The purpose of this project, funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs, is to develop, field-test and disseminate pre-service and in-service core courses and training modules that can be infused into existing teacher and administrator training programs. It is based on the premise, stated by Field (1998), that self-determination is important for educators because:

• self-determination skills are essential to designing and implementing effective instruction,
• self-determination skills are critical to effectively participate in the school improvement process,
• to learn self-determination skills, students need self-determined role models,
• students self-determination is enhanced when educators share a strong, philosophical foundation about the need to promote self-determination throughout the culture of the school, and
• self-determined teachers make a positive difference in the climate, morale and synergy within a school.

This project addresses the need to (a) increase the ability of teachers and administrators to promote student self-determination and (b) increase educators' own levels of self-determination. We believe that self-determination is central to reflective practice and to increasing retention and decreasing burn-out among educators.

For more information about this project, please send e-mail to sdtalk@wayne.edu or write to Dr. Sharon Field, Wayne State University, 469 College of Education, Detroit, MI 48202.

*Here are the members of the National Panel