What Professional Learning Programs Does ASCD Offer?

ASCD offers professional learning through two named programs plus a broader resource library: the Instructional Leader Certification Program, the ISTE+ASCD Learning Academy, and curated AI/ChatGPT resources developed with ISTE. All three are aimed at practicing educators and instructional leaders rather than pre-service students, and the site describes the overall catalog as "practical, timely, affordable professional learning."

Instructional Leader Certification Program

This is the most structured offering. ASCD describes it as a "new competency-based program" that "focuses on five key areas that will elevate instruction and improve student outcomes."

What that means in practice:

• Format: competency-based, so progress is tied to demonstrating skills rather than seat time.
• Audience: instructional leaders — coaches, department heads, and administrators who support teachers.
• Scope: five key areas, though the site does not name them individually on the pages reviewed here.

If your goal is a credential you can point to, this is the program to look at first. If you want open-ended self-study, the other two options below fit better.

ISTE+ASCD Learning Academy

The Learning Academy is a joint product of ASCD and ISTE (International Society for Technology in Education). It appears alongside the membership messaging — "Discover all the Benefits of an ISTE+ASCD Membership" — which suggests access is tied to that combined membership rather than sold as a standalone course.

The site does not publish the Academy's course list, pricing, or completion requirements in the material reviewed here. To confirm what's included and what it costs, check the Learning Academy page directly or contact ASCD, since membership terms and pricing are not stated on the pages available.

AI and ChatGPT Resources

ASCD and ISTE jointly maintain a curated set of resources for navigating AI in schools. The site's framing: "Dive deeper into AI and learn how to navigate ChatGPT in schools with curated resources and tools from ASCD and ISTE."

This is a resource collection, not a certification track. It suits educators who need practical guidance on AI tools now and don't want to commit to a multi-session program.

How the Options Compare

Choosing Between Them

• Want a formal credential? Start with the Instructional Leader Certification Program.
• Already an ISTE+ASCD member, or planning to join? Check the Learning Academy first — it may already be included in what you're paying for.
• Need something on AI this term? Go straight to the AI/ChatGPT resource collection; it requires no program enrollment.

One caveat worth stating plainly: the pages reviewed here confirm what these programs are, not what they cost or how long they take. Pricing signals on the site point only to a "subscribe" action, and no pricing links or payment details appear. Treat cost and time commitment as open questions until you verify them with ASCD directly.

Beyond the Named Programs

ASCD's professional learning also runs through its publishing arm and free content:

• Books and quick reference guides on topics including assessment and grading, classroom management, curriculum design, differentiated instruction, and instructional coaching. Current listings run from $14.95 for quick reference guides to $41.95 for full titles, with several marked as preorders and some flagged as member books.
• Newsletters — "timely, solution-oriented articles and resources" tailored by role, available via subscription.
• Articles covering student engagement, instructional leadership, and coaching, published on a roughly weekly cadence.

For many educators, this layer is the practical starting point: it's low-commitment, topic-specific, and doesn't require enrollment in a formal program.