Critical to improving schools is improving professional learning. Learning Forward is a professional organization solely focused on building skills and knowledge of educators. The authors of this text recognize Learning Forward as the nation's largest nonprofit membership association focused solely on ensuring success for all students through effective professional learning and school improvement. It advocates for every educator having access to professional learning that is results-driven, standard-based, and job-embedded. For this reason, the authors utilize the following standards from the Learning Forward association (learningforward.org, 2015), as these standards outline the characteristics of professional learning that leads to effective teaching: