Supporting teachers in their continual efforts to improve instruction so that each student may achieve at higher levels in the public schools is the mission of professional development. School board members, administrators, and teachers are encouraged to keep this mission clearly in mind when making decisions pertaining to district-level and building-level professional development. Final decisions regarding professional development should support the primary goal of improving instruction to improve learning. This mission has ongoing implications for sustained training in effective classroom practices, authentic instruction, instructional leadership, technology and assessment. (Source: Missouri Professional Development Guidelines for Student Success 2006)