Certification and Licensure

Local Professional Development Committee - Handbook

WHO

Educators who are renewing any certificate or license are required to submit an IPDP. Those educators renewing certificates prior to 2002 may renew under the old guidelines but are required to do so through the LPDC. An Educator's Guide to the renewal process is included in Appendix B.

Educators who possess permanent certificates are not required to develop individual professional development plans for that specific permanent certificate, but are expected to continue to pursue professional development.


WHAT

Professional development is an ongoing, job related training process, which affects knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to district, building, student, and individual goals and needs. Throughout this document and the licensure process the committee will use as a guideline those standards set forth by the National Association for Staff Development. Effective professional development promotes both personal and professional growth for all educators and occurs through a variety of structures and models. Standards set forth by the National Association for Staff Development will be used as guidelines during the certification/licensure process.

Professional development included within an IPDP should reflect: student needs as determined by the teacher and the district, the needs of the community, the district, the building, and the classroom. Professional development should be relevant to current working assignments. Each educator renewing a certificate or license must complete an IPDP, which describes activities that align personal, professional growth objectives with district, building, and student learning goals. Timelines may vary for those renewing certificates under "old" standards or for those upgrading certificates to licenses (See Appendix D).

The completed individual plan will include:
1. A rationale describing the purpose and impact plan.
2. A plan detailing course work, CEUs/LEUs, areas of interest, and/or other activities to be completed for certification/licensure.
3. Evidence of proposed/completed activities and their relation to district goals or student achievement.
4. Reflection upon how individual activities relate to professional growth and development. This should be ongoing and done prior to the final submission.

HOW

The following are suggestions for completing an IPDP.
1. Individual Responsibilities

IT WILL BE THE SOLE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE CERTIFICATE HOLDER TO:
1. Maintain a record of all course work, CEUs/LEUs, and other activities. This may take the form of transcripts, certificates of completion and/or other documentation or verification. Send a copy of all documentation to the building LPDC member.
2. Know the dates of certificate/license renewal and/or upgrade.
3. Notify the LPDC of any needed changes in an IPDP.

Creation of a Professional Development Plan
The following is designed to guide you through the development of your plan.
1. Professional Profile
Describe your past and professional development and your current professional status. How do these relate to your IPDP?

The profile might include your current teaching or administrative assignment experience and related professional experiences.

2. Rationale
What is the rationale?
The rationale should include the reasons for your plan. You should include how you will meet identified district, building, and/or individual goals. See addendum for statement of district and current building goals.

The following questions may help you develop your rationale:
1. What are your specific reasons for learning this material? How do you think you might make sure of it in your classroom?
2. How would you prioritize the reasons from the previous question?
3. How will students benefit from your learning experience? How will you determine this benefit?
4. What special considerations will you face in completing your plan?
5. What will you do to adjust to these special considerations?
6. Thinking ahead, how will you know you have achieved the plan's goals?
Will your evidence support your rationale? It is important that your rationale statement is supported by the information provided as evidence in your final plan submission, prior to renewal.

The Plan

What is the plan?

What will you be doing during the next renewal cycle (4, 5, or 8 years) for professional growth? This plan must be directly linked to your professional growth as it relates to personal, building, and/or district goals.

How do I create this plan?

Establish what your want to learn during this development period. Set your own professional goal.

How do I find or create options to help me achieve this goal?
Explore all avenues. For any one option other than graduate class work, only 90 hours of the same option will be accepted towards the 180 hours. Options may include but are not limited to the following:

Course Work
Committees - textbook, curriculum, North Central
Portfolios Field Studies
Peer Review/observation Classroom Research (action)
Student Teacher TESA Training
Case Studies Improved Methodology
Grant Writing Assessment Techniques
Presentations National Board Certification
Staff Development Published Materials
Unit Development Pathwise Training
Professional Workshops/Conferences Mentor Training/Mentoring Professional Reading
Field Trip Planning & Preparation Teaching college classes/workshops (prep time only)

What are my options?

Option #1:
Accumulate six (6) Semester Hours. Note that renewing a professional certificate would require 12 semester hours or 36 CEUs.
a) Plans, which include course work for semester hours, must be approved by the LPDC.
b) Course work must be taken at an NCATE or ODE accredited college or university.
Verification of Completion? - Transcripts must be shown.

Option #2:
Accumulate eighteen (18) CEUs
a) Plans, which include CEU/LEU activities, must be approved or have been endorsed by the LPDC.
Verification of Completion? - Certificate of completed participation signed by presenter or provider representative.

Option #3:
Accumulate credit for "Other Approved Activities"
a) Plans that include other approved activities must be approved by the LPDC. An estimation of time that will be spent on each activity should be included in the plan.
Verification of Completion? - Documentation must be provided in accordance to the evidence section of the handbook.

Option #4:
Any combination of the first three options equaling the number of hours needed for renewal. These plans must be approved by the LPDC.
Verification of Completion? - Documentation can be provided in accordance to the evidence section of the handbook.

EVIDENCE
Every applicant will demonstrate completion of his or her developed plan through documentation and application of goals prescribed in their plan.

Once the plan has been submitted and approved, begin to collect your evidence as you complete the various parts of your plan over the years. Prior to your final submission, when you are ready to renew your certificate/license, you should gather the evidence you have collected.

Evidence and documentation may include, but are not limited to the following:

Sample lesson plans Developed teaching units
Published Materials Journals
Photographs/video tapes/audio tapes Portfolios
Field study reports Transcripts
Newspaper/magazine articles Letters of commendation
Certificates of attendance (workshops/conferences)

Every applicant will demonstrate completion of his or her development plan in his own area of certificate/license:
1. How does this activity apply to classroom/student/staff/building achievement?
2. In what way does this plan increase your professional growth in your certified area?
3. Does your professional growth plan have impact with your colleagues? If so, how?
4. How did you apply professional growth experience to your area of certification?
5. Have you used your professional growth plan to influence other to improve their practice? If so, how?

REFLECTION

Did you attain your goals/plan? How do you know? These questions are meant to guide your reflection.
1. What strengths have been developed for student learning through your professional growth plan?
2. What strengths have you developed through your professional growth plan?
3. In what ways were your activities/class work effective?
4. How did your plan change?
5. How did this plan enhance student learning?
6. How has this plan affected your future professional goals?
7. What would you change in your plan knowing what you know now?
8. Were there difficulties encountered while completing your plan? If so, what were they?
9. Are there any suggestions of pertinent issues that need to be addressed by district staff development personnel?
10. In what ways has this plan become the vehicle for your continued professional growth?

Examples of plans for various areas of certificate/licensure renewal can be found at IPDP EXAMPLES.

WHEN

Minimally, IPDPs must be on file with the LPDC by the October LPDC meeting, which is typically the third Thursday in October. After review, IPDPs will be returned within five (5) working days. The LPDC will include written notice of the status of the plan.
1. If approved, the committee will notify the individual of the approval.
2. If not approved, a meeting will be scheduled with the applicant and a representative of the LPDC to discuss concerns and options. The applicant may then resubmit the plan with adjustments.
3. If approved on second submission, the individual will be notified of approval.
4. If the second submission is not approved, the individual may make further modifications, meet with the full LPDC or proceed to the appeals process.

Final documentation for renewal is required no later than May 31st in the year the certificate/license expires. Early submissions are encouraged.

There will be a mid-term review by the LPDC to check progress, needed changes and/or additions necessary to achieve the educator's overall goal. The LPDC realizes that an educator's position, goals, and/or focus might change during the renewal process. The committee will be available to review changes as needed. Flexibility is assured throughout the review process.

In the year of renewal, educators will submit a final IPDP for review by the LPDC no later than May 31st. The LPDC will review plans on an individual basis and provide the signatures for required state level documentation. Renewal will be based upon the rigor of the plan, its relation to district goals and student achievement, guidelines set forward by the LPDC, and completion of state requirements. (See Renewal Packet)

WHERE
Each applicant is responsible for maintaining an individual file containing copies of IPDPs and all pertinent materials to support and validate the plan. Copies of all materials need to be submitted to building LPDC members on a periodic basis. Committee members are only responsible for copied materials given to them.