Unified School

District #333

 

 

Professional

Development Manual

 

 

 

PDC Committee

May 2004



Philosophy

It is the philosophy of the U.S.D. 333 Education Plan that staff development is a combination of education and personal experience, which leads to professional growth of certified staff. The ultimate goal is better learning outcomes for students resulting from the continuous growth of certified personnel.

We believe that learning is a lifelong process and that change is constant. Therefore the goal of the U.S.D. 333 Inservice Plan is to facilitate the professional growth of certified staff members to help them meet individual and institutional needs.

 

 

 

 

Professional Development

Committee Members

 

Mary Lisa Thoman, Co-Chairperson (CES Staff)

 Rachelle Scott, Co-Chairperson (CHS Staff)

Karl Stricker, Vice-Chairperson (USD #333 Admin.)

Sonia Erkenbrack (Lincoln Staff)

Chris Fall (CES Admin.)

Jodi Walters (CES Staff)

Krista Russell (CMS Staff)

Andy Farber (CHS Admin.)

Elisa Gerard (CHS Staff)

Mary Ellen Welshhon (LCNCK Admin.)

Melissae Stiles (LCNCK Staff)

Clo Ann Collette (IDP Secretary)

Jackie Wheeler (PDC Secretary)


THE DISTRICT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL

 

Definition/Purpose

The Local Professional Development Council is a representative group of local certified personnel, which advises the local board of education in matters concerning the planning development, implementation, and operation of the Inservice Education Plan.

 

Composition

The members of the Local Professional Development Council shall be representative of the certified personnel employed by the local district. The membership shall include at least as many teachers as administrators and be selected by the group they represent.

 

Method of Selection

The representatives to the Local Professional Development Council should be selected solely by the group they represent on or before May 1st.

 

Term of Membership

We encourage each member to serve no less than a one‑year and not more than a three‑year term and may not serve succeeding terms. The membership will be on a rotational basis so continuity is maintained.

 

Vacancies

If a member of the committee should leave the employment of the district or resign from the Local Professional Development Council, the vacancy shall be filled according to the selection procedure of the committee.

 

Officers

The officers of the Local Professional Development council shall consist of a Chairperson, a Vice Chairperson and a Secretary/Recorder. All officers will be elected for a term of one year by consensus of the members and shall begin their term at the first meeting in the fall. Vacancies in officer positions will be filled by a majority vote of the Local Professional Development Council. The duties of the officers shall include but not be limited to:

Chairperson:
                        • Calls and conducts all meetings

                        • Calls special meetings as needed

                        • Carries out any other duties as described in this document or as assigned by the

Local Professional Development Council, Superintendent, or local Board of Education. Vice‑Chairperson:

                        • Acts in the absence of the Chairperson

                        • Carries out any other duties as requested by the Chairperson or the Local                                   Professional Development Council

Secretary/Recorder:

                        • Keeps the record/minutes of meetings

                  • Maintains a file in the local district of all the Local Professional Development Council                                   minutes, Individual Development Plans, correspondence, and all other pertinent                                       documents.

Questions, Answers, and Definitions

Abbreviations included in this document:

PDC: Professional Development Committee             SIP: School Improvement Plan

IDP: Individualized Development Plan or Point           NCA: North Central Accreditation

SAP: Salary Advancement Point                                  QPA: Quality Performance Accreditation

KSDE: Kansas State Department of Education         KSBE: Kansas State Board of Education

1.  Are you required to participate in IDPs? Yes. Every teacher will be required to compile a file documenting professional growth in the district and building target areas. Individual targets may also be added. By the end of October of the school year, every teacher must complete an IDP plan. See Individual Development Plan: Information and Approval Form in this manual.

2.  What are my responsibilities? You are responsible for maintaining the documentation of your professional development activities, completing the proper forms on-line, and delivering the documentation to the PDC Committee upon request.

3.  Who do I ask if I have a question about my Individual Development Plan or transcript? Direct your IDP questions to your building PDC member listed in this manual. Direct transcript questions to the IDP Secretary at the District Office.

4.  Who awards Professional Development Points? The final points awarded will be determined by the Professional Development Committee. An updated transcript will then be sent to you annually. To obtain further transcripts, contact the IDP secretary at the District Office.

 

5.  What do inservice points mean? For the most part, inservice points would refer to any activity described in this document related to professional development.  This includes college credit.

 

6.  Which activities qualify for salary advancement points? See the Negotiated Agreement, provided by your building administrator for up‑to‑date information. See also the Individual Development Plan: Information and Approval Form in this manual.

 

7.  Which of my inservice points may be used for licensure renewal? The last five years of inservice points should qualify. The Kansas State Department of Education determines the acceptance of points previous to that date. For further information see the “Questions and Answers” information at the end of this manual.

 

8.  What is the process for licensure renewal using inservice points? Complete the Kansas Certification Form 3 (you must use an original that can be obtained from the district office). Forward Form 3, the Inservice Education Transcript, College transcript(s), and the required payment to the KSBE.

 

9.  What about summer activities? Points will be awarded in the fall for summer inservice activities (which were pre‑approved by the building administrator) in the same manner as other activities completed during the school year. The IDP calendar runs from July 1 through June 30.  IDP points will be applied to the appropriate school year.  If salary advancement points are requested and approved, they are awarded according to the negotiated agreement.


10.  Do my points transfer from one district to another? Inservice points transferred to this district must have been approved by the previous district. Recertification points may be transferred. Salary Advancement Points will start over on the first day in the new district.

 

11.  Do l need to make a copy of any forms I turn in? Yes, all forms should be kept in your own personal file.

 

12.  Who completes the Individual Development Plan: Information and Approval Form? All staff members must complete the Individual Development Plan: Information and Approval Form and do so before any inservice activities can be registered.

 

13.  What are the three levels of implementation? A three-point rubric is used by schools to report progress on staff development goals.

Knowledge:  Teachers know something that was not known before

Application:  Teachers consistently use this knowledge and skill on the job.

Impact:  Student learning is improved and this is demonstrated by appropriate assessments that are aligned with specific improvement targets.

14.  What are the three areas? 

Content:  Ex: about math, social studies, etc. whatever your discipline

Professional:  Ex: workshops about discipline, etc

Service of the Profession:  Ex: PDC workshop, QPA, Site Council

15.  Does College Credit need to be included in my professional plan?  Yes, any college credit earned after September 1, 2003 needs to go through PDC.  1 College Credit = 20 IDP Points. Proof of College Credit is required to be kept in your own personal file as it may be requested by the PDC.  Proof examples include transcript or grade report.

 

16.  Does a person have to be employed by USD 333 to file a Professional Development Plan?  Any person who is employed by or who works or resides within the unified school district is eligible to file a professional development plan with the district PDC for licensure renewal purposes.

17.  When can my license be renewed?    Renewal can be submitted no more than six (6) months prior to expiration.

 

18.  Is Staff Development evaluated by the building in USD 333?  Yes, Staff Development Activity Evaluation Forms are completed by staff.  Data is used to evaluate and plan future inservices.  See page 7 of this manual for a sample evaluation form.

 

19.  What is an Education Inservice Transcript?  See page 6 for a sample of this transcript.

 

20.  I am currently certified. How does all of this affect me?  You will not be affected until you are issued a new license when you apply for your first renewal after July 1, 2003. Eventually, renewal options may change for you and the way you earn points for renewal will change. If you want to add new teaching endorsements or become a school specialist or school leader, you will be completing programs established under the new standards, and content assessments will be required.

 


21.  What happens to my current five‑year certificate?  The first time you renew after July 1, 2003, you will be issued a piece of paper called a license:

        • Same subject endorsements
• Same grade levels
• Same school specialist and administrative endorsements if applicable

 

22.  YOUR CURRENT ENDORSEMENTS WILL NOT BE CONVERTED TO FIT NEW FIELDS!  You will maintain your current levels and endorsements throughout your career unless or until you choose to add additional areas to your license.
You will renew your current certificate under requirements printed on the certificate.
Remember 91‑1‑207 provides for a "phase‑in" period before you must meet new renewal requirements.

 

The first license issued to you after July 1, 2003

will be renewed under new renewal requirements.

 

ALWAYS FOLLOW REQUIREMENTS FOR RENEWAL

PRINTED ON YOUR CERTIFICATE/LICENSE.

 

 

23.  Are renewal requirements the same?  The same total number of credits or credits/professional development points are required, based on level of degree held:

 

Old system – for renewal of
 a certificate issued prior to
Jul 1, 2003

New System - for renewal of a certificate
issued after July 1,2003

Bachelor's degree

8 semester credits or 4
semester credits plus 80
in-service points

160 professional development points, half (80)
 of which are semester credit hours

Master's degree

6 semester credits or 120
inservice points.  Any
combination of credit
hours/points may be used.

120 professional development points no specific
college credit requirement.  Points may be
earned through any combination of college
credit and other activities.

 

24.  What is different?

•   A professional development council must approve all professional development points ‑ including college credit. Everyone must work through a PDC to earn professional development points.

•   Renewal activities must be completed during the term of the license.

•   Renewal can be submitted no more than six months prior to expiration.

•   No "masters plus experience" renewals will be allowed for graduate degrees earned after July 1, 2003.

•   Points for renewal can be earned in any of the following areas:

o  Professional Education Standards (pedagogy)

o  Content Standard

o  Service to the Profession

o  College Credit

•   You may apply college credit without the approval of a PDC only if the credit is part of an approved licensure program for an additional endorsement area.

•   You may renew a professional license by completing the entire National Board Certification assessment process. If you achieve National Board Certification, you may apply for a ten‑year accomplished license


25.  I am currently certified and earned my graduate degree prior to July 1, 2003. Do I still have the two "master's plus experience" options for renewal?  Yes, you are "grand-fathered" by regulation 91‑1‑207. As long as you have not already used both of your "master's plus experience" options for renewal, you may still utilize this "experience only" option for future renewal(s). Remember, you must have 3 years of accredited experience during the license you are renewing to use this option.

26.  What if I move out‑of‑state and let my Kansas license expire?  If your Kansas license has been expired more than five years, but you have been employed in another state at least three out of the last six years in an accredited school under a valid out‑of‑state license, we will issue you a renewal of your Kansas license. The new Kansas license will be valid through the remaining period of your out‑of‑state license (not to exceed five years). You would then complete professional development activities as described in 91‑1‑205 during that time period.

If your Kansas license has been expired less than five years, your only option is to meet professional development requirements. You would be eligible for a standard substitute license while you are earning the points.

 

27.  What if I don't teach out‑of‑state but let my license expire? You would need to complete professional development activities and earn points from a local PDC before you could renew. In the meantime, you could apply for a standard substitute license.

 

28.  What is different about earning professional development points from the way I earned in‑service points?
There is a three‑tier incentive system for points:
           Knowledge level = one point per clock hour basis
           Application level = 2x's the knowledge level points
           Impact level = 3x's the knowledge level points

        Any individual who lives in, works in, or is employed by a local district is eligible to file an individual professional development plan with the local district ‑ under old regulations, only employees of the district could file a plan and earn points. If you cannot get a plan approved by a local PDC, you may appeal to the Licensure Review Committee for approval of a plan.

 

29.  Does this mean that if I live in a different district than the one I am employed in, I can pick and choose with which PDC I work? The intent and expectation of the regulation is that if you are currently employed, you will work with the district in which you are employed. The portion of the regulation that refers to living or working in a local district was written to accommodate educators who are not currently employed, but who want to maintain their license.

 

30.  How do I earn professional development points?

        Develop an individual professional development plan and have it approved by the PDC.

        Complete activities related to your endorsement content fields.

        Complete additional activities in professional education (pedagogy) OR service to the profession.

        The PDC will validate points:

                  Knowledge = 1 point per hour

                  Application = 2x's the knowledge points

                  Impact = 3x's the knowledge points

                  Service to the profession = 1 point per hour

                  Credit hours = 20 points for 1 semester credit

        The PDC will provide a transcript of approved professional development points to submit with your renewal application.


31.  How do I add new teaching endorsements?

        Complete the approved program in the new field.

        Complete a content assessment for the new field.

        Submit the application ‑ license will reflect the new endorsement/levels.

        Provisional teaching endorsement license is available after 50% of the program is complete AND you are hired to teach the new subject AND you already hold a teaching license in another subject at that license level.

 

32.  How do I add school specialist or leadership to my teaching license?  To qualify for a school counselor, library media or reading specialist license, you must hold a valid PROFESSIONAL level teaching license (the five‑year license).

 

        To qualify for a school leadership license, you must have three years of accredited experience in addition to the professional license.

                  1.  Complete the approved program and a graduate degree.

                  2.  Take a content assessment.

                  3.  Apply for a conditional school leadership or school specialist license.

4.  Complete a performance assessment (a one‑year supervised internship while in the specialist or leadership position) during the conditional license period in order to move to the professional school specialist or leadership license.

 

A provisional license is available for school counselor, library media specialist and reading specialist when 50% of the program is completed AND you are hired in that position AND you hold a professional teaching license.

 

33.  I am currently enrolled in a school counselor program. Will I have to take the content assessment and then start out on a conditional license?  If you complete all degree and program requirements, and apply for a school counselor endorsement before September 1, 2003, nothing has changed. We simply add that endorsement to your current certificate/license.

 

Any person applying for a license after September 1, 2003 will have to complete a content assessment either for an initial license or for an added endorsement