Section 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), known as the "Regulatory Review Act," establishing the minimal content of such plans. The provisions of section 2552 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), including efforts designed to improve teacher knowledge in subject areas covering the academic standards listed in 22 Pa. Code Ch. 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: (2) Continuing professional education courses taken for credit.(3) Other programs, activities or learning experiences taken for credit or hourly, to include:(i) curriculum development and other program design and delivery activities at the school entity or grade level as determined by the school entity and approved by the board of directors;(ii) participation in professional conferences and workshops;(iii) education in the workplace, where the work relates to the professional educator's area of assignment and is approved by the board of directors;(iv) review, redesign and restructuring of school programs, organizations and functions as determined by the school entity and approved by the board of directors;(v) in-service programs that comply with guidelines established by the department;(vi) early childhood and child development activities for professional educators whose area of assignment includes kindergarten through third grade;(vii) special education activities for professional educators whose area of assignment includes students with special needs;(viii) successful completion of department training for service as a Distinguished Educator if the professional educator participates in and completes at least one assignment in the Distinguished Educators Program; (ix) other continuing professional education courses, programs, activities or learning experiences sponsored by the department; or(x) visits by educators to a manufacturing workplace for orientation and demonstrations to give the professional educator a greater understanding of job opportunities in manufacturing for students.(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) or who provides private tutoring services as part of a home education program undersection 1327.1.(f)(1) Beginning on the effective date of this subsection, the requirements under subsections (a), (b), (c), (c.1), (c.2), (c.3), (c.4), (d) and (e) shall be suspended until June 30, 2013. (2) Notwithstanding this subsection, the provisions of sections 1003(a)(3) and (c) and 1207.1(d)(1)(iv) requiring that candidates for appointment as a district superintendent or assistant district superintendent and candidates for administrative and career and technical director certificates complete a leadership development program that meets the Pennsylvania school leadership standards under section 1217 shall not be suspended.(g) Beginning on the effective date of this subsection and notwithstanding any other provision of this section, each school entity shall have one additional year to submit to the secretary for approval a three-year professional education plan as required under subsection (a). During the additional year, the school entity's current professional education plan may remain in effect. This subsection shall expire one year from its effective date.Amended by P.L. TBD 2019 No. 76, § 18, eff. 12/30/2019.Amended by P.L. TBD 2019 No. 18, § 4, eff. 8/27/2019.Amended by P.L. TBD 2016 No. 118, § 1, eff. 11/2/2016.Amended by P.L. TBD 2014 No. 168, § 2, eff. 12/21/2014.Amended by P.L. 965 2012 No. 105, § 2, eff. 7/5/2012.1949, March 10, P.L. 30, No. 14, § 1205.1, added 1986, Dec. 15, P.L. 1602, No. 178, § 1, imd. effective. Amended 1988, March 30, P.L. 321, No. 43, § 1, imd. effective; 1999, Nov. 23, P.L. 529, No. 48, § 2, eff. July 1, 2000; 2000, May 10, P.L. 44, No. 16, § 4, effective July 1, 2000; 2001, June 22, P.L. 530, No. 35, § 11, imd. effective; 2006, July 11, P.L. 1092, No. 114, § 2.3, imd. effective; 2011, June 30, P.L. 112, No. 24, § 13, effective in 60 days [Aug. 29, 2011].