Professional Development School

Professional Development School (PDS) Program

What is the PDS Program?

The Professional Development School (PDS) Partnership connects USCA with local school districts to create a two-way learning relationship.

USCA faculty and teacher candidates work side-by-side with schools to:

Strengthen teaching and learning
Support teacher and leader development
Collaborate on research and school improvement
Build a sustainable educator pipeline

It’s about learning with schools — not just providing services to them.

Our mission

We prepare dynamic, compassionate educators through excellence in teaching, scholarship, and service.
Our programs emphasize:

Active learning and collaboration
Respect for individual differences and responsible citizenship
Research-based instruction infused with technology
Field experiences that prepare candidates to work with all students

Our vision

USCA will be a leader in teacher preparation—producing highly qualified educators who create learning environments where every student can reach their full potential.

Why partner with USCA?

Participating schools receive:

Tailored professional development that aligns with school goals
Targeted coaching and mentoring for teachers
Leadership development for administrators
Opportunities for collaborative school-based research
Access to university expertise and resources
When possible, schools may also host USCA courses or workshops onsite.

How the partnership works

Annual Selection: Districts identify and designate PDS schools for one academic year.
Application: Principals complete a short application highlighting professional learning priorities.
Collaboration: USCA faculty partner with district and school teams to co-develop customized supports.
Renewal: Districts may renew or rotate schools annually to expand participation.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)

Each selected school works with USCA to design a simple MOU that:

Defines goals and focus areas
Outlines professional development plans
Clarifies shared responsibilities

This ensures every partnership is customized and aligned with district and school improvement goals.

Benefits for USCA

The PDS program also helps the university:

Provide authentic, field-based experiences for teacher candidates
Keep programs aligned with the realities of today’s classrooms
Conduct applied research that benefits both schools and higher education

These partnerships keep USCA’s educator preparation relevant, responsive, and connected.

Duration

Each PDS designation lasts one academic year, with the option to renew or rotate among district schools.

Application Process

Principals complete the PDS Application on the USCA School of Education website.
USCA provides all submitted applications to the district for review.
The district selects participating schools for the academic year.
USCA develops an MOU with each selected school to outline goals, supports, and deliverables.

Apply online here