What process is designed to provide teachers the tools they need to improve their teaching?

Professional development is the process aimed at equipping teachers with the necessary tools and skills to enhance their teaching practice. This encompasses a variety of activities, including workshops, training sessions, coaching, and collaborative learning experiences that focus on improving instructional strategies, classroom management, and student engagement techniques.

Through professional development, educators are encouraged to reflect on their teaching, adopt new methodologies, and stay abreast of the latest educational research and innovations. This continuous process helps teachers to not only develop subject-matter expertise but also to adapt to changing educational standards and the diverse needs of their students.

In contrast to the other options, which focus on different aspects of the educational experience, professional development is specifically targeted at the growth and improvement of teaching practices. Formative evaluation, while also important, primarily serves as a tool for assessing and informing ongoing learning rather than providing a structured framework for teacher growth. Summative assessments focus on measuring student learning at the end of an instructional period and do not directly enhance teaching skills. Teacher advancement typically refers to career progression and does not inherently include the developmental tools and support that professional development offers.