Does Professional Development Predict Teacher Self-Efficacy? Implications for School Psychologists

Teacher self-efficacy influences instructional quality, classroom management, and student outcomes, and has direct implications for school psychologists who design and deliver teacher support systems. This study examined whether hours of professional development (PD) in classroom and behavior management and years of teaching experience predict overall teacher self-efficacy and its three domains: student engagement, instructional strategies, and classroom management. Participants were 194 K–12 teachers from urban, suburban, and rural districts in the Midwest, United States of America. Self-efficacy was measured using the Teachers’ Sense of Efficacy Scale. Hierarchical regression analyses showed that PD hours did not significantly predict any self-efficacy domain whereas years of teaching experience predicted overall self-efficacy, as well as instructional strategies and classroom management efficacy. These findings suggest that the quantity of PD alone may not be sufficient to strengthen efficacy beliefs. For school psychologists, the results highlight the importance of designing PD that is ongoing, collaborative, and targeted to specific skill areas. Recommendations for tailoring PD to different career stages and for integrating self-efficacy support into teacher retention strategies are discussed.