About The Center for Development and Learning

Founded in 1992, the Center for Development and Learning (CDL) is a results-driven 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. CDL specializes in the development and dissemination of leading-edge research, knowledge, and best practices from multiple disciplines that impact teaching and learning. CDL’s mission is to improve the life chances of all children, especially those at high risk, by increasing school success. CDL’s goal is to help all children learn to higher levels and apply their knowledge toward good ends.

CDL believes that:

All children are entitled to a high quality education regardless of race, socioeconomic background, or where they live.
All children can learn and achieve when provided with highly effective teachers and a positive learning environment.
Successful schools continuously invest in building the capacity of teachers and leaders.
The “bottom line” for professional development is that it results in increased student achievement.

CDL employs professionals in the fields of education, psychology, and business. CDL is directed by a volunteer Board of Trustees comprised of business, educational, and civic leaders who share in CDL’s passion for ensuring that every child has an equal opportunity for a solid education. CDL leverages its community impact through thoughtful partnering with organizations such as Xavier University, Cowen Institute at Tulane University, Center for Child Development - University of Louisiana - Lafayette, Georgetown University Center on Health and Education, and the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education at the University of Toronto.

Since its inception, CDL has worked diligently to develop its international network of educational, medical, and teaching and learning experts and to create initiatives that use research-based practices that deliver increased student success. CDL’s programming brings current advances from the fields of medicine, psychology, and education into the classroom and home to assist children, their families, teachers, schools, universities, and the community by:

Delivering comprehensive, scientific research-based professional development for teachers, principals, and other professionals who serve children.
Providing direct services for children and their families through educational evaluations, consultations, and counseling.
Mobilizing public engagement through summits, forums, newsletters, and information-rich website.

During the 2006–2007 school year, CDL provided 1,876 educators
with a combined 3,751 days of professional development.

Who we serve

CDL’s professional development directly benefits teachers, principals, administrators, psychologists, speech/language pathologists, learning specialists, reading and math coaches, counselors, social workers, and parents. CDL’s direct services benefit students, their families, and their teachers.

Primary focus

Standards set the course and assessments provide the benchmarks, but it is teaching that must be improved to make substantial, sustained gains in student achievement. Therefore, CDL’s primary focus is to serve educators (principals, teachers and parents - children’s first teachers) by providing meaningful professional development. CDL utilizes a combination of professional development approaches: institutes, seminars and workshops; site-based coaching, mentoring, and modeling in Pre-K–12 classrooms; and small study groups, individual consultation, and feedback.

Where we are going

CDL plans to establish a Teaching and Learning Center in the Greater New Orleans area. Additionally, plans include the expansion of CDL’s offices and services into additional cities. As CDL continues the carefully planned growth of its services and programs, it will remain focused on its mission of increasing the life-long success of all children.

The funding for CDL’s programs and services is secured through fee for service, contracted services, and through the charitable generosity of local and national individuals, foundations, and corporations. CDL's annual audits show that over 90% of every dollar goes directly to programs and services.

“CDL is one of the few organizations worldwide
working to connect knowledge from the medical,
psychological, educational, and judicial fields
to multiply the benefits to children.”

— Michael Fullan Dean Emeritus
Onatrio Institute for Studies in Education
University of Toronto

To learn more about CDL, contact us.