704 KAR 3:490. Teachers’ Professional Growth Fund.
RELATES TO: KRS 156.551, 156.553, 158.842
STATUTORY AUTHORITY: KRS 156.553(6), 156.070
NECESSITY, FUNCTION, AND CONFORMITY: KRS 156.553(6)
authorizes the Kentucky Board of Education to promulgate an administrative
regulation for administration of a Teachers’ Professional Growth Fund. This
administrative regulation establishes the application and approval process for
receipt of funds, the requirements and process for distribution of funds, and
the number and kind of approved programs and courses for which applicants may
receive funds.
Section 1. Definitions. (1) "Coach" means a
teacher leader whose primary responsibility is to provide on-going support for
one (1) or more teachers, including improving teaching practices by working
with teachers in their classrooms, observing and providing feedback to them,
modeling appropriate teaching practices, conducting workshops or institutes,
establishing learning communities, and gathering appropriate and useful resources.
(2) "Mathematics diagnostic assessment"
means an assessment as established in KRS 158.842(1)(d).
(3) "Mathematics intervention program" means
a program established in KRS 158.842(1)(e).
(4) "Mentor" means an experienced coach who
typically works with beginning or novice teachers only.
(5) "Teacher of a core discipline" means a
public school teacher of mathematics, science, language arts, or social studies
in a self-contained or collaborative classroom or in a departmentalized setting,
including career and technical education teachers, teachers of exceptional
children and teachers of children with limited English proficiency.
Section 2. Certification of Approved Professional
Development Providers. (1) An approved provider may include:
(a) Teachers or university professors with expertise
in the core discipline and the teaching of the core discipline;
(b) Schools;
(c) School districts;
(d) Colleges;
(e) Universities;
(f) Educational cooperatives;
(g) Professional development consortia; or
(h) Professional organizations.
(2) A provider shall submit the following to the
Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) for approval:
(a) A syllabus or outline of the course or
professional development program offered by the provider, including available
dates and times, if possible;
(b) A description explaining how the course or program
meets the requirements as specified in KRS 156.553 and in 16 KAR 1:010, Section
3, related to experienced teacher standards;
(c) The qualifications of the instructor or
instructional leader;
(d) An explanation of how the course or program will
improve a teacher’s knowledge of content, instructional practices and student
learning in the core discipline; and
(e) Itemized costs for the course or program.
(3) A university or college offering a course as
defined by the Education Professional Standards Board in accordance with KRS
156.553(3) shall not be required to be certified as a provider in order for the
teacher to be eligible for tuition reimbursement.
Section 3. Funding priorities and processes for 2006 -
2010. (1) Priority for the use of funds from the Teacher’s Professional Growth
Fund shall be given in accordance with KRS 156.553(9).
(2) Selection of statewide institute providers in
mathematics and reading shall include the following:
(a) Approved professional development providers for
mathematics coaches and mentors shall be determined by the Kentucky Department
of Education based on recommendations from the Committee for Mathematics
Achievement as referenced in KRS 158.842; and
(b) Approved professional development providers for
reading coaches and mentors shall be determined by the Kentucky Department of
Education based on recommendations from the Collaborative Center for Literacy
Development and the Reading Steering Committee under KRS 156.553(9).
(3) Local school districts, colleges, universities,
and other entities may apply for grants to accomplish the purposes outlined in
KRS 156.553(2) and (9).
(4) Criteria for Eligible Activities. The fund may be
used by local school districts, colleges, universities, other entities, and
selected teachers for participation in approved activities as specified in KRS
156.553(2) and (9).
Section 4. Application Process For Teachers
Professional Growth Fund Activities. (1) Fall semester activities shall be completed
by December 31, spring semester activities shall be completed by May 31, and
summer activities shall be completed by August 15.
(2) An application shall include the following:
(a) Proposed coursework from an approved provider, or
an approved professional development program;
(b) Certification from the principal that the teacher
is employed or will be employed as a teacher with responsibility for teaching
in the core discipline, and that the teacher’s plan is consistent with the
teacher’s individual growth plan or the school’s consolidated plan;
(c) An explanation of how the proposed activities will
improve the teacher’s knowledge of the content area, instructional practices
and student learning;
(d) A budget not to exceed $2,500 with an explanation
of proposed expenditures; and
(e) The signature of the school district
superintendent or designee indicating that necessary human and financial
resources to support the application are available, if applicable.
(3) If a teacher applicant requests to access these
funds for the purpose of pursuing the continuing education option for rank
change established in 16 KAR 8:030, the teacher shall submit a copy of the
letter from the Education Professional Standards Board stating that the teacher
has been accepted as a candidate for this program. The acceptance letter shall
establish the teacher as the approved professional development provider
required under Section 2 of this administrative regulation.
(4) If a teacher’s plan involves an unapproved
provider, the teacher shall include information required under Section 2(2) of
this administrative regulation to be considered for approval.
(5) The application may be submitted for approval to
the Department of Education electronically by the teacher or through the
district professional development coordinator. A superintendent’s approval also
may be submitted electronically.
(6) The budget for an individual teacher plan shall
not exceed $2,500 per fiscal year. A region shall be allocated an amount from
the fund that is proportional to the number of teachers in the region. If all
funds are not expected to be used by teachers in the region based on the
proposed plans submitted by March 30, the funds shall be made available to teachers
statewide based on need as demonstrated by student performance. If the requests
exceed the funds available, the plans shall be approved based on the date and
time of application.
(7) Travel costs shall be reimbursed pursuant to 200
KAR 2:006. A request may include a reasonable stipend per day based on a six
(6) hour day. Reimbursements and stipends shall be paid as soon as possible
upon receipt by KDE of a final report from the teacher.
Section 5. Reimbursement Process. (1) The final report
for fall and spring activities shall be submitted no later than May 31. The
final report for summer activities shall be submitted to KDE no later than
thirty (30) days after the completion of the activity.
(2) The report shall include the following:
(a) Evidence of accomplishment by the teacher
providing:
1. Documentation of successful completion of the
course or program certified by the approved provider; or
2. Evidence that a full or partial portfolio has been
submitted for scoring to the EPSB if the teacher is a candidate for the
continuing education option for rank change;
(b) An evaluation of the course or program; and
(c) Documentation of expenditures by completing a
miscellaneous expense voucher provided by the Kentucky Department of Education.
(27 Ky.R. 1396; eff. 1-15-2001; Am. 28 Ky.R. 691; eff. 11-5-2001; 32 Ky.R.
2154; 33 Ky.R. 390; eff. 8-7-06.)