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PD-ECONOMICALLY

By Deb Tuite

As we face hard economic times, finding high quality professional development requires creative and frugal strategies. Forming a cohort (20 or more teachers) with George Mason University’s FAST TRAIN Programs addresses two important concerns of teachers and administrators choosing a professional development program – time and money!

The advantages of forming a GMU cohort are:

• Members receive 20% off in-state tuition as long as the cohort maintains 20 or more participants (out-of-state members pay a $75 surcharge per 3-cr.hr. class)
• No tuition increases for the life of the cohort
• Instruction is on-site at a time and place that is convenient to the members and reflects the majority of the cohort

In Virginia, Loudoun County started a cohort in the fall of 2008 for the ESOL Endorsement/Master’s Degree Program. As a group, they agreed to take one class per semester during the school year and two courses during the summer. The instruction is a hybrid format of both classroom and online experiences.

Congratulations go to the Albemarle/Chesterfield Cohort. They started their ESOL cohort in 2007 and will finish this summer.

Other school divisions and counties are considering forming cohorts for the Certificate Program in Advanced IB Studies.

Teachers who are interested in FAST TRAIN programs but cannot find enough members to form a cohort can still apply to the programs as a regular student.

To find out more about forming a cohort and FAST TRAIN Programs please contact:

Deb Tuite, Outreach Coordinator
FAST TRAIN Programs
George Mason University
703-993-6010
dtuite@gmu.edu