Learning Forward's Definition of Professional Development

(formerly known at the National Staff Development Council)

Working with our allies and advocates, Learning Forward has created this formal definition of professional development for use in the reauthorized version of NCLB.

Learning Forward Proposed Amendments to Section 9101 (34) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act as reauthorized by the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001.

(34) PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT— The term “professional development” means a comprehensive, substantiated, and intensive approach to improving teachers’ and principals’ effectiveness in raising student achievement –

(A) Professional development fosters collective responsibility for improved student performance and must be comprised of professional learning that:

(1) is aligned with rigorous state student academic achievement standards as well as related local educational agency and school improvement goals;

(2) is conducted among educators at the school and facilitated by well-prepared school principals and/or school-based professional development coaches, mentors, master teachers, or other teacher leaders;

(3) primarily occurs several times per week among established teams of teachers, principals, and other instructional staff members where the teams of educators engage in a continuous cycle of improvement that —

(i) evaluates student, teacher, and school learning needs through a thorough review of data on teacher and student performance;

(ii) defines a clear set of educator learning goals based on the rigorous analysis of the data;

(iii) achieves the educator learning goals identified in subsection (A)(4)(ii) by implementing coherent, sustained, and evidenced-based learning strategies, such as lesson study and the development of formative assessments, that improve instructional effectiveness and student achievement;

(iv) provides job-embedded coaching or other forms of
assistance to support the transfer of new knowledge and skills to the classroom;

(v) regularly assesses the effectiveness of the professional development in achieving identified learning goals, improving teaching, and assisting all students in meeting challenging state academic achievement standards;

(vi) informs ongoing improvements in teaching and student
learning; and

(vii) that may be supported by external assistance.              

(B) The process outlined in (A) may be supported by activities such as courses, workshops, institutes, networks, and conferences that:

(1) must address the learning goals and objectives established for professional development by educators at the school level;

(2) advance the ongoing school-based professional development; and

(3) are provided by for-profit and nonprofit entities outside the school such as universities, education service agencies, technical assistance providers, networks of content-area specialists, and other education organizations and associations.

Comparison of Job Embedded Professional Learning

Mesquite ISD provides high quality professional learning in many ways.  Occasionally you will be required to attend staff development either on your campus or at another location in the district during your contract hours. Additionally, you will have the opportunity to choose workshops from our Professional Learning Catalog that you would like to attend.  These workshops will be held after contract hours either face-to-face or online. 

Catalog

To assist you in building your professional knowledge and skills, the Professional Learning department publishes an online catalog of workshops to be offered each semester. The catalog contains a variety of classes for all instructional interests and needs.  Employees will receive an email each semester containing a link to the upcoming catalog of classes.  You can always find the current catalog posted on our MISD portal (look for the Professional Learning Catalog app). 

How to Register (Eduphoria)

The link to register for courses can be found in the Professional Learning catalog under the description of each course.  Each course has it's own unique link to register.  The link will take you to our Eduphoria (Strive) system to register for the course.

After you have successfully completed the classes you registered for in Eduphoria, you'll be paid $7.50 per hour of class (will be found on your January or June paycheck).  In MISD, we refer to this as Pay for Knowledge, or PFK. Classes are a minimum of three hours.

Tips for Success

• While the Eduphoria system contains basic course information, you should always read the full course description in the published catalog to make sure the course is appropriate for your needs.
• If you learn that you cannot attend a course, use the Eduphoria system to un-enroll from a scheduled class as soon as you learn that you won't be in attendance. This allows someone else to enroll in your place and keeps you from having a no-show designation on your transcript.
• Credit for classes is awarded for completion of all course activities and full attendance; partial credit is not given.
• Your transcript of completed classes can be found in Eduphoria.

According the Texas Education Agency, Continuing Professional Education (CPE) is required for all Texas educators holding a standard certificate. If you received a standard certificate in Texas after September 1, 1999, you must renew it every five years. You must earn a minimum number of CPE hours through an approved CPE provider to renew your certificate.  Professional learning hours provided or required by MISD may be used towards this state expectation.

Renewal Requirements:

Continuing professional education (CPE) is required to renew a standard certificate. Your certificate will be set to inactive status if you do not renew by the expiration date. CPE hours are required, even if your certificate has already been set to inactive status. Certificates cannot be renewed by completing examinations. 

• Classroom teachers must complete 150 CPE hours.
  • No more than 150 CPE hours are required, even if you hold multiple classroom certificate areas.
• If you hold an administrative and/or student services certificate you must complete 200 CPE hours.
  • No more than 200 CPE hours are required, even if you hold multiple certificates, such as: classroom, administrative and student services certificates. 

You must maintain written documentation of all CPE required activities.  Acceptable documentation may be certificates of completion or a professional development transcript.  The documentation does not have to be submitted at the time of certificate renewal; however, it must be submitted to TEA in case of a certificate audit.

More Information on Certification Renewal

If you are a new teacher, or a teacher new to the T-TESS appraisal system, you must complete an online T-TESS orientation by Friday, August 30, 2024, to familiarize yourself with the state-approved appraisal system adopted by our district.

This required course includes 6 modules. The course will take approximately 4 hours to complete, and an estimate of the time required for each module is indicated on the website. Each module will ask you to answer a question and submit a response. It is important that you use the same email address to complete all six of the modules.

Once modules are completed, you will print a certificate. Provide a copy to your appraiser and keep a copy for your records.

Access the course here

In addition, you will need a handout to complete the course activities. This handout is available here. If you have questions, please contact Kris Newman.