Empowering Candidates Through Evidence-First™ Professional Learning

Professional learning is most effective when it addresses actual needs rather than assumptions.

Educator preparation programs invest significant time and resources in supporting candidate growth through coursework, field experiences, mentoring, and professional development. Yet one common challenge remains: determining which supports candidates need most and ensuring those supports are making a measurable difference.

Valid and reliable assessment data provide a powerful solution. When professional learning is informed by candidate performance data, programs can move beyond one-size-fits-all support and create targeted learning experiences that address specific areas for growth.

The EPiC™ Key Assessment and Support Dashboard helps educator preparation programs connect assessment results directly to professional learning opportunities, creating a more intentional and effective approach to candidate development.

Using Evidence-First Assessment Data to Guide Professional Learning

Professional learning should be driven by evidence, not intuition.

Because the EPiC™ Key Assessment uses Evidence-First™ scoring, candidate performance is grounded in specific, observable instructional practices known as scoring factors. These scoring factors allow faculty to identify not only overall strengths and weaknesses but also the specific evidence markers contributing to those results.

For example, a program may discover that candidates consistently perform at the partially effective level relating to Domain category 4-A: Articulating Learning Expectations. A deep dive into the scoring factors and evidence markers in this rubric reveals that a high percentage of candidates limit students' exposure to the learning expectations by indirectly sharing the lesson objective with students (e.g., posted on the board, printed on worksheets).  Rather than assuming additional support is needed across multiple areas, faculty can focus professional learning efforts specifically on articulation strategies that connect students directly to the learning objective (e.g., having students collaborate to confirm the lesson objective and having both the teacher and students reference the learning objective throughout the lesson). 

By examining assessment results across cohorts, certification pathways, or program areas, educator preparation programs can become more introspective by identifying specific patterns that inform more strategic professional learning decisions.

Delivering and Measuring Targeted Professional Learning

Once areas for growth have been identified, the next step is providing meaningful opportunities for improvement.

The EPiC Support Dashboard includes access to online professional learning resources that can be aligned directly to candidate needs. Practice Modules and PD Bytes™ provide flexible learning opportunities that reinforce key instructional practices measured within the EPiC Key Assessment.

Because these resources are connected to specific areas of candidate performance, professional learning becomes more relevant and actionable. Candidates receive support that directly relates to the instructional practices they are working to strengthen rather than participating in generic professional development experiences. This targeted approach helps candidates focus their efforts while allowing faculty to provide consistent support across placements and supervisors.

Just as important, professional learning should not end when a module is completed. The EPiC Support Dashboard allows programs to track participation in professional learning activities alongside candidate performance data. Faculty can monitor completion rates, examine trends over time, and evaluate whether targeted supports are contributing to improved assessment outcomes.

From Data to Candidate Success

Assessment data is most valuable when it helps candidates improve their practice.

By connecting assessment results, professional learning opportunities, and ongoing performance monitoring, educator preparation programs can create a more personalized approach to candidate development. The EPiC Key Assessment and Support Dashboard makes it easier to identify needs, deliver targeted support, and monitor growth over time.

When professional learning is guided by valid and reliable evidence, programs can provide candidates with the right support at the right time—strengthening instructional practice, improving outcomes, and building a culture of continuous growth.