Md. Code Regs. 13A.12.05.14

Current through Register Vol. 51, No. 22, November 1, 2024

Section 13A.12.05.14 - Individual Professional Development Plans

A. Individual Professional Development Plans.

(1) An educator shall have an individual professional development plan in place for each of the 5 years of validity for each Initial Professional, Professional, and Advanced Professional license issued to the educator.

(2) An individual professional development plan shall include a minimum of 90 professional development points, as set forth in Regulation .15 of this chapter, to renew the educator's license.

(3) Educators who are not employed with a local school system, State-operated school, or nonpublic school approved under COMAR 13A.09.10 are responsible for developing their own individual professional development plan.

B. Approval of an Individual Professional Development Plan.

(1) Educators working in a Maryland local school system, State-operated school, or nonpublic school approved under COMAR 13A.09.10 shall obtain approval of their proposed individual professional development plan from their supervisors.

(2) The educator's supervisor, or an appropriate designee, shall approve proposed individual professional development plans.

(3) Educators shall obtain initial approval of their individual professional development plan within 6 months of issuance of the license to be renewed.

(4) Supervisor Review.

(a) A supervisor shall review the existing individual professional development plan of any educator new to the district or school within 3 months of the educator's beginning employment in the new position.

(b) A supervisor may require an educator to amend the plan or may withdraw approval for a plan that had been previously approved, but the Department shall approve any professional development points that were earned consistently with an approved plan in the application for license renewal.

(5) Signatures.

(a) Before applying to renew an Initial Professional or Professional license, educators shall obtain a signature from a current supervisor.

(b) A supervisor's signature shall indicate that the supervisor has reviewed the log of professional development activities maintained by the educator to ensure that the reported activities are consistent with the approved individual professional development plan.

(c) The educator remains responsible for the final accounting of professional development points applied towards license renewal.

(d) An educator whose supervisor refuses to sign an individual professional development plan may follow the review procedures set forth in §B(7) of this regulation.

(6) Approval of an individual professional development plan may not be unreasonably withheld by a supervisor.

(7) If a plan is rejected by a supervisor, an educator may seek review of the denial from:

(a) The superintendent of schools, or designee, if employed with a local school system;

(b) The Chief Officer of the Legal Authority, or designee, if employed with a nonpublic school approved under COMAR 13A.09.10; or

(c) The Executive Director, or comparable position, if employed with a State-operated school.

Md. Code Regs. 13A.12.05.14

Regulations .14 adopted effective 51:5 Md. R. 231, eff. 4/1/2024.