This handbook is written to help district staff members gain a working knowledge of how to evaluate their professional development programs. The audience includes directors of research and evaluation, professional development, and federal programs, as well as staff in small districts who must perform several functions. We have assumed the reader is involved with a district engaged in systemic standards-based reform, that is, a district that has already adopted academic learning standards and is using student assessments that are well aligned with those standards. We also assumed that the districts professional development efforts are linked to its overall plan for focusing all components of the educational system on helping all students meet higher academic standards.