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704 KAR 3:490. Teachers’ Professional Growth Fund


Published: 2015

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      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.)