| The School Board of Polk County |
| Bylaws & Policies |
| Unless a specific policy has been amended and the date the policy was revised is noted at the bottom of that policy, the bylaws and policies of The School Board of Polk County were adopted on November 12, 2013 and were in effect beginning November 12, 2013. |
1242 - PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Pursuant to State law, the School District will work collaboratively with the Florida Department of Education (FLDOE), public postsecondary institutions, State education foundations, consortia, and professional organizations in Florida to maintain a coordinated system of professional development. The purpose of the system is to increase student achievement, enhance classroom instructional strategies that promote rigor and relevance throughout the curriculum, and prepare students for continuing education in the workforce.
The District's comprehensive professional development plan will incorporate school improvement plans, and will align with the Florida Professional Development System Evaluation Protocol Standards, which support the framework for standards adopted by Learning Forward. Furthermore, the results of the performance evaluations of administrators conducted pursuant to State law and Board Policy 1220 will be used when identifying the areas for which professional development is needed.
As required by State law, the District's comprehensive professional development plan will be updated by September 1st annually. Any substantial revisions to the District's plan will be submitted to the FLDOE for their review for continued approval. The Superintendent will annually recommend for the School Board's consideration and adoption of the updated comprehensive professional development plan, so that verification of the adoption can be submitted to the Commissioner of Education not later than October 1st of each year.
The Board will provide funding for professional development as required by State law and the General Appropriations Act and will authorize expenditures from other sources to continuously strengthen the District's system of professional development. The plan will also provide for training for each teacher who will use materials that were purchased with funds allocated by the State for instructional materials, provide in-service credit for the training, and document satisfactory completion of the training by each teacher.
The in-service activities for administrators shall focus on analysis of student achievement data ongoing formal and informal assessments of student achievement, identification and use of enhanced and differentiated instructional strategies that emphasize rigor, relevance, and reading in the content areas, enhancement of subject content expertise, integrated use of classroom technology that enhances teaching and learning, classroom management, parent involvement, and school safety. Additionally, the District shall make available, on a space available basis, in-service activities to administrators of nonpublic schools in the District on a fee basis not to exceed the cost of the activity per all participants.
The Superintendent shall establish and maintain an individual professional development plan for each administrator assigned to the school as a seamless component to the school improvement plans developed pursuant to State law. The individual professional development plan established by the Superintendent shall:
| A. | define the in-service objectives and specific measurable improvements expected in student performance as a result of the in-service activity; | |
| B. | include an evaluation component that determines the effectiveness of the professional development plan; | |
| C. | include in-service activities for school administrative personnel that address updated skills necessary for instructional leadership and effective school management; | |
| D. | provide for systematic consultation with regional and State personnel designated to provide technical assistance and evaluation of local professional development programs; | |
| E. | provide for delivery of professional development by distance learning and other technology-based delivery systems to reach more educators at lower costs; | |
| F. | provide for the continuous evaluation of the quality and effectiveness of professional development programs in order to eliminate ineffective programs and strategies and to expand effective ones. Evaluations must consider the impact of such activities on the performance of participating educators and their students' achievement and behavior. |
By July 1st of each year, and prior to the release of funds for instructional materials, pursuant to statutory requirements, the Superintendent will certify to the Commissioner of Education that the Board has approved a comprehensive professional development plan that requires fidelity of implementation of instructional materials that are in the first two (2) years of the adoption cycle. The report will also include verification that the training was provided.
The Superintendent will annually report to the Board on the implementation of the plan.
F.S. 1001.42, 1011.62, 1011.67, 1012.22, 1012.34, 1012.98, 1012.985, 1012.986
Revised 9/9/16© Neola 2015