281—83.6 (284) Professional development for teachers.
	 83.6(1) Individual teacher professional development plan. Each school district and area education agency shall support the development and implementation of the individual teacher professional development plan for teachers other than beginning teachers. The purpose of the individual plan is to promote individual and collective professional development. At a minimum, the goals for an individual teacher professional development plan must be based on the relevant Iowa teaching standards that support the student achievement goals of the teacher’s classroom or classrooms, attendance center and school district or area education agency, as appropriate, as outlined in the comprehensive school improvement plan, and the needs of the teacher. The goals shall go beyond those required under the attendance center professional development plan described in subrule 83.6(2), paragraph “c.” The learning opportunities provided to meet the goals of the individual teacher plan include individual study and collaborative study of district-determined or area education agency-determined content to the extent possible. The individual plan shall be developed by the teacher in collaboration with the teacher’s evaluator. An annual meeting shall be held between the teacher’s evaluator and the teacher to review the goals and refine the plan.
	 83.6(2) Professional development for school districts and area education agencies. The following requirements shall apply to professional development for school districts and area education agencies.
	  a.   	 District or area education agency professional development plan. Each school district shall incorporate the district professional development plan into its comprehensive school improvement plan pursuant to Iowa Code subsection 284.6(3). Each area education agency shall develop a professional development plan for the agency as a whole and shall incorporate the same into its comprehensive improvement plan pursuant to rule 281—72.9(273). The district or area education agency professional development plan shall be a long-term plan designed and implemented to increase student achievement and shall include all site and district or area education agency personnel responsible for instruction. The district or area education agency professional development plan shall contain, but not be limited to, the following:
	 (1) 	 Documentation that the professional development is based on student data and other needs assessment; aligned with district student achievement goals; and focused on instruction, curriculum, and assessment.
	 (2) 	 Documentation that professional development learning opportunities are research-based and aligned with the Iowa teaching standards and criteria.
	 (3) 	 Identification of the approved professional development provider(s).
	 (4) 	 A description of a process that includes theory, demonstration, practice, observation, collaboration, and the study of implementation.
	 (5) 	 A description of a program evaluation design for formative and summative evaluation processes.
	  b.   	 Professional development standards. Implementation of a school district’s or area education agency’s professional development plan shall meet the following standards:
	 (1) 	 Align with the Iowa teaching standards and criteria;
	 (2) 	 Deliver research-based instructional strategies aligned with the student achievement goals established by the district;
	 (3) 	 Deliver professional development training and learning opportunities that are targeted at instructional improvement and designed with the following components:
	  1. 	 Student achievement data and analysis;
	  2. 	 Theory;
	  3. 	 Classroom demonstration and practice;
	  4. 	 Observation and reflection;
	  5. 	 Teacher collaboration and study of implementation; and
	  6. 	 Integration of instructional technology, if applicable;
	 (4) 	 Include an evaluation component of professional development that documents the improvement in instructional practice and the effect on student learning; and
	 (5) 	 Support the professional development needs of district licensed staff responsible for instruction.
	  c.   	 Attendance center professional development plans. Each attendance center within a school district shall develop an attendance center professional development plan as a means of promoting group professional development. An attendance center professional development plan shall further the needs of the teachers in the attendance center and shall enhance the student achievement goals of the attendance center and the goals of the district.
	  d.   	 Individual professional development plans. The school district and area education agency shall support the development and implementation of the individual teacher professional development plan for each teacher as outlined in subrule 83.6(1). Each individual teacher professional development plan shall align to the fullest extent possible with the district professional development plan.
	  e.   	 Beginning teacher mentoring and induction. The school district shall support the development and implementation of a beginning teacher mentoring and induction plan as outlined in subrule 83.3(3). The district beginning teacher mentoring and induction plan shall be included in the comprehensive school improvement plan submitted pursuant to Iowa Code section 256.7(21), paragraph “a,” and shall align with the district professional development plan described in subrule 83.6(2), paragraph “a.”
	  f.   	 Organizational support for professional development. The school district shall provide resources and support for the district professional development plan, including professional development provider(s), time for collaborative work of staff, budget, policies, and procedures.
	 83.6(3) Professional development provider requirements.
	  a.   	 A provider may be a school district, an area education agency, a higher education institution, a public or private entity including a professional organization that provides long-term, ongoing support of the district’s or area education agency’s professional development plan, or a consortium of any of the foregoing. An educational organization or program with specific professional development accreditation or approval from the department is an approved provider.
	  b.   	 Provider approval procedures must be followed to approve providers identified in the district’s or area education agency’s professional development plan that are not currently accredited or approved through state accreditation procedures. The potential provider must submit to the school district a written application that provides the following documentation:
	 (1) 	 How the provider will deliver technical assistance that meets the Iowa professional development standards provided in subrule 83.6(2), paragraph “b.”
	 (2) 	 How the provider intends to assist the local district in designing, implementing, and evaluating professional development that meets the requirements established in subrule 83.6(2), paragraph “a.”
	 (3) 	 A description of the qualifications of the provider.
	 (4) 	 Evidence of the provider’s expertise in professional development.
	 (5) 	 A budget.
	 (6) 	 Procedures for evaluating the effectiveness of the technical assistance delivered by the provider.
[ARC 8808B, IAB 6/2/10, effective 7/7/10]