Highlights of NYSED’s Professional Development Requirement 1

2 Who is required to submit Professional Development? ************ ONLY HOLDERS OF TWO CERTIFICATE TITLES: “Professional” Certificate “Level III” Certificate (TA)

How many PD hours are required? Professional Teaching Certificate holders: – 175 hours every 5 years Level III Teaching Asst. certificate holders: – 75 hours every 5 years 3

When does the Professional Development period begin/end? 4

Professional development period begins the July 1st following the effective date the certificate. Thereafter, PD cycles are July 1st - June 30th NOTE: None of the PD obtained prior to the July 1 st date can count toward the 5-year period beginning July 1 st. 5

What is acceptable Professional Development? (For a guideline of PD activities; see Attachment A) 6

Acceptable Professional Development For public school employees, must be approved as part of professional development plan For others, must be in content area or pedagogy from approved sources: Teacher Centers, colleges, BOCES, public & nonpublic schools, etc. 7

8 Decisions regarding specific content, delivery and providers are authorized by the employing district and should be made within the context of the district’s professional development plan. (Though, pre-approval is not required)

Can mentoring service constitute 100% of the 175 hrs for Professional Teaching Certificate holders? 9

10 Yes. The employing district may choose to permit mentoring hours to count toward the PD obligation. The number of hours awarded for this activity is determined by the district.

11 How do college credits convert for PD hours? 15 PD clock hours are awarded per college credit semester hour (grad or undergrad)

What if an applicant does not teach for a portion of the 5-year PD period? 12

13 If the certificate holder teaches less than 90 days in a NYS School, in any given school year, for any reason, the required hrs are reduced by 10% for each school year.

14 Where does one obtain Professional Development hours if not employed as a teacher?

PD hours can be obtained from a non- public school, public school, BOCES, NYS Teacher Center, College/University, leadership academy, SETRC, Collective Bargaining Organization or other professional organization. 15

How to report (not teaching) If not employed in a NYS public school or BOCES, you must report hrs through your individual TEACH account As above, you must also keep records for 7 years (subject to audit) 16

Can the 175 hrs be completed at any time during the 5 yr period or must one complete 35 hrs/year? 17

Regulations do not specify. However, it is recommended that certificate holders maintain a steady progression of PD activities. 18

What if I am National Board certified? Must I still complete the 175 hrs every 5 years? 19

20 If you obtain your NB certification in the area of your Professional Certificate during the 5 yr PD period, the NB process satisfies the requirement for that cycle. However, if it was prior to the cycle, you are not exempt.

Does volunteer service count toward the PD requirement? ***** No. Volunteer services do not count. 21

Hour for Hour? Is an hour spent in a workshop/mtg comparable to an hour equivalent, etc? 22

For Public school emps, PD hrs should equal clock hrs spent in workshop, course, etc. (guidance) Employing district can set any change (based on content, etc) For college-courses 1 s.h.=15 pd hours 23

College Teaching (PD hour equivalent?) You may report clock hours spent teaching a college course Must be in content or pedagogy Only counts first time – not subsequent classes taught District discretion; hours assigned & acceptability of content 24

How to Report Professional Development 25

Public school districts are required to report PD hrs for their employees online via the TEACH online system. 26

District Login; TEACH system Attachment B: User Add/Delete form (3 pages) Max of 3 authorized users (super +2) designated to TEACH access & features 27

TEACH Login Features View employee certification & fingerprinting Enter super statements (various) Confirm self-reported teaching exp (prospective teacher) Submit request for FPT clearance Hire/Terminate employees (ospra) [Enter PD activities] 28

Are individual teachers responsible for ensuring their PD hrs are entered by the district? 29

30 While it is the district’s responsibility to report hours, it is in the interest of every relevant certificate holder to verify that their PD hours are reported.

31 Suggestions for relevant certificate holders: ● Develop their personal PD plan in consultation with their district ● Establish a TEACH account (online) ● Check their individual TEACH account periodically to verify that hours are being reported.

Step-By-Step Entering applicant’s PD hours into the TEACH online system 32

Main Menu (super login) 33

Search Screen 34

View 35

Confirm Applicant/View Hrs 36

PD Period (5 years) 37

Enter New PD hrs 38

Confirm & Add 39

Affirm (again) Click “Submit” 40

Reports (main menu) 41

PD Hours 42

Search; View 43

Totals; All Emps w/PD hour entries 44

What is District’s responsibility for maintaining PD records? PD hours you provide (your district), you must maintain record of – PD event title(s) and – Clock hours completed *For PD hours from out of district, you must maintain record of # of hours & provider 45

Guidelines for format and procedures? Locally determined/authorized, where questioned See Attachment C for suggested form(s) Suggested format(s) & further guidance available on OTI website ( ml) ml 46

What info is required to be reported to NYSED and how frequently? Annually, you should report to OTI (via TEACH) the number of all approved PD hours completed by each teacher/TA in your employ (regardless of PD provider) 47

What PD records are to be kept by teachers/TA’s and for how long? All certificate holders must keep their PD activities, coursework, etc, for 7 years School districts are required to maintain these records for 7 years as well (subject to audit) 48

Timekeeper and other systems? Compatibility to TEACH system? If you are using a system that you believe to be compatible with the TEACH Online System, contact NYSED directly (below) for instructions on sending your PD info electronically CONTACT: 49

PDP Premier (ei.) 1st Year PDP Cost: $10/employee; Min $1500 (includes 1 day/training PDP Premier Data Entry: $600-one time Subsequent Year Cost: $10/employee; minimum $

Failure to Comply Any Professional or Teaching Assistant III certificate holder who fails to complete the required professional development requirement becomes subject to due process and risks the loss of his or her certificate. 51

Suggestive guidance for teachers Establish TEACH account Discuss PD plan w/District; get pre- approval if questionable Check your PD record periodically for entry of PD hours/accuracy Keep your own records of all PD completed (7 yrs) 52