§ 49.17. Continuing professional education.
(a) As required under § 4.13(a) (relating to strategic plans), a school entity shall submit to the Secretary for approval a 3-year professional education plan every 3 years in accordance with the professional education guidelines established by the Secretary and section 1205.1 of the act (24 P.S. § 12-1205.1). A school entity shall make its professional education plan available for public inspection and comment for a minimum of 28 days prior to approval of the plan by the school entity’s governing board and submission of the plan to the Secretary.
(1) A school entity shall develop a continuing professional education plan, which includes options for professional development including, but not limited to, activities such as the following:
(i) Graduate level coursework.
(ii) Obtaining a professionally related master’s degree.
(iii) Department-approved in-service courses.
(iv) Curriculum development work.
(v) Attendance at professional conferences.
(2) The continuing professional education plan must define terms used including, but not limited to, the following:
(i) Professionally related graduate level coursework.
(ii) Professionally related master’s degree.
(iii) Curriculum development work.
(iv) Professional conferences.
(3) The continuing professional education plan shall be developed as specified in section 1205.1 of the act. The plan must describe the persons who developed the plan and how the persons were selected.
(4) The continuing professional education plan submitted to the Secretary shall be approved by both the professional education committee and the board of the school entity.
(5) The Secretary will promulgate guidelines which include a process for amending approved continuing professional education plans in accordance with the requirements for initial preparation of the plans. The guidelines will also outline allowable activities for credit earned under sections 1205.1 and 1205.2 of the act (24 P.S. § § 12-1205.1 and 1205.2) after July 1, 2006.
(6) The continuing professional education plan must include a section which describes how the professional education needs of the school entity, including those of diverse learners, and its professional employees are to be met through implementation of the plan. The plan must describe how professional development activities will improve language and literacy acquisition for all students, including the provision of training in structured literacy for professional employees who hold instructional certificates in Early Childhood, Elementary/Middle, Special Education PK—12, English as a second language and Reading Specialists. The plan must contribute to closing achievement gaps among students, and improve professional employees knowledge of professional ethics and culturally relevant and sustaining education.
(7) The continuing professional education plan must include a description of how the school entity will offer all professional employees opportunities to participate in continuing education focused on teaching diverse learners in inclusive settings.
(8) A school district that contracts with a community provider to operate a prekindergarten program shall address in the school district’s professional education plan how the school district will offer professional education opportunities to teachers in the community provider’s prekindergarten program.
(b) A commissioned officer who holds a Letter of Eligibility for Superintendent shall satisfy the requirements for continuing professional education through the completion of courses and credits approved by the Department to address the school leadership standards of section 1217 of the act (24 P.S. § 12-1217) in accordance with section 1205.5 of the act (24 P.S. § 12-1205.5) every 5 years.
(c) Certified personnel including school or system leaders defined in section 1205.5(g) of the act who fail to comply with the continuing professional education plan under subsection (a) or fail to complete the requirements of sections 1205.1, 1205.2 and 1205.5 of the act will have their certificates or Letter of Eligibility rendered inactive by the Department until the requirement is met. Certified personnel and school or system leaders whose certificate or Letter of Eligibility is rendered inactive shall have a right to appeal the action to the Secretary.
(d) School districts that employ certified personnel or commissioned officers with inactive certificates or commissions are subject to penalties provided for under section 2518 of the act (24 P.S. § 25-2518).
(e) Certified personnel are responsible for monitoring their own progress toward completing the requirements prescribed by sections 1205.1 and 1205.2 of the act and for notifying the Department of any changes to their home mailing address.
Authority The provisions of this § 49.17 issued under sections 202, 408.1, 1302 and 1317—1320 of The Administrative Code of 1929 (71 P.S. § § 62, 118.1 (Repealed), 352 and 367—370 (Repealed)); amended under section 1205.1 of the Public School Code of 1949 (24 P.S. § 12-1205.1).
Source The provisions of this § 49.17 adopted January 25, 1985, effective June 1, 1987, 15 Pa.B. 245; amended December 25, 1987, effective December 26, 1987, 17 Pa.B. 5324; readopted May 29, 1992, effective May 30, 1992, 22 Pa. B. 2824; amended September 24, 1999, effective September 25, 1999, 29 Pa.B. 4954; amended July 14, 2006, effective July 15, 2006, 36 Pa.B. 3655; amended September 21, 2007, effective September 22, 2007, 37 Pa.B. 5150; amended July 15, 2016, effective July 16, 2016, 46 Pa.B. 3815; amended April 22, 2022, effective April 23, 2022, 52 Pa.B. 2451. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (382432) to (382433).
Cross References This section cited in 22 Pa. Code § 4.13 (relating to strategic plans); 22 Pa. Code § 49.2 (relating to inactivity and invalidity); 22 Pa. Code § 49.103 (relating to Educational Specialist II); and 22 Pa. Code § 49.131 (relating to basic requirements for baccalaureate and nonbaccalaureate programs).
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