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Professional Learning
District 58 began its Professional Learning Program in fall 2019. Students are dismissed at 2 p.m. (grades K-6) and 2:10 p.m. (grades 7-8) on Mondays, which provides all teachers with 1.5 hours of weekly professional learning time.
View the fact sheets and presentations below to learn more about professional learning in District 58.
Overview
The Downers Grove Grade School District 58 Board of Education approved a new professional learning model beginning in 2019-20, which includes early dismissal for students in grades K-8 on Mondays to provide teachers with 1.5 hours of weekly professional development time. To learn more, please see the information below.
District 58 provides certified teachers with 1.5 hours of weekly professional development time. This dedicated time will help teachers implement new curriculum resources, improve their instructional practice, and better provide students with high-quality learning experiences. The District is pleased to offer this opportunity!
There are many answers to this question, including the following reasons:
We want our curriculum to be of the highest quality and implemented with true fidelity. District 58 has adopted new English-Language Arts (2017-18) and Science (2019) curricula, and intends to pursue new resources in Math (2020) and Social Studies (2021) . Our outstanding teachers need dedicated time to learn, implement, reflect upon and master these new resources; the hours they spend mastering the curriculum benefit our children directly. T
Beyond the need for new curricular resources, the Illinois Learning Standards include new and specific instructional strategies and approaches that will provide optimal student learning experiences. Our new professional learning model provides our teachers with the time to fully explore, implement and reflect upon these pedagogical shifts that are critical to our students’ long-term success.
Every Monday, all schools will dismiss students in kindergarten through eighth grade at 2 p.m.
When a Monday holiday occurs, there will be no early dismissal for the week.
Before recommending a shift to this professional learning model, District 58 contacted all known transportation and childcare providers to ensure they could still provide services with the 2 p.m. Monday release. They all indicated they would be able to accommodate the change.
District 58 buses will maintain their same routes with departure times from schools just after 2 p.m.
- Professional Learning Update from the Feb. 10, 2020 Regular Board Meeting
- Professional Learning Plan for 2019-20 presentation from the Feb. 25, 2019 Board Curriculum Workshop
- Professional Learning Model in District 58 presentation from the Feb. 11, 2019 Regular Board Meeting
- Professional Learning in District 58 presentation from the Nov. 12, 2018 Regular Board Meeting