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Visible Learning™
Visible Learning MetaX™
Version 1.4 – Updated February 2026

Professional development programs

Overview

  • Influence: Professional development programs
  • Domain: Teacher
  • Sub-Domain: Teacher education
  • Potential to Accelerate Student Achievement: Likely to have positive impact
  • Influence Definition: Professional development relates to courses or interventions aimed to enhance the beliefs, actions, and impact of knowledge of teachers and school leaders. More recently, these programs have been incorporated into many school systems as a full day training during the academic year but can also occur in a variety of formats including: online or in person courses, conferences, workshops, etc.

Evidence

  • Number of meta-analyses: 17
  • Number of studies: 1,112
  • Number of students: 2,330,524
  • Number of effects: 2,729
  • Weighted mean effect size: 0.46
  • Robustness index: 5

Meta-Analyses

Meta-Analyses
Journal Title Author Article Name Year Published Variable Number of Studies Number of Students Number of Effects Effect Size
Dissertation Joslin Inservice teacher education: a meta-analysis of the research 1980 In-service teacher education 137 47,000 902 0.81
Dissertation Harrison Meta-analysis of selected studies of staff development 1980 Staff development 47 NA 47 0.80
Educational Leadership Wade What Makes a Difference in Inservice Teacher Education? A Meta-Analysis of Research 1985 In-service teacher education on achievement 91 NA 715 0.37
Dissertation Hacke Meta-analysis comparing student outcomes for National Board certified teachers and non-National Board certified teachers. 2010 NBC vs. Non NBC teachers 21 1,989,761 21 0.09
Dissertation Adkins The impact of K-12 professional development programs on student learning: A meta-analysis approach 2006 PD on student outcomes 25 111,151 25 0.34
Book Curlette, Hendrick, Ogletree. Benson, & Granville Student achievement from anchor action research studies in high-needs, urban professional development schools: A meta- analysis 2014 Professional development schools 14 NA 14 0.46
Report Timperley, Wilson, Barrar, & Fung Teacher professional learning and development: Best evidence synthesis iteration 2007 PD on student outcomes 227 NA 183 0.65
Conference paper Yoon, Duncan, Lee & Shapley The effects of teachers' professional development on student achievement: Findings from a systematic review of evidence. 2008 PD on student outcomes 9 NA 9 0.54
Report Haystead Meta-analytic synthesis of studies conducted at Marzano Research Laboratory on instructional strategies 2009 Teacher action research studies 329 7,872 329 0.36
Conference paper Blank & de las Alas The Effects of Teacher Professional Development on Gains in Student Achievement: How Meta Analysis Provides Scientific Evidence Useful to Education Leaders 2009 PD in student outcomes 16 1,063 21 0.21
Book Lomos, Hofman, & Bosker Professional communities and student achievement–a meta-analysis 2011 Professional communities on student outcomes 5 NA 5 0.25
Dissertation Davis A Meta-Analysis of School-Based Problem-Solving Consultation Outcomes: A Review form 1986-2009 2012 Expert works with teacher in problem solving 19 NA 205 0.42
Dissertation Rains The impact of school-wide professional development on student achievement: a meta-analysis from an effective schools perspective. 2015 PD on student outcomes 10 157,000 10 0.21
Dissertation Patrick Meta-analysis of dissertation research on the relationship between professional learning community implementation and student achievement 2013 Professional communities on student outcomes 21 NA 47 0.10
Journal of Research on Educational Effectiveness Villares, Frain, Brigman, Webb, & Peluso Teacher professional development and student reading achievement: A meta-analytic review of the effects.  2012 PL on reading 28 16,677 79 0.18
Report Morina, Fütterer, Hübner, Zitzmann, & Fischer Effects of Online Teacher Professional Development on the Teacher, Classroom, and Student Level: A Meta-Analysis 2024 Online PD on student outcomes 85 NA 85 0.21
Report Sims, Fletcher-Wood, O'Mara-Eves, Cottingham, Stansfield, van Herwegen, & Anders What are the characteristics of effective teacher professional development? A systematic review and meta-analysis 2021 PD 28 NA 32 0.05
TOTAL/AVERAGE 1,112 2,330,524 2,729 0.36
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