title: Beyond teacher training: the critical role of professional development in maintaining curriculum fidelity.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine how teacher characteristics affected program fidelity in an impact evaluation study of the Positive Prevention PLUS program, and to propose a comprehensive teacher training and professional development structure to increase program fidelity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Curriculum fidelity logs, lesson observations, and teacher surveys were used to measure teacher characteristics and implementation fidelity including adherence, adaptation, and lesson quality.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with non-health credentialed teachers, credential health education teachers had greater comfort and self-efficacy regarding sex-related instruction. Teacher self-efficacy and comfort were significant predictors of adherence.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Implementation fidelity may be linked to teacher characteristics that can be enhanced during curriculum training. A 2-day teacher training may not adequately address teacher facilitation skills or the maintenance of institutional supports for implementing a program with fidelity and quality. A new model of comprehensive teacher training and support is offered. This new training infrastructure is intended to contribute to the school district's institutionalization of higher-quality comprehensive sexual health education and increase program fidelity.
authors.affiliation: California State University San Bernardino, San Bernardino, California. Electronic address: rlachaus@csusb.edu.
authors.forename: Robert G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: LaChausse
authors.affiliation: San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools Office, San Bernardino, California.
authors.forename: Kim R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Clark
authors.affiliation: Office of Adolescent Health, Washington, DC.
authors.forename: Sabrina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chapple
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002140:California; D003479:Curriculum; D005178:Faculty / Q000592:standards; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007318:Inservice Training / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D016015:Logistic Models; D011247:Pregnancy; D011253:Pregnancy in Adolescence / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012572:School Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards*; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012736:Sex Education / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D013663:Teaching / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D000078329:Workforce
keywords: Comprehensive sexual health education; Fidelity; Professional development; Teen pregnancy prevention