Memorandum

To: Adult Basic and Literacy Education Directors/Coordinators

From: Denise L. Pottmeyer, State Director, Adult Basic and Literacy Education

CC: State ABLE Consultants, State Leadership Network

Subject: Fiscal Year 2008 Professional Development Process and Policies

Date:  February 1, 2007

The Ohio Department of Education, Adult Basic and Literacy Education Office is committed to the support of local ABLE programs and staff in their continuous improvement efforts. To assist you in meeting the Professional Development Assurances in your approved ABLE grant, we provide resources and a process to lead your staff in the development of a professional development plan.

As an ABLEgrantee, you complete your grant proposal with specific program goals and outcomes. It is also time for you and your staff to develop Individual Professional Development Plans (IPDP) and a Program Professional Development Plan (PPDP) to support these goals for FY 2008. We encourage you to review the Goals and Action Plans of your FY 2008 ABLE grant to determine your professional development needs. The following resources are on the ABLE Web site at ode.state.oh.us> ABLE> Professional Development > Professional Development Materials.

The following documents will assist you in the process:

1.  ODE Professional Development Fiscal Policy/Guidelines for FY 2008

2.  Program Professional Development Plan (PPDP)

3.  Individual Professional Development Plan (IPDP)

The Resource Center Network (RCN), funded by our office, provides the means for programs to access a variety of professional development opportunities relevant to staff working in the five component service areas. The mission of the RCN is to support the ABLE system to enhance student achievement. The RCN continues to improve the professional development system each year.

Instead of a catalog this year, the Resource Centers will provide training descriptions online by March 30^th. You can access these by going to the PD calendar at  http://mercury.educ.kent.edu/database/rcn/calendar_results.cfm.   In addition, other opportunities may arise throughout the year and will be announced by the RCN.

The following steps are used to guide you in incorporating professional development (PD) in your planning process and in meeting your professional development grant assurances:

1. Each instructional staff member should complete the Instructor Competencies Self-Assessment Instrument before coming together as a group to discuss PD.

2. The ABLE Director convenes ABLE staff to discuss goals and activities planned in the proposed FY 2008 grant application. We suggest that you share the grant document with your staff members, so they can see the role each person plays in contributing towards the performance outcomes identified in the grant.   Also, please use appropriate ABLELink data to identify areas needing improvement.

3. After this preparation is completed, the staff should discuss PD needs, both individual and program. Three main questions should be answered:

1. Is the proposed PD activity focused on skills and knowledge needed to support higher levels of student achievement?
2. Is the proposed PD aligned with the goals and action plans of the grant?
3. Is the proposed PD activity sustainable?

The plans must align with targeted improvement goals and reflect all activities for which financial support is being requested through the RCN. Then, each IPDP is completed and signed by the ABLE Director.

4. The ABLE Director summarizes the IPDPs on the Program Professional Development Plan, making sure that the IPDP plans address the needs of the program.

5. There is a new form called the Staff Credential Form.  All instructional staff need to be listed on the form with their certification/license.

6. The ABLE Director submits one (1) copy of each staff member's Individual Professional Development Plan and two (2) copies of the Program Professional Development Plan with the Staff Credential Form to his/her ODE State ABLE Consultant by May 4, 2007, as part of the grant submission process. The ABLE consultants will forward the IPDPs and one copy of the PPDP to the appropriate RRC to assist in PD planning.

If you have any questions about the professional development process, please contact your ODE State ABLE Consultant or your ABLE Regional Resource Center.