Earning Professional Learning Units (PLUs) Through Approved Professional Study Winter 2010

1. Earning Professional Learning Units (PLUs) Through Approved Professional Study Winter 2010

2. Presented By Alabama State Department of Education (SDE) Leadership and Evaluation Unit Gordon Persons Building Room 3323 P.O. Box 302101 Montgomery, AL 36130-2101

3. Assistance Chris Wilson SDE Leadership & Evaluation - Content (334)353-8646, cwilson@alsde.edu Telena Madison SDELeadership & Evaluation - Website/Technology (334)353-5230, tmadison@alsde.edu SDE Teacher Education and Certification (334) 353- 8567 SDE Technology Initiatives, STI PD (334)242-9594

4. Information Visit Select ACLD Professional Study (PS) Application and Resources http://www.alex.state.al.us/leadership

5. Today’s Focus Alabama Council for Leadership Development (ACLD) Maintaining Instructional Leader Certification Earning Professional Learning Units Approved Professional Study

6. Appointed By State Superintendent of Education Serve Three-Year Staggered Term Members Superintendents Central office instructional leaders Principals Assistant principals Teachers Supported by SDE Leadership and Evaluation Unit Alabama Administrative Code 290-4-3-.01

8. Alabama Standards for Instructional Leaders • Planning for Continuous Improvement • Teaching and Learning • Human Resources Development • Diversity • Community and Stakeholder Relationships • Technology • Management of the Learning Organization • Ethics

9. Preceded by RationaleHas several Key IndicatorsKey Indicatorsare written as Knowledge or Ability Statements Each Standard

10. Alabama Standards for Professional Development (abridged) • Organize adults into learning communities • Require knowledgeable and skillful school and district leaders • Provide resources • Use disaggregated student data • Use multiple sources of information • Prepare educators to apply research • Use learning strategies • Apply knowledge about human learning and change • Provide educators with collaborative skills • Prepare educators to understand and appreciate all students • Deepen educators’ content knowledge • Provide educators with knowledge and skills to involve families and stakeholders

11. Approved Professional Study • Fully addresses • Alabama Standards for Instructional Leaders • Completely aligns to • Alabama Standards for Professional Development • Approved two ways • ACLD • Local education agency (LEA) superintendent • Applies to • All educators maintaining instructional leader certification • Only method to earn Professional Learning Units

12. ACLD Approved Professional Study Who may apply? Agencies/organizations/associations/groups Vendors/private providers Local education agencies (LEAs) Others How do you apply? Complete and submit an ACLD Professional Study Application NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE !! On Leadership Website How is a professional study application approved? ACLD reviews and approves each application

13. LEA Approved Professional Study • LEAs may provide approved professional study. • LEAs may approve professional study provided by other entities. • LEAs are not required to submit locally approved professional studies to the ACLD and/or SDE. • LEAs may use any ACLD forms/applications in developing/implementing locally approved professional studies. • The ACLD and SDE will provide technical assistance upon request.

14. Reminder Reminder LEAs are not required to submit locally approved professional studies to the ACLD or SDE for approval. Local Education Agencies are not required to submit locally approved professional study to the ACLD for review or approval.

15. Professional Learning Unit (PLU) • WHAT IS A PLU? • Content driven, long-term • Fully addressesthe Alabama Standards for Instructional Leaders • Completely alignedto the Alabama Standards for Professional Development • Earned upon completionof approved professional study • Replaces the continuing education unit (CEU) • WHO MUST EARN A PLU? • All educatorselecting to maintain their instructional leader certification • HOW WILL PLUs BE RECORDED? • Software Technology Incorporated, Professional Development (STI PD) • For approved college courses to earn PLU credit, official transcripts must be submitted (in sealed envelopes) from the institution.

16. PLU Requirements • To maintain instructional leader certification, five PLUs must beearned over a five-year certification cycle. • At least two PLUs must be earned from ACLDapproved • professional studies. • Two PLUs may be earned from an LEAapproved professional study. • The fifth PLUmay be earned fromprofessional studies approved by either the ACLD or the LEA. • WHEN DID THIS BEGIN? • 2009 • A method for transitioning from CEUs to PLUs over a • five-year period is in place. • Complete conversion to PLUs anticipated by 2014.

17. Important Approved Professional Study and Professional Learning Units • AREdirectly related to an individual’s instructional leader certification. • ARE NOTrelated to an individual’s position, role or place of employment.

18. Instructional Leader Includes anyone holding a valid Alabama certificate in one or more of the following areas: • Superintendent • Superintendent-Principal • Principal (any grade level) • Educational Administrator • Supervisor (any subject and/or grade level) • Administrator of Career and Technical Education • Instructional Leader

19. Obtain A Certificate Copy • Submit a Duplicate Certificate Request (Form DUP) • Submit a $30 fee to the SDE • If employed by an LEA, the LEA will have Form DUP • All individuals, regardless of employment, may obtain Form DUP by going to the SDE website at www.alsde.edu. -Click on Sections - Select Teacher Education and Certification - Select Publications - Select Forms - Select Form DUP and download • Directions for completion of form and fee submission are included in Form DUP

20. Additional Certificate Access Information • Individuals may also access their certificate information at www.alsde.edu. • Once there, go to Teaching in Alabama on the Home Page. • There is no charge for this method of access. • Individuals will not obtain another certificate.However, their certificate information is available at this site.

21. ACLD APPROVED PROFESSIONAL STUDIES Winter 2010 State Department of Education Alabama Math, Science, & Technology Initiative • Standards 1 & 2 Alabama Reading Initiative • Standard 2 Curriculum/Instruction–Making Middle Grades Work • Standard 1 Federal Programs - Coordinators • Standard 7 Federal Programs - English Language Learners • Standard 2 Federal Programs – School Improvement • Standard 1

22. ACLD APPROVED PROFESSIONAL STUDIES Winter 2010 State Department of Education Leadership/Edvantia, Incorporated Shared Leadership Re-culturing for Student Success • Standards 1 & 5 Leadership/Federal Programs Alabama Leadership Success Academy • Standard 1 Leadership/Evaluation – EDUCATEAlabama • Standard 7

23. ACLD APPROVED PROFESSIONAL STUDIES Winter 2010 Agencies, Associations, Organizations Alabama Association of School Boards • Standard 1 Alabama Education Association • Standards 1,2,4, 5, 6, & 7 Alabama Reading Associaton • Standard 2 Council for Leaders in Alabama Schools • Standards 1,2,3,4,6, & 7 School Superintendents of Alabama • Standards 6 & 7 School Superintendents of Alabama/A+ • Standard 1 School Superintendents of Alabama/Apple Inc. • Standard 6

24. ACLD APPROVED PROFESSIONAL STUDIES Winter 2010 Other Entities e-Learning for Alabama Educators AL Public Television/State Department of Education • Standards 1 & 6 Education Leadership Center for the Wiregrass • Standards 1,2, & 7

25. ACLD APPROVED PROFESSIONAL STUDIES Winter 2010 Private Providers Curriculum Advantage, Inc. • Standard 2 Education & Assessment Solutions, Inc. • Standard 2 Information Transport Solutions, Inc. • Standard 6

26. ACLD APPROVED PROFESSIONAL STUDIES Winter 2010 Local Education Agencies Auburn City • Standard 1 Blount County • Standard 2 Cleburne County • Standard 2 Cullman County • Standards 1 & 5 Elmore County • Standard 2 • Ft. Payne City • Standard 2 • Gadsden City • Standard 7 • Lawrence County • Standard 1 • Phenix City • Standards 2 & 6 • Shelby County • Standard 1 • Vestavia Hill City • Standard 7

27. More ACLD Approved Studies Now Available Go to http://www.alex.state.al.us/leadershipClick onACLD Approved Professional Studies

28. FAQs

29. Why might an LEA seek ACLD approval

30. Instructional Leadership Professional Study Application (ILPSA)Online Management System To view ACLD approved professional study applications, follow the steps listed below:  Go to https://www.leadershipalsde.com Select, the Search link Select, the Fiscal Year 2009, under the Public Application Search section Then, click the button to populate the list Next, select the View Application link Then, select View/Print Entire Application link to see all content Search

31. To request an account, select the Contact ACLD link. Be sure to check the box and enter the provider’s name.

32. No Does a person have to earn one PLU eachyearduring a five-year certification renewal cycle?

33. May a person carry-over PLUs from one five-year certification cycle to the next cycle? No

34. How many PLUs must be earned from an ACLD approved professional study over a five-year certification renewal cycle? Two

35. Are PLUs required to be earned from a locally approved professional study? No

36. What if a person moves or changes positions while participating in an approved professional study? Continued participation in an approved professional study may be determined upon agreement between the participant, and former/current employers.

37. Are there approved professional studies for persons not employed in Alabama public school systems? Yes !

38. Individuals Outside Alabama Public School Systems Other Entities Outside AL Univ./Colleges Private Sector Retired Agencies/Orgs.

39. May PLUs be earned from college course credit received from institutions of higher education (e.g., online, out of state) that are not part of Alabama’s university redesign? Not from ACLD/SDE approval,however . . .

40. May PLUs be earned from college course credit received from institutions of higher education (e.g., online, out of state) that are not part of Alabama’s university redesign, if a local superintendent approves this coursework?

41. Education specialist or doctoral level administrative coursework completed at institutions outside of Alabama may be used as a PLU onlyif the course is approved by the Alabama superintendent or headmaster. No more than three PLUs approved by the local superintendent may be used towards the renewal of a certificate in administration and/or supervision. Note All coursework at Alabama institutions that have been approved for use as a PLU (through the SDE) can be found at http://alex.state.al.us/leadership.

42. Approved Professional Study Status Since the Last ACLD Review Date of Last Review = 1/12/10 Approved = 57 Pending = 11

43. ACLD **APPROVED PROFESSIONAL STUDIES ** The Alabama Council for Leadership Development (ACLD) and the Alabama State Department of Education (SDE) do not endorse any groups, organizations, associations, agencies, individuals, private providers, vendors, and/or any other entities that submit Professional Study (PS) Applications for ACLD approval to earn Professional Learning Unit (PLU) status. ACLD approval is strictly for the content and delivery of the professional study provided through the application process.

44. To Participate In ACLD Approved Professional Study • Preview the approved professional studies (PS) on Leadership & Evaluation website. • Contact the provider listed by each PS you find of interest. • The provider should assist by providing: • Additional information on the PS • A method/means to register for the PS • Assistance/facilitation during the PS • Documentation of successful completion of PS to earn professional learning unit(s) through Software Technology Incorporated, Professional Development (STI PD)

45. To Participate In Locally Approved Professional Study • Contact the person responsible for professional development at your local education agency (LEA) central office. • Determine if locally approved professional study is available to you. • Participate, as applicable, and as allowed by your local superintendent and/or supervisor. • Upon successful completion of locally approved professional study: • Ensure participation is documented through STI PD, in accordance with local policies.

46. FAQ Memorandum January 13, 2009 from State Superintendent of Education Joseph B. Morton • Points to Remember • Questions asked by over 4,200 Alabama educators • Responses were compiled from the ACLD and SDE • Applies to individuals holding a valid Alabama instructional leader certificate • FAQ Document is marked DRAFT, January 13, 2009 • Responses may be subject to changeas new instructional leader certification and the approved professional study process is refined. • YOU MAY COPY !!

47. Note PLUs for Education Specialist & Doctoral Courses September 1, 2009 SDE Memorandum to Deans of Education Go to: Click on: Questions about graduate courses to earn a Professional Learning Unit http://www.alex.state.al.us/leadership

48. More Questions

49. Thank you for your time !