Section 511 IAC 6.2-4-3 - Core principles of professional developmentAuthority: IC 20-19-2-11; IC 20-20-31
Affected: IC 20-31-5
Sec. 3.
The following are core principles of professional development:
(1) Professional development programs will address issues that are relevant to the priorities of education improvement and reflect the knowledge base of the profession by doing the following: (A) Reflecting research-based approaches to effective adult learning, student learning, and organizational change to support ongoing developmental activities. While tapping educators' life experiences and drawing on the knowledge base from effective research, a variety of modes of learning are used to foster self-directed professional development opportunities.(B) Integrating education improvement priorities. Consistent and continuous links are made with the school improvement plan, the Indiana professional standards board, and the Indiana state board of education policy.(C) Incorporating both discipline-specific and interdisciplinary approaches to teaching, assessment, and preparation for the world of work. Professional growth experiences enhance educators' knowledge within and across subject areas and their ability to foster and assess students' problem solving and critical thinking skills.(D) Including explicit strategies for setting high expectations and meeting the diverse learning needs of all students. Training activities increase educators' capacity to implement developmentally-appropriate practices to establish challenging learning goals and respond to the uniqueness of each student.(E) Receiving adequate resources. Every public school in Indiana must receive the financial resources and support services needed to provide the most effective professional development program, as described within these principles.(2) Professional development program will engage educators in an effective learning process that impacts practice by doing the following:(A) Actively involving participants in program design, delivery, and implementation. Professional growth opportunities reflect educators' needs as determined from multiple data sources grounded in and linked with the school improvement plan. All stakeholders shall be engaged in meaningful job-embedded opportunities to effectively support practice that lead to improved student learning.(B) Promoting multiple strategies that model recommended strategies. Opportunities for professional development incorporate varied approaches, such as theory, demonstration, reflection, practice, mentoring, technology applications, and peer dialogue and coaching.(C) Incorporating follow-up activities that are sustained over time and provide educators with ongoing feedback. The professional development program provides a range of opportunities for staff to integrate the new strategies into their work with children through practice, feedback, and reflection.(D) Continuously evaluating impact on educators' practice and student learning. The effectiveness of professional development is determined by its impact on staff performance and student learning.(3) Professional development programs will contribute to developing an environment that support educators' professional growth by doing the following:(A) Fostering collegiality and collaboration. Professional growth opportunities encourage staff to build a community of educators, parents, business, and community partners who exchange ideas for innovation, cooperate in developing curricula, and discuss approaches to strengthening student learning by focusing on the school community as a culture of inquiry.(B) Building capacity through a continuum of ongoing improvement activities. Professional development activities maintain a focus on the improvement of practices that increase student learning and link to the school improvement plan and the standards developed by the Indiana professional standards board and the Indiana state board of education policy.(C) Integrating staff development into educators' practice. The professional development program incorporates supports for staff to implement newly acquired strategies and assess them for their impact on student learning.(D) Encouraging innovation and risk-taking. As a result of staff development activities, the school community recognizes the need for action research which assists educators, leading toward innovations improving student learning.Indiana State Board of Education; 511 IAC 6.2-4-3; filed Aug 28, 2001, 11:20 a.m.: 25 IR 83; readopted filed Nov 20, 2007, 11:36 a.m.: 20071219-IR-511070386RFA; readopted filed Dec 2, 2013, 3:26 p.m.: 20140101-IR-511130419RFA