Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Pledges $2.5 million to Support Planning for DCPS Teacher Professional Development Platform

November 12, 2009 – DC Public Education Fund is pleased to announce that the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has pledged $2.5 million to support the creation of an innovative professional development platform for teachers across the district. The platform will complement DCPS' new school-based personnel assessment system (called IMPACT), providing online support for teachers to target and develop specific areas of their practice, with the ultimate goal of improving student achievement. In contrast to traditional one-size-fits-all models of professional development, this platform will provide educators with a self-directed course of professional development that is individualized and robust. DCPS is engaging teachers in the development of the platform, which is scheduled for soft launch in the 2010-2011 school year.