Although many participants view staff development activities as a way to earn necessary credit for certification, true staff development goes far beyond the acquisition of Staff Development Units (SDUs).

The National Staff Development Council has developed 12 standards (reduced from an original 27) that reflect what NSDC and the broader staff development community have learned about professional learning since the creation of the original standards in 1995. Like the original standards, the 12 revised ones are divided into the categories of context, process, and content.

The revision of the standards was guided by three questions:

	What are all students expected to know and be able to do?
	What must teachers know and do in order to ensure student success?
	Where must staff development focus to meet both goals?

The standards provide a blueprint for the design of quality staff development, ensuring that educators acquire the necessary knowledge and skills. The 12 standards reflect NSDC's belief that staff development must be "results-driven, standards-based, and job-embedded".