Table of Contents
| Status | Adopted |
| Original Adopted Date | 03/23/2000 |
| Last Revised Date | |
| Last Reviewed Date |
GCL: Professional Staff Development Opportunities
Last Revised Date: 09/09/2019 The Board of Education of the School of the Osage recognizes the relationship between high-quality professional development and student achievement and therefore commits to a high-quality professional staff development program. The program will be aligned with the current Comprehensive School Improvement Plan (CSIP) and based on available student achievement data and the results of needs assessment at the school and district level.
In support of this commitment the Board will:
1. Establish a Professional Development Committee (PDC) that will create and implement a Professional Development Plan (PDP) based on the district's CSIP. The PDP must be approved by the Board prior to implementation.
2. Allocate adequate funding for high-quality professional development activities as defined by law.
3. Provide leave and dismissal time for approved professional growth activities and reimbursement for expenses related to conferences and visitations.
4. Provide opportunities for increased compensation or advancement on the salary schedule with additional education or training in accordance with Board policies and procedures.
5. Provide opportunities for collective participation by staff members in the same school community, subject area, grade level or department.
Professional Development for Teachers
The professional development program for teachers will:
1. Be sustained over time.
2. Focus on specific content areas or instructional practices.
3. Support the collective learning of teachers.
4. Align with district, school and teacher goals.
5. Be infused with active learning and provide teachers the opportunity to practice and apply new knowledge.
Professional development for teachers will include a beginning teacher assistance program and a mentoring program that meets or exceeds the standards established by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE).
Professional Development for Administrators
Professional development activities will be provided for superintendents, principals and other district personnel charged with administrative functions. As with professional development for teachers, professional development for administrators will be available on an individual basis and as part of a collective group.
Professional development for administrators will align with the Missouri Leader standards and focus on support of classroom instruction.
Administrators will participate in the Mentoring Program for Administrators (MPA) supported by the Missouri Partnership for Mentoring School Leaders.
Program Evaluation
The PDC will conduct an annual evaluation of the professional development program to determine whether professional development is aligned with the district's CSIP and identified instructional priorities. To the extent possible, the evaluation will determine the effect of the professional development program on student achievement as measured by assessments of student mastery of grade-level expectations.
Professional Development for Certification
Many certificated employees are required by state law to continue their professional development to maintain their certificates. The state-required professional development may include completion of additional college credit hours, district-provided or district-recognized professional development, and other training acceptable to DESE. In addition, the following activities will qualify for professional development hours for the purposes of maintaining a certificate in accordance with law:
1. The district may supervise a teacher in a local business externship for professional development hours. The externship must provide the teacher practical experience at a business in the local community in which the teacher is employed through observation and interaction with employers and employees who are working on issues related to subjects taught by the teacher (§ 168.024, RSMo).
2. District-offered training on dyslexia and related disorders will count for up to two hours of professional development (§ 167.950, RSMo).
5 C.S.R.20-400.380
MSIP
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