A Descriptive Study of the Teacher Center Movement in American Education.

This six-chapter study provides a summary of active programs that aim towards professional development of educational personnel, and it generates attributes of programs of professional development that would distinguish teacher centers from other types of programs. Chapter one provides information regarding the historical background of teacher centers, in-service programs in other countries, and origins of the teacher center concept. Chapter two presents the following information: a) the conceptual base on which the three populations were developed and the sampling procedures used in each case, b) the processes used for the development of the instrument, c) data collection procedures, and d) plans for the analysis of the data. Chapters three through six discuss demography, nature of programs, administration and governance, and finance. Chapter seven highlights the important findings to provide helpful information for future program development. The authors conclude that children should continue to be the primary focus of teacher centers and that the centers should be evaluated by measuring their impact on the lives of children. A 19-item bibliography is included, and complete data returns are appended. (PD)