Focusing on the Professional Development of Urban Educators: The Dilemma of Opportunities To Change Teachers' Beliefs about Urban Learners.

The Urban Learner Framework (ULF), developed by the Urban Education (UE) Project at Research for Better Schools, focuses on the teaching and learning requirements of urban students as the core of systemic education reform. The purpose of this paper is fourfold: first, to describe the ULF; second, to share experiences encountered when introducing the ULF knowledge base to a school district by describing a staff development program and reviewing a study of it; third, to analyze the dilemmas encountered in implementing the ULF knowledge base--especially those related to teachers' beliefs; and fourth, to suggest issues and questions requiring further research and investigation. The document is organized into the following sections: (1) a rationale for urban-focused restructuring; (2) new mind sets on culture and intelligence: the foundation of the ULF; (3) the ULF knowledge base; (4) the ULF staff development program in a Mid-Atlantic region school district; (5) training follow-up; (6) a study of the ULF staff development program; (7) study results; (8) discussions; and (9) issues for further investigation. The study results section examines: the overview program: a shift in perspective; Theme 1: cultural diversity and learning; Theme 2: unrecognized abilities and underdeveloped potential; Theme 3: enhancing ability development through motivation and effort; Theme 4: resilience; change; challenges to teachers' beliefs; and the efficacy to make needed changes. (Contains 51 references.) (LL)