East Palestine City School District

LOCAL LPDC MINUTES

LOCAL LPDC FORMS

• Application for Appointment to the LPDC

• Individual Professional Development Plan (IPDP)

• Individual Professional Development Log (IPDP_LOG)

• Request for Graduate Course Approval (GRAD_CR)

• Request for Workshop / Conference / Webinar CEU Approval (WEB_WC)

• Request for "Other Activity" CEU Approval (CEU_OA)

• Approval Verification for Educator's Leaving the LPDC (APV_LV)

LPDC PHILOSOPHY

The East Palestine City School District Local Professional Development Committee (LPDC) believes that one vital component that will contribute to student performance is an ongoing program of staff professional development. Every educator has the primary responsibility for developing and implememting their individual professional development plan (IPDP). Each Individual Professional Development Plan will contribute to achieving the overall goals of the district's Continuous Improvement Plan (CIP). It is the purpose of the LPDC to not only grant approval to the IPDP of educators, but to also provide input into district-wide professional development opportunities.

LPDC PURPOSE

The LPDC is responsible for determining whether course work or equivalent professional development activities related to teaching and/or the area of licensure meet the requirements of the Standards. It is to ensure that professional development aligns with the Ohio Improvement Plan of the District.

LPDC MEMBERSHIP

The East Palestine City Schools Local Professional Development Committee is hereby established as the name of the entity required by Senate Bill 230. This committee shall be district-wide in scope and shall be the only committee of its type authorized to operate within the district. The committee is repsonsible to the superintendent.

The LPDC Committee shall be composed of the following: Three (3) teacher representatives will be appointed by the exclusive bargaining unit of the teachers. Two (2) administrators shall be appointed by the board.

The terms of the committee members shall be three years.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

1. What is the Local Professional Development Committee (LPDC)? With the change in state law in regard to licensure, every school district must set up a local committee to oversee professional development. This committee will assist educators with renewal of current certification and eventually with obtaining and renewing a professional educator license.

2. Who serves on the LPDC? The committee consists of 3 teacher representatives and 2 administrators

3. How will the LPDC affect me? The LPDC will approve all professional development activities.

4. What is an Individual Professional Development Plan (IPDP)? The IPDP is a form filed with the LPDC. The purpose of this form is to provide the LPDC with information as to how you plan to renew your certificate or license.

5. Who must file an IPDP? Any educator renewing a license must complete the appropriate section(s) of the IPDP.

6. Will I need to convert my certificate to a license? If you have a permanent certificate, you never have to convert to a license. Any other current certificates may be renewed one time after September 1, 1998, under the “old” standards. After this grace renewal, your certificate must be transferred to a 5-year license.

7. What are the requirements to convert to a license? You must complete either of the following, or a combination of the following:

6 semester hours of coursework
18 CEU's

8. How can I earn CEUs? CEUs can now be earned for professional workshops, action research, mentorships, supervision of a student teacher, grant writing, local committee work, and any other professional growth activity approved by the LPDC.

9. How do I obtain approval for CEU’s? You must request approval for workshops offered by professional development providers, as well as activities, in advance of their completion. You will be notified if this activity is approved for CEU’s.

10. How many licenses can I have? Each educator will have only one license. Multiple certificates will be phased out. As your old certificates expire and you convert them to your license, each area listed on your old certificate will be added to your license.

11. How much will a license cost? The five-year license will cost $200. Each educator will have only one license. As your old certificates expire and are added to your existing license, there will be a $20 fee each time areas are added to your license.

12. What licensure/certification service does the LPDC not provide? The LPDC does not renew or approve temporary certificates, licenses or validations, or add new areas to a certificate or license.

The LPDC does not renew certificates or licenses for those substitute teachers who use six semester hours of college credit to renew and elect to apply directly to the Ohio Department of Education.

The LPDC does not renew the certificates or licenses of some Ohio Department of Education certificate holders who also hold licenses from their respective State of Ohio licensing boards (i.e. School audiologist, School social workers, School speech-language pathologists, School nurses).

13. Will the LPDC advisors help me in writing my IPDP? Yes.

DIRECTIONS FOR WRITING AN IPDP

1. Each educator in the district should complete the Individual Professional Development Plan (IPDP).

2. A companion for the Professional Development Plan is the educator’s Individual Professional Development Log. This is an excellent way to record progress toward meeting growth goals and the hours or CEUs completed for renewal.

HOW TO RENEW A 2 YEAR PROVISIONAL LICENSE

• The district LPDC must review the renewal of the 2-year provisional license.

• The renewal of a 2-year provisional license requires the following since the issue date of the license to be renewed:

1. Completion of (3) semester hours (6-9 hours if lapsed);
2. Successful completion of entry-year program and assessment process

• An Individual Professional Development Plan (IPDP) must be filed with the LPDC. Once you have completed the requirements for renewal, get an application for licensure renewal from the LPDC.

• Turn application, license renewal form and college transcripts in to the LPDC. The LPDC will then submit your application to the Ohio Department of Education.

• You will receive 2 copies of your license at your home address. You must turn 1 copy into the LPDC.

*CHECKLIST FOR THE CERTIFICATE RENEWAL PROCESS*

1. Did I develop an Individual Professional Development Plan (IPDP)?
2. Did I submit my IPDP to the Local Professional Development Committee (LPDC)?
3. Did I complete all required forms (see appendix)?
4. Did I complete my plan through coursework, CEUs or approved equivalent activities?
5. Have I sent my renewal application and fee to the LPDC?

HOW TO RENEW A 5-YEAR PROFESSIONAL LICENSE

Important! Renewal coursework must be completed at a college or university approved by the Ohio Board of Regents to grant the baccalaureate degree, or the equivalent if completed outside the state of Ohio. Professional education coursework must be completed at an institution approved for teacher education by the Ohio State Board of Education The district LPDC must review the renewal of the 5-year professional license.

• The district LPDC must review the renewal of the 5-year professional license.

• The renewal of a 5-year professional license requires the following since the issue date of the license to be renewed:

1. Completion of (6) semester hours or (9) quarter hours of college coursework; OR

2. The completion of (18) local CEU’s approved by the district LPDC.

• An Individual Professional Development Plan must be filed with the LPDC.

• Semester hours and/or quarter hours may be mixed with CEU’s. Refer to the certificate renewal form and/or conversion chart for information on how to convert semester/quarter hours and CEU’s.

• If you are using CEU’s - you must file:

1. A copy of the certificate of credit for state granted CEU’s

2. A copy of the form granting CEU approval for locally granted CEU’s
3. Appropriate Certificates of Completion or other documentation for completion of approved activities

• Once you have met the requirements for renewal, complete the official Ohio Dept. of Education Certification Renewal form.

• Turn in the necessary documentation and fee with your application to the LPDC. The LPDC will then submit your application to the Ohio Department of Teacher Certification.

• You will receive 2 copies of your license at your home address. You must turn 1 copy into the LPDC to be filed.

*CHECKLIST FOR THE CERTIFICATE RENEWAL PROCESS*

1. Did I develop an Individual Professional Development Plan (IPDP)?
2. Did I submit my IPDP to the Local Professional Development Committee (LPDC)?
3. Did I complete all required forms (see appendix)?
4. Did I complete my plan through coursework, CEUs or approved equivalent activities?
5. Have I sent my renewal application and fee to the LPDC?

LPDC APPEALS PROCESS

The review and approval of an educator’s professional development plan by the district LPDC is a matter of legal and ethical importance, and the school district and its Local Professional Development Committee recognizes the need to provide due process to an educator who feels that his/her professional development plan has not received fair consideration by the district LPDC in accordance with Ohio law and district procedures.

The Appeals Process is initiated by an educator whose professional development plan is not approved by the district LPDC. For the purposes of definition, the “plan” includes all of its components: educator goals, activities, and approval of local continuing education units and university coursework.

Reconsideration is the first step in an appeal. If the district LPDC does not approve an educator’s professional development plan, the educator has the opportunity to request reconsideration of his/her plan by the committee. This request should be made in writing by the educator to the Chairperson of the district LPDC. During this reconsideration, the educator may submit such additional documentation, explanation or correction to permit approval of the educator’s professional development plan by the committee. Following the conclusion of this reconsideration process and deliberation of the district LPDC, the committee shall communicate its approval or lack of approval of the educator’s professional development plan in writing and within fifteen days to the educator.

If the professional development plan is not approved, the educator may request review by the district superintendent. This request should be made by the educator in writing to the Chairperson of the district LPDC within ten days following the reconsideration and receipt of the decision of the LPDC by the educator. The superintendent shall review the educator’s professional development plan and its supporting materials exactly as they existed at the conclusion of the reconsideration stage.

If you have any questions regarding the local professional development committee, please contact Rick Ellis at 330-426-4191.