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From: S Bushart
Sent: Monday, February 06, 2006 9:21 AM
Subject: Eanes ISD Community Update #3
Dear Eanes friends:
As many of you have
experienced first-hand, one of the most basic aspects of a professional's
working life is fulfilling continuing education requirements. This is as true
for educators as it is for doctors and lawyers and accountants.
Unfortunately, in Eanes, at
least two of our most important professionals have failed to keep their
continuing education requirements current--despite promises to the contrary in
2003 and 2004.*
Is this the sort of slide-by
attitude Eanes is going to accept from two of our most important and
highest-paid professionals? Is this this sort of example we wish for them to
set for our children?
You might ask, "Is continuing
education a legal requirement for Texas educators?" Yes, it is.**
You might also ask, "Is this
a policy requirement for Texas educators?" Yes, it is.***
Wishing all the best for our
children, our parents, our teachers and our taxpayers,
Susan Bushart
_______________________________
* According to the attached
correspondence from Eanes, our special education director Cindy Martin was to
have taken continuing education coursework in December 2003; according to
records in January 2005 this was not yet completed. Also, our superintendent
Nola Wellman was to have taken continuing education coursework no later than
August 2004; according to district records also obtained in January 2005 she
still hadn't.
** Texas Administrative
Code 19TAC 89.2 states: "Administrators and counselors who have authority for
program decisions have a minimum of six hours of professional development that
includes nature and needs of gifted/talented students and program options."
*** Eanes ISD Board Policy
DMA (LEGAL) [Note: See link at bottom]
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Eanes ISD
227909
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT:
REQUIRED STAFF DEVELOPMENT |
DMA
(LEGAL) |
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STAFF DEVELOPMENT |
Staff development shall be predominantly campus-based, related to
achieving campus performance objectives, and developed and approved by
the campus-level committee [see BQB]. |
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The staff development provided by the District must be conducted in
accordance with standards developed by the District and designed to
improve education in the District. |
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The staff development may include:
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Training in
technology, conflict resolution, and discipline strategies,
including classroom management, District discipline policies, and
the Student Code of Conduct;
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Training that
relates to instruction of students with disabilities and is designed
for educators who work primarily outside the area of special
education; and
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Instruction as to
what is permissible under law, including opinions of the United
States Supreme Court, regarding prayer in public school.
Education Code
21.451
The District may use
Districtwide staff development that has been developed and approved
through the District-level decision process. Education Code 21.452(c)
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SPECIAL PROGRAMS TRAINING |
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TITLE I
STAFF DEVELOPMENT |
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A
district that receives assistance under Title I shall provide
high-quality professional development that will improve the teaching of
the academic subjects, consistent with the state content standards, to
enable all children to meet the state's student performance standards;
and shall meet the requirements of federal law. 20 U.S.C. 6320(a)
[See EHBD] |
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GIFTED AND
TALENTED EDUCATION |
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The District shall ensure that:
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Prior to assignment
in the program, teachers who provide instruction and services that
are part of the program for gifted students have a minimum of 30
hours of staff development that includes nature and needs of
gifted/talented students, assessing student needs, and curriculum
and instruction for gifted students.
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Teachers without
the required training who provide instruction and services that are
part of the gifted/talented program must complete the 30-hour
training requirement within one semester.
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Teachers who
provide instruction and services that are part of a program for
gifted students receive a minimum of six hours annually of
professional development in gifted education.
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Administrators and
counselors who have authority for program decisions have a minimum
of six hours of professional development that includes nature and
needs of gifted/talented students and program options.
19 TAC 89.2
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All adult education staff hired after September 1, 1996, shall receive
at least 12 clock hours of professional development annually. All staff
new to adult education shall receive six clock hours of preservice
professional development before they begin work in an adult education
program. 19 TAC 89.25(a)(1)(2)
Directors, teachers,
counselors, and supervisors who do not have valid Texas teacher
certification must attend 12 clock hours of in-service professional
development annually in addition to the 12 hours required above until
they have completed either six clock hours of adult education college
credit or attained two years of adult education experience. 19 TAC
89.25(a)(4)(B) |
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The in-service professional development requirements may be reduced in
individual cases if documentation of exceptional circumstances is
submitted to TEA for approval. 19 TAC 89.25(a)(5)
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Records of staff qualifications and professional development shall be
maintained by the District and must be available for monitoring. 19
TAC 89.25(a)(6) |
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RESOURCES FOR STAFF DEVELOPMENT
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If
the District receives resources from the Commissioner's staff
development account, it must pay to the Commissioner for deposit in the
account an amount equal to one-half of the cost of the resources
provided to the District. Education Code 21.453
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http://www.tasb.org/policy/pol/private/227909/pol.cfm?DisplayPage=DMA(LEGAL).html
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