Teacher Professional Development programs are located within each of the three states where CLTW institutions are located. Within each state CLTW will provide in-depth professional development through a combination of on-site and distance education activities to mathematics and science middle and high school teachers at identified high needs schools. The center-wide goal of CLTW Teacher Professional Development is to increase the number of K-12 SMET educators who have current content knowledge in their disciplinary area and who are prepared to implement standards-based instruction and new assessment strategies.

Center professional development activities are unique in their design and implementation within each state, but in general, focus on the following areas:

• Disciplinary content
• Standards-based instruction
• New assessment instruction
• New and appropriate assessment strategies
• Teacher leadership development

Professional Development activities include graduate level coursework in content, pedagogy, and assessment, delivered onsite or via distance delivery; and inquiry teams studying school or district-specific issues. Use of information technology is a cross-linking theme in all CLTW PD activities.

High-need schools are identified by meeting at least 1 of the following criteria:

• A high percentage of low income students
• A high percentage of minority students, including many American Indian and Hispanic students who speak English as a second language
• Below average test scores for all students, or a wide discrepancy in scores, with minority and low income students the “losers”
• Relative lack of access to professional development and other educational resources due to inner city location or rural isolation

	COLORADO – Professional Development in Colorado is coordinated by Nancy Kellogg, in collaboration with Paul Kennedy, CLTW Co-PI at Colorado State University and John Moore, CLTW Co-PI at University of Northern Colorado. Thirty rural schools joined in two consortia located in northeastern Colorado and several urban districts located near Denver are working with CLTW. Click here to learn more about CLTW Professional Development in Colorado.
PORTLAND – Professional Development in Colorado is coordinated by Susan Montag, in collaboration with Mike Cummings, CLTW Co-PI at Portland State University. Six high schools and twelve adjacent middle schools within the Portland Public School District have been identified to work with CLTW.
	MONTANA – Professional Development in Montana is coordinated by Billie J. Brown, in collaboration with Elisabeth Swanson, CLTW PD at Montana State University and Libby Krussel, CLTW Co-PI at University of Montana. Identified schools for work with CLTW Professional Development in the state include 32 rural high schools and 35 rural middle schools located on or near the state’s seven American Indian Reservations.