College of education
Professional Development Schools (PDS)
About the Indiana State University Professional Development Schools Partnership
Rebecca W. Libler, Director
Professional Development Schools and Office of Educational Outreach
Indiana State University's Professional Development Schools (ISU PDS) program is a collaborative effort between the University and five area school districts. It is currently made up of 20 public schools and Indiana State University. Through this partnership students, teachers, and administrators of the schools and the University have come together to enhance education and training at all levels for over 10 years.
The Indiana State University Professional Development Schools program is shaped by the diversity of the students, schools, and school districts involved. In 1992, the program began with 10 schools (five elementary, one middle, and four high schools) in four school districts in west central Indiana. In 1994-1995, five public schools in Indianapolis were added. These rural and urban sites cover all grade levels and include high percentages of students living in poverty. The urban sites, in particular, offer preservice teacher education students many opportunities to work with children and youth of highly diverse cultural backgrounds. In 1997, one middle school joined the program. In 2000, four more elementary schools were added bringing the total to 20 members schools.
The partnership is guided by the administrative council composed of the five district superintendents, the dean of the School of Education, and the partnership director who serves as an associate dean in the School of Education. The Administrative Council establishes policies for the partnership and operates under a formal contract of agreement approved by the University Board of Trustees and the school boards of the five partner districts. Operation of the partnership is coordinated by the PDS steering committee, which is composed of representatives from each of the PDS sites and the educator programs within the University.
In brief, this Partnership is not an experiment conducted by a limited number of university faculty in selected classrooms. Instead, it is a partnership of significant proportions. In any given semester the Partnership touches the lives of over 14,500 children and youth, 950 professional educators in 20 schools, 60 University faculty, and 850 pre-service teacher education candidates. And it is a Partnership of significant proportions in enhancing the learning of children and youth, as well as those who teach them.