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4131P
PERSONNEL - CERTIFIED
Staff Development
PROFESSIONAL GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT
The Board believes that, in order to support the high achievement of students, educators must
have the time and resources to continually improve their practice. The Board also believes that
educators will only reach the high levels of performance set by Colchester Public Schools if they
are provided with the freedom and flexibility to act as practitioners and engage in the process of
continuous improvement.
“Professional Growth and Development” is viewed by the Board of Education (Board) as a
continuous systematic effort to improve educational programs in this school district through (1)
educator involvement in organized program planning, implementation and evaluation efforts,
and (2) activities to upgrade the skills, knowledge and ability of educators to improve student
learning outcomes.
Each certified employee shall annually participate in a program of professional growth and
development, of not fewer than eighteen hours in length, of which the majority of time is spent
in grade level or content area teams. The professional development program shall:
1. be focused upon the continuous improvement of instruction and curriculum, and be
directly responsive to the learning needs of students;
2. be embedded in the professional practice of educators and have a sustained focus and
duration;
3. foster teachers’ collective efficacy to improving student learning outcomes;
4. include training in culturally responsive pedagogy and practice.
5. include, to the greatest extent possible, coaching and expert support, a content focus,
the use of models and modeling, active adult learning experiences, opportunities for
collaboration, feedback, and reflection.
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Professional growth and development experiences, made available by the Board directly, or
through a RESC, with another Board of Education or through a provider approved by the
Commissioner, and shall be consistent with any goals identified by the certified employees and
the Board.
The Board, in order to determine its professional development program, shall establish a
professional development and evaluation committee (PDEC), consisting of certified and other
instructional staff, including representatives of the exclusive bargaining representative for such
employees. Committee membership shall consist of at least one representative from each of the
teachers’ and administrators’ unions and other school personnel the Board deems appropriate.
The duties of the committee shall include, but not be limited to, a) participation in the
development of an educator evaluation and support program for the District, and b) the
development, evaluation and annual updating of a comprehensive local professional
development plan, in fulfillment of the statutes, for certified employees of the District. Such
plan shall (1) be directly related to the educational goals proposed by the Board pursuant to
C.G.S. 10-220(b), (2) be developed in full consideration of the priorities and needs related to
student outcomes as determined by the State Board of Education, and (3) include the
systematic assessment and improvement of the educator evaluation and professional
development plans.
Special effort shall be made to prepare teachers and other school personnel to meet the needs
of students of diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds. Planning and implementation of such
programs shall be done cooperatively by administration, teachers and parent advisory groups.
Special effort shall also be given to administrators and/or supervisors in training pursuant to
their obligations in the evaluation of teachers.
Professional development activities should respond directly to the educational needs of the
student body. The in-service program shall fulfill all applicable statutory requirements,
especially those delineated in CGS 10-220a, as amended.
The Board will allow any paraprofessional or non-certified employee of the District to
participate, on a voluntary basis, in any in-service training program provided to certified staff on
those topics mandated per C.G.S. 10-220a, subsection (a).
The Superintendent is to report annually to the Board of Education on the professional
development program and its effect with recommendations for changes as needed.
PROFESSIONAL GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT Page 2 of 7
(cf. 4115 - Evaluation)
Legal Reference: Connecticut General Statutes
10-27 Exchange of professional personnel and students.
10-220a In-service training. (amended by PA 04-227, PA 08-160, June 19
Special Session, Public Act No. 09-1, PA 10-91, PA 12-116, PA 13-145, PA
15-215, PA 17-37 and PA 19-100)
10-153b Selection of teachers’ representatives
10-226f Coordinator of intergroup relations.
10-226g Intergroup relations training for teachers.
10-145b Teaching certificates (as amended by PA 01-173)
10-148a Professional development (as amended by PA 17-37 and PA
19-100)
10-151(b) Employment of teachers. Definitions. Tenure
PA 17-32 An Act Concerning Human Trafficking
PA 17-37 An Act Implementing the Recommendations of the Task Force
on Professional Development and In-service Training Requirements for
Educators
Policy adopted: May 22, 2012
Policy revised: May 11, 2021
Professional Development
The purpose of professional development shall be to provide for continuous, systematic
improvement of subject matter competence and instruction as well as to create an awareness
of up-to-date educational research and strategies with the goal of improving student learning.
The Board recognizes that professional development is the joint responsibility of individual staff
members, administrators, and the school district. The Board will provide professional
development opportunities which support Board goals and objectives and are developed with
PROFESSIONAL GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT Page 3 of 7
full consideration of priorities and needs related to student outcomes. The Board recognizes its
obligation to support professional development efforts through means such as the granting of
release time, payment for workshops and provision of in-service training programs. In turn, the
Board expects the teaching staff and administrators to demonstrate a commitment to their own
professional learning by participating in and seeking out professional programs and activities
focusing on improving student learning. The Board further expects the professional learning to
result in higher student achievement. Visiting other classrooms and other schools for the
purpose of problem-solving, experimenting, and interacting professionally with colleagues,
working on curriculum development, sharing new learning with colleagues, and joining
professional organizations promote such professional learning.
The Professional Development Committee
In order to promote an ongoing systematic program of professional development, the Board
upon recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools, shall establish a professional
development committee consisting of certified employees and administrators, including
representatives of the bargaining unit. The duties of the committee shall include, but not be
limited to, the development, evaluation, and annual updating of a comprehensive professional
development plan for certified employees of the District.
The Professional Development Committee shall delegate to the Director of Curriculum and
Professional Development responsibility for day-to-day initiating, overseeing, and evaluating
professional development programs and activities in compliance with applicable laws and
regulations. Proposals for projects and activities will be reviewed on a regular basis.
Responsibilities of the Professional Development Committee
Responsibilities of the Professional Development Committee shall include the following:
1. To annually assess the needs for professional development emphasizing student learning
in full consideration of priorities and needs related to student outcomes as determined
by the State Board of Education.
2. To serve as a liaison for the public, the Board, the administration and the staff on
matters related to professional development.
3. To regularly report to the Superintendent and/or Board about the district’s ongoing,
systematic program of professional development as related to the Strategic Plan and an
evaluation of the opportunities offered.
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These responsibilities shall be performed in accordance with the following:
1. State mandates and full consideration of priorities relating to student outcomes as
determined by the State Board of Education.
2. Colchester Public Schools Strategic Plan and current initiatives.
3. Projected program changes related to the ongoing curriculum development and
review.
4. Present level of expertise in teaching skills and subject matter.
5. Individual staff members’ goals related to improving student learning as arrived at
by mutual consensus of the staff member and his/her evaluator as part of the
yearly evaluation process.
The Board will allow any paraprofessional or noncertified employee of the District to
participate, on a voluntary basis, in any in-service training program provided to certified staff.
Legal Reference: Connecticut General Statutes
10-27 Exchange of professional personnel and students
10-220a In-service training (amended by PA 04-227, PA 08-160 and June
19 Special Session, Public Act No. 09-1)
10-153b Selection of teachers’ representatives
10-226f Coordinator of intergroup relations
10-226g Intergroup relations training for teachers
10-145b Teaching certificates (as amended by PA 01-173)
PROFESSIONAL GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT Page 5 of 7
4131P
PROFESSIONAL GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT: APPENDIX
Connecticut General Statutes 10-220a - In-service Training
A. Required In-service Topics for Certified Personnel
1. Nature and the relationships of drugs and alcohol to health and personality
development and procedures for discouraging their abuse.
2. Health and mental health risk reduction education including, but not limited to
the prevention of risk-taking behavior by children and the relationship of such
behavior to substance abuse, pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, including
HIV-infection and AIDS, violence, teen dating, domestic violence and child abuse.
3. School violence prevention and conflict resolution and the prevention of and
response to youth suicide and the identification and prevention of bullying and
response to bullying, as defined in 10-222d, subsection (a) as amended. (Boards
that implement an evidence-based model approach approved by the SDE are not
required to provide in-service training on the identification and prevention of
and response to prevention of bullying.)
4. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation and other emergency life-saving procedures.
5. Requirements and obligations of a mandated reporter regarding reporting of
child abuse and neglect.
6. Training in the detection and recognition of, and evidence-based structured
literacy interventions for, students with dyslexia.
7. Training in the awareness of human trafficking issues.
8. Culturally responsive pedagogy and practice.
B. Optional In-Service Topics for Certified Personnel
The State Department of Education, within available appropriates and utilizing available
materials, shall make the following subject matter available to boards of education:
● Holocaust and genocide education and awareness
● African-American and black studies (required commencing July 1, 2021)
● Puerto-Rican and Latino studies (required commencing July 1, 2021)
● Native American History
● Personal Financial Management
● The historical events surrounding the Great Famine in Ireland
● Domestic violence and teen dating violence
● Mental health first aid training
PROFESSIONAL GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT Page 6 of 7
● Trauma-informed practices for the school setting to enable teachers,
administrators and pupil personnel to more adequately respond to students with
mental, emotional or behavioral health needs
● Second language acquisition, including, but not limited to, language
development and cultural responsive pedagogy
Topics approved by the State Board of Education upon the request of local or regional
boards of education as part of in-service training programs pursuant to CGS 10-220a,
section 3.
NOTE: The Board may include any of the items listed above (Section B) in its in-service training
program, pursuant to CGS 10-220a.
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