Pennsylvania Statutes Title 24 P.S. Education § 12-1205.1. Continuing professional development

(a) Upon the expiration of an existing professional development plan, each school entity shall submit to the secretary for approval a three-year professional education plan.

(b) The professional education plan provided for in subsection (a) shall be prepared by a committee consisting of teacher representatives divided equally among elementary, middle and high school teachers chosen by the teachers, educational specialist representatives chosen by educational specialists and administrative representatives chosen by the administrators of the school entity. The committee shall include parents of children attending a school in the district, local business representatives and other individuals representing the community appointed by the board of directors. The plan shall be approved by the board of directors prior to submission to the department for approval. Amendments to the plan may be recommended by the continuing professional education committee, approved by the board of directors of the school entity and submitted to the department for approval. The secretary may specify the time at which and the form in which such plans are to be submitted. The State Board of Education shall promulgate regulations, subject to the act of June 25, 1982 (P.L. 633, No. 181),  1 known as the “Regulatory Review Act,” establishing the minimal content of such plans. The provisions of section 2552  2 shall apply to any school entity failing to comply with the provisions of this section.

(b.1) The professional education plan of each school entity shall include a minimum of one (1) hour of required training in trauma-informed approaches.

(c) The professional education plan of each school entity shall be designed to meet the educational needs of that school entity and its professional employes. A school entity shall annually review its plan to determine whether or not it continues to reflect the needs of the school entity and the needs of its professional employes, students and the community. The plan shall be amended as necessary to ensure that the plan meets the requirements of this subsection. The plan shall specify the continuing professional educational courses, programs, activities and other learning experiences approved to meet continuing professional development requirements under section 1205.2(c),  3 including efforts designed to improve teacher knowledge in subject areas covering the academic standards listed in 22 Pa. Code Ch. 4 4 (relating to academic standards and assessment).

(c.1) The continuing professional education plan shall specify the professional education needs that will be met by completion of each continuing professional education option and how it relates to areas of assignment and certification or potential administrative certification. The options may include, but shall not be limited to:

(c.2) A professional education plan may include joint or cooperative professional education activities with another school entity or an institution of higher education.

(c.3) A professional education plan shall describe how the plan meets the educational and staff development needs of the school entity, its professional educators, students and the community. The professional education plan shall identify the individuals who developed the plan and the method used to select those individuals.

(c.4) A professional education plan shall identify any provider approved by the professional education committee to provide the continuing professional education options listed in the plan. Such providers shall be required to provide the school entity with official notice of the credits or hours of continuing professional education options successfully completed by the school entity's professional educators.

(d) All professional educators of a school entity shall meet the professional education requirements of this section and section 1205.2 in order for the professional educator to maintain active certification.

(e) The requirements of this section and section 1205.2 do not apply to a professional educator not employed by a school entity who serves as an evaluator of a home education program authorized under section 1327.1(e)(2)  5 or who provides private tutoring services as part of a home education program under section 1327.1.

(g) Expired Nov. 2, 2017, pursuant to 2016, Nov. 2, P.L. 971, No. 118, § 1.