Guidelines for Massachusetts Educators
Section III: Guidelines for School Districts and Educational Collaboratives
44.03 (2) (b)
PDPs may be awarded by, or under the auspices of, the Department, school districts, or educational collaboratives upon an educator's completion of a professional development activity in compliance with Department guidelines.
School districts are required annually to adopt and implement a professional development plan for all principals, teachers, other professional staff employed by the district and school council members. Districts are also required to set forth a budget for professional development within the confines of the foundation budget. The plan should identify specific content to be addressed, including training in the teaching of the curriculum frameworks and other skills required for the implementation of the Education Reform Law, including participatory decision making and parent and community involvement (Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 71, Section 38Q).
The FY00 state budget requires districts to spend at least $125 per student from state aid funds on professional development. These funds may be used for tuition, conference fees, contracted services, stipends, salaries and materials. Districts are responsible for selecting providers of professional development that are of high quality and that address the identified learning needs in the district. Districts also identify the data to be collected on professional growth and on the quality and impact of professional development.
The Education Reform Law also requires school councils to develop annual School Improvement Plans. Schools are required to include professional development for school staff and allocation of professional development funds in the school budget in the School Improvement Plan. In school districts with language minority student populations, the Plan is to address the need for training and skills in second language acquisition and in working with culturally and linguistically diverse student populations (Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 71, Section 59C).
School districts and collaboratives will strengthen the recertification program by offering quality professional development activities that are consistent with the educational needs of the school and district. School districts and collaboratives must support and encourage professional growth by providing professional development that enhances the ability of educators to improve student learning. The Department encourages districts to offer educators at least 10 hours of professional development on a given topic.
School districts and collaboratives may sponsor the professional development options (with the exception of Department-sponsored initiatives) outlined in the previous section. School districts and collaboratives are considered providers and will award the appropriate number of PDPs to educators who have successfully completed a district-sponsored professional development activity. Districts must maintain records of all professional development offerings.
School districts and collaboratives must receive Department of Elementary and Secondary Education approval to offer the equivalent of graduate or upper-level undergraduate courses.
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