About PDS

KU PDS Program

Download the PDS Recruitment Brochure

Definition

The KUPDS Alliance is a partnership between the University of Kansas School of Education and partner schools. The partnership is a collaboration among professionals in the public schools, university faculty and staff, and KU students designed to enhance education.

University and school personnel work together to identify educational needs and propose solutions. Dialogue on all levels, research on current educational practice, and continual questioning and reflection form the basis for the KUPDS Alliance. Additionally, the partnership allows for supervised experiences for the preparation of prospective teachers and other educational professionals. The Professional Development School provides an environment where research-based instructional practices and programs can be observed and experienced by those preparing for professional careers in education.

Mission

The Alliance is committed to partnering with sites that include the following features:

• PDS sites have a significant number of minority and/or low SES student population.
• PDS site faculty support preservice training, faculty inquiry, and professional development.
• PDS site faculty demonstrate commitment to the goals of the PDS partnership through the establishment of a faculty council that provides continuous monitoring of the PDS work of the site.
• The PDS partnership is committed to activities focused on increased student achievement.
• The university provides a faculty liaison who supports preservice training, inquiry, and professional development at the university. The liaison works with the site faculty council in carrying out PDS activities.

Goals

• To collaboratively initiate, design and implement professional development schools that endorse mutual trust and common interests.
• To provide the best possible environments for student academic learning and professional self-fulfillment.
• To provide opportunities for preservice preparation and career-long professional development of teachers and administrators.
• To collaboratively provide access to knowledge and talent related to student learning and development.
• To conduct collaborative research and development projects to advance theory, research, and practice in public education.
• To collaboratively agree upon research agendas, publishing rights, and dissemination of results.

Contact Us

Questions about the KU PDS Alliance can be directed to Dr. Nancy Peterson (Chair) or Teri Albrecht dtalbracht@att.net (Elementary Chair).