Professional Development Schools (PDSs) are partnerships that offer opportunities for Georgia State University and pre K- 12 schools to join together to foster the evolution of unique sites where school and university have the shared goal of enhancing the education of professionals through a serious commitment to collaboration. PDS partnerships have a four-fold mission:

All institutions involved share the belief that theory and practice are inextricably intertwined. Through collaborative preservice and inservice education, all institutions benefit and are better able to provide the best learning environments for pre K- 12 learners and professional education students.

A Professional Development School partnership is a long-term relationship supported by policy at the university and school district level. The Professional Development School partnership requires a level of commitment to the relationship and the concept of simultaneous renewal.