The Institute for Excellence in Education supports area school districts in the design and implementation of innovative and comprehensive professional development programs. A broad range of professional development services assists school districts in promoting the achievement of student learning standards.

These services consist of:

• Regional and site-based workshops and courses (including Dimensions of Learning and Understanding by Design),
  
• Curriculum development projects,
  
• Literacy initiatives (including our highly successful Reading Recovery site),
  
• Content workshops that focus on instructional methods and task designs,
  
• Character Education programs (in support of Project SAVE).

The Institute regularly schedules major regional conferences that feature highly acclaimed educators on topics of local and national interest. In recent years, our speakers have included Grant Wiggins, Eric Jensen, Jay McTighe, Carol Scearce, Tom Lickona, Heidi Hayes-Jacobs and Bernice McCarthy.

The Assessment Consortium continues to provide coordination for the Regional Scoring of the English Language Arts Assessments as well as information and training on the administration and scoring of other state assessments.

The Institute also provides support for the implementation of new State Education Department initiatives such as the Annual Professional Performance Review (APPR) and the Professional Development Plan (PDP).

Serving as the LEA, the Institute has been awarded a number of state and county grants to provide professional development services in the areas of literacy development and social competency. A highly successful Reading Recovery site, serving 4 counties, is housed at the Institute and it includes a "behind the glass" training component.

The Institute collaborates with area Teacher Centers, other BOCES, colleges and universities, and many other vendors of professional development services to offer a comprehensive, state-of-the-art professional development program. Each year, new programs and services are developed in response to district needs, ongoing research and recognized innovations.

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