Title I Schools: The Student-Based Impact Of Online, On-Demand Professional Development On Educators

Abstract

Title I students remain among the most challenging population for achieving significant gains in academic performance and standardized test scores. This multi-state, quasi-experimental, pre-versus-post study reflects the comparative Title I gains for math and reading scores for teachers participating in an online, on-demand professional development program school-wide versus non-participating Title I in their respective districts as benchmarks. Average Title I gains in reading were 4.8% (p<.001) versus 0.1% (ns) in the non-participating Title I schools. For math scores, non-participating Title I schools in the districts saw a decline of 5.9% (p<.001), while Title I schools participating in the professional development experienced a gain of 7.3% (p<.001). Conclusions are that significant advantages for Title I students are achieved when teachers participate actively in such a high impact, high accessibility professional development program.