Representatives from the California School District recently met with a group of leaders from California University of PA’s College of Education and Human Services to begin a professional development school project. The professional development school relationship establishes a close partnership between the School District and University that benefits all stakeholders.

Discussions centered on creating a highly structured early childhood through undergraduate/graduate school learning environment. Two meetings have been conducted where strategic planning began to implement the newly expanded program. In general, there is a sharing of the two environments and personnel for the benefit of the students, staff, faculty, and administration in each setting.

There are plans to share the expertise from each location, provide state-of-the-art teaching methods, determine effectiveness of all components of the environment, and celebrate the successes as they occur. California School District Superintendent Linda Mancini and Dr. Kevin Koury, Dean of the College of Education and Human Services, are leading the effort that is grounded in best practices and research findings about effective teaching and learning at all levels of education. This is being considered as a win-win project for both.