Guidelines for Reviewing, Approving, and Endorsing Individual Professional Development Plans

Additional Review from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

An educator may appeal a supervisor's decision not to approve or endorse a professional development plan to the Commissioner after seeking any additional review available at the local level (pursuant to 603 CMR 44.04(1)(1)). To initiate such an appeal, the educator must submit a written request to the Commissioner within 30 days of the date on which the plan was rejected at the highest level of local review. The request should include:

1. A copy of the plan,
2. A copy of the educational needs of the district/school,
3. An explanation of how the plan satisfied the requirements of 603 CMR 44.04 (1)(b),
4. The name(s) of any supervisor or administrator who reviewed the plan; and
5. A copy of written explanations for the failure to approve the plan.

The Department may contact the supervisor(s) involved and will consider the reasons given at the local level for the rejection of the plan. The Commissioner or his designee will make a final, independent determination regarding plan approval. The Commissioner will approve a plan if 80% of the proposed PDPs in the plan are consistent with the educational goals of the school and/or district and the plan is designed to enhance the ability of the educator to improve student learning. The Commissioner will apply two standards for approval:

• The proposed activities in the plan are designed to improve student learning.
• The proposed activities in the plan are consistent with and aligned to school and/or district goals.

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Last Updated: January 1, 2001