an exemplary program that "bridges the gap between research and practice." Beginning with a single course delivered to teachers in three pilot sites, the program has now expanded to include 12 strands that are available to all union constituents—teachers, paraprofessionals, and school-related personnel—in more than 200 locals across the country.

The ER&D Program meets the criteria for "high quality professional development" as defined in the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001. ER&D delivers scientifically based research in a focused, sustained framework that promotes the application of research-validated concepts and strategies. 

"It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge."

Albert Einstein, Charter member of AFT Local 552 Princeton, New Jersey

The demand for new teachers is growing as education changes rapidly and the number of school-age children increases. Education reform is taking place across the country. New federal and state initiatives are encouraging all American schools, teachers and students to strive to be the best in the world. These changes are creating new challenges as well as new opportunities for prospective teachers.

 

For the past two decades, Americans have recognized the growing challenges facing public education and have considered a host of ideas, programs and strategies to enhance teaching and learning in schools. Educators have worked to strengthen their knowledge and skills as part of this national effort to make higher levels of achievement possible for all students.