Professional Development Washington County School District - Approved 11-10-98; Revised 1-13-04; Revised 3-9-04; Revised 11-11-08
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1.1. To recognize the need for a constantly improving, professionally trained, teaching staff.1.2. To establish professional development standards and apply them through the DPDC.
1.3. To provide a process for review and recommendation of sabbatical leave candidates.
1.4. To establish professional development lanes for purposes of compensation.
2.1. All credit for lane change must be:2.1.1. Taken after the teaching license was issued; AND2.1.1.1. Acquired either from a college or university accredited by the Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges; or2.1.1.2. From an equivalent accrediting association for other regions of the country recognized by the State Office of Education; or
2.1.1.3. Through a program specifically approved by the District.
2.1.2. Acquired outside of normal contract time: Because of the impact on students and substitute cost associated with contract time in-service, classes held on contract time shall not be used for salary lane change credit. Exceptions may be considered only after careful review of the impact by District-level administration, and are subject to prior approval of the Superintendent or superintendent's designee as documented on District Form 552. Exceptions must meet the following criteria: (revised 11-08)
• The credit must not be offered during student instructional time or require the services of a substitute teacher in the absence of the participant.
• The credit must be taken in as a District approved intervention effort, designed for school, District, or program improvement in order to meet; District, State, or federal mandates, avoid financial sanctions, or to improve student achievement.
• The credit will qualify for and be documented as accredited university or college credit.
• The credit is offered to all applicants who meet predetermined, objective, merit related criteria.2.1.3. Related to teacher's current or probable future assignment.
2.2. Additionally, the following requirements must be met:
2.2.1. Bachelor's degree plus credit must be taken after the bachelor's degree was issued AND meet one or more of the following requirements:2.2.1.1. Completed in 5000 series or higher college classes2.2.1.2. Completed in classes required for a State teaching endorsement. Credit will be given only after all Utah State Office of Education requirements are completed for the endorsement. The following documents are required to verify eligibility and must be submitted with District Form 551 to receive credit under this paragraph:
2.2.1.2.1. An official copy of the university catalogue, department requirements, or statement outlining the course requirements for the endorsement;2.2.1.2.2. An official copy of the transcript verifying satisfactory completion of the course work, and;
2.2.1.2.3. An official notice from the Utah State Office of Education certifying that the endorsement has been added to the educator's license.
2.2.1.3. Completed for a District endorsement, after all locally approved requirements have been met. Additionally, the classes must be accepted for credit on an official college or university transcript under conditions outlined under 2.1.1.
2.2.1.4. In addition to the above, a total of no more than six semester hours of 4000 series course work, taken after the bachelor's degree was issued, may be counted. For example, if an individual uses six semester hours of 4000 series classes (at his/her discretion) to advance to a bachelor's plus 20, that individual may not use additional discretionary 4000 series classes to advance to a bachelor's plus 30.
2.2.2. Master's degree plus credit must be taken after the master's degree was issued AND meet one or more of the following requirements:
2.2.2.1. Completed in 6000 series or higher college classes2.2.2.2. Completed in classes required for a State teaching endorsement. Credit will be given only after all Utah State Office of Education requirements are completed for the endorsement. The following documents are required to verify eligibility and must be submitted with District Form 551 to receive credit under this paragraph:
2.2.2.2.1. An official copy of the university catalogue, department requirements, or statement outlining the course requirements for the endorsement;2.2.2.2.2. An official copy of the transcript verifying satisfactory completion of the course work, and;
2.2.2.2.3. An official notice from the Utah State Office of Education certifying that the endorsement has been added to the educator's license.
2.2.2.3. Completed for a District endorsement, after all locally approved requirements have been met. Additionally, the classes must be accepted for credit on an official college or university transcript under conditions outlined under 2.1.1.
2.2.2.4. In addition to the above, a total of no more than six semester hours of 5000 series course work, taken after the master's degree was issued, may be counted. For example, if an individual uses six semester hours of 5000 series classes (at his/her discretion) to advance to a master's plus 20, that individual may not use additional discretionary 5000 series classes to advance to a master's plus 36.
2.2.3. District-sponsored endorsement areas: District-sponsored endorsement areas, specifically approved in advance by the Superintendent for lane change credit may count toward master's plus or bachelor's plus lanes (as documented on District Form 552) upon completion of all required course work.
2.3. Lane Changes Advancement.
2.3.1. With the exception of advancement to a masters or doctorate salary lane, employees may not advance more than one lane per year.2.3.2. The following deadlines must be met for lane advancement:
2.3.2.1. Employees who plan to advance from one lane to another on the salary schedule shall file the intent to do so with the Board of Education (Human Resource Department) by March 15th of the year preceding the contract year in which they plan to make the lane change.2.3.2.2. The contract change will not be made until the teacher has completed the credits necessary for the lane change and submitted a transcript of credit containing sufficient hours to qualify the employee for the lane change. All coursework must be completed and transcripts together with other documents supporting completion of an endorsement, as appropriate, must be submitted by the 15th of September to change salary lane for any particular year.
2.4. Majority Teacher Association Lane Change:
2.4.1. Based upon criteria agreed upon by the District administration, the School District will authorize up to one hour of lane change credit each year up to a maximum of three total credits for one faculty representative per school and seven executive board members who participate in and complete the training provided by the Teacher Association. (Neg. 7-11-94) Requests must have prior approval.2.4.2. If the administration refuses a request, the employee can request that the Professional Rights and Responsibilities Committee of the employee association review it with the administration.
2.5. Salary Lanes
Old Lane Prior to Sept 98 (Qtr Hrs)
New Lane after Sept 98 (Qtr Hrs)
New Lane after Sept 98 (Sem Hrs)
BS + 20
BS + 30 (Qtr Hrs)
BS+20 (Sem Hrs)
BS + 40
BS + 45 (QH)
BS + 30 (SH)
BS + 60
MASTERS
MASTERS
MS + 20
MS + 30 (QH)
MS +20 (SH)
MS + 45
MS + 55 (QH)
MS + 36 (SH)
MS + 60
DOCTORATE
DOCTORATE
2.5.1. After September15, 1998, employees who remain in the old salary lane will be indefinitely grandfathered in their old lane. A grandfathered employee's old salary lane will be referred to by association with the "new lane" as a point of reference only (e.g. for future salary lane adjustments specific to that lane).2.5.2. Grandfathered employees will not be artificially credited with the extra academic hours by virtue of being associated with the new lane.
2.5.3. Employees, who plan to advance beyond their grandfathered lane, must complete all additional credit hours identified with lane advancement (e.g. a person who is grandfathered at BS+20 will be paid as though BS+30, but must earn 25 units to qualify for BS+45).
2.6. Pay Setting and Lane Change Requirements for Non-Traditional Certified Employees
2.6.1. The Utah State Board of Education provides the opportunity to receive non-traditional educational certification for individuals with qualifying occupational work experience or a combination of education and work experience. Certificates are limited to those courses listed on the State-endorsement list. The District will compensate educators certified through the non-traditional certification process at step one of the BS salary lane. Within the relevant conditions of District Pay Policy and Procedure 1200, years of experience in excess of those required for State certification may be credited toward step advancement at a rate of two complete years of directly related experience for one step advancement.2.6.2. The District will allow credit for course work toward lane change if the course work was obtained after appointment and is otherwise in accordance this policy.
3.1. Definitions:3.1.1. Endorsement Areas: Endorsement areas are approved areas of focused, sequential courses. They may be either higher education or District-sponsored endorsement areas. Currently accepted endorsements include but are not limited to: Gifted and Talented, Special Education, Math, Media, Reading, Early Childhood, English as a Second Language/Bilingual. Additionally, endorsements may be approved unique to career and technology education or other specialized areas. These and others will be posted on the Internet site www.wash.k12.ut.us.3.1.2. Stipend: A stipend will be considered as an hourly payment or honorarium for attendance.
3.1.3. Honorarium: An honorarium will be considered a payment fee, not a reimbursement for expenses.
3.1.4. Approval: Includes recommendation by the District Professional Development Committee (DPDC), the District Level Director over the subject area, and approval by the Superintendent.
3.2. An ad hock committee to review requests for sabbatical and one-year leave of absences in accordance with the provisions of WCSD Policy 1330-3.1.7.will consist of up to: Director of Curriculum Development, Director of Human Resources, three school administrators, one program administrator, and four teachers and meet annually as needed. Teachers selected for the committee (DPDC) will be representative of the teaching staff of the District-levels and specialty areas.
3.3. Instructor Compensations: Compensation for District instructors in District-sponsored courses conducted outside of contract hours will be reflected in compensable time off or as a stipend based on the current hourly in-service curriculum development rate, plus the same rate for an agreed upon number of preparation hours not to exceed the total number of hours of instruction. An instructor may elect to receive credit in lieu of pay the first time he/she teachers a particular course, if that practice is approved by the sponsoring institution of higher education.
3.4. District Endorsement Area Approval Process.
3.4.1. To be eligible for lane change credit consideration, under paragraph 2.2.3., District Endorsement Areas must receive prior approval as documented on District Form 552.3.4.2. Instructors must verify that each semester hour of credit requires a minimum course work time of 15 hours of class time and 30 hours out-of-class time.
3.4.3. Courses offered to the District and using District facilities must have prior approval. Requests for use of District facilities must be made on District form 552 (Professional Development Course Approval Form). Approval will not be granted unless the form is completed and signed by the person making the request. If the applicant is a group, the person signing the application must state the name of the group making the request.
3.4.4. After submitting District form 552, the Director of Human Resources and the Director of Curriculum Development shall (1) recommend approval; (2) recommend disapproval; or (3) recommend approval subject to conditions. The chair shall sign the request and forward to the Superintendent.
3.4.5. District-approved courses must still meet other requirements identified in this policy to qualify for lane changes.
3.4.6. District endorsement area approvals will be posted on the Web site and reviewed annually to determine eligibility for renewal.
3.4.7. Any District educator may request authorization to teach a course which he/she is qualified to teach.
3.5. Exceptions to any of the above policy or procedures must be brought to the Superintendent for approval.
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