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Lodi Unified School District

Policy 4131.6 - Professional Growth

Series: 4000 - Personnel

Policy: 4131.6 - Professional Growth

Adopted: 01/11/1968

Last Revised: 09/21/2004 (technical revision - renumbered)

Download Policy 4131.6 - Professional Growth PDF (English)

Download Rule 4131.6 - Professional Growth PDF (English)

Professional Growth

  1. Intent
    Lodi Unified School District encourages all personnel to keep current in their respective disciplines. The District shares responsibility for the identification of District needs and individual needs for personal/professional growth. Opportunities for in-service training are cooperatively planned and reviewed with employees and post-secondary systems.

    It is assumed that as a condition of their employment and as a part of their professional responsibility, teachers will meet the requirements of proper preparation for their individual teaching assignments and keep themselves informed of developments that relate to their field of specialization.

    The intent of this policy is to establish basic principles and regulations by which teachers may be guided in the attainment of further professional growth and effectiveness.
     
  2. Policy
    1. All courses for advancement on the salary schedule must be approved in writing on District Course Approval Form A (unless the course or activity is arranged and approved through the office of District Staff Development) before the course or activity is begun.
    2. Salary schedule advancement credit may be met by earning college or university units obtained from accredited post-secondary institutions (Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC), or other regional counterparts).

Rule 4131.6

Professional Growth

  1. Credential Renewal and/or Salary Schedule Growth

    1. Professional Growth hours may be earned toward credential renewal as required by Education Code 44277 and Title V Regulations, sections 80550- 80565.
    2. Units for advancement on the salary schedule must be earned from post secondary institutions accredited by WASC or corresponding regional accrediting associations.
       
  2. Qualifications
    1. Courses for salary advancement must be goal directed. Additional credentials or degrees applicable to the field of education, courses meeting the requirements of the staff development component of the school plan, and courses that are related to the curriculum of the Lodi Unified School District are appropriate.
    2. District initiated in-service training or workshops (often arranged with a cooperating post-secondary institution which supplies the instruction) outside of the normal workday at which attendance is voluntary may receive units for salary schedule advancement if the College/University credit is arranged with the teaching institution with costs borne by the participant.
    3. Tuition and credit for courses offered by accredited post-secondary institutions (Western Association of Schools and Colleges or other regional counterparts) independent of any District involvement are the responsibility of the participant. University and College courses to be considered for salary advancement are subject to prior approval of the Director of Certificated Personnel.
    4. A repeat course may qualify if there is a material difference between the original course and the current one. A junior college or lower division course may qualify if it is in an area of study requiring prerequisite work and/or is in an area of study that is identified as a District need. Such courses are subject to pre approval by the Director of Certificated Personnel.
    5. Only those correspondence or Internet courses offered by colleges accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges or other regional counterparts of this association will be considered for salary advancement.
       
  3. Regulations
    1. When specific categorical programs require funds to be utilized for teacher training, tuition payments and location will be governed by the conditions of the project and/or by approval of the Superintendent.
    2. Course work taken prior to initial placement on the salary schedule but undeclared at the time placement is determined, shall not subsequently be considered for credit.
    3. Professional growth hours /units (P.G.U.’s) earned in other districts will not be considered in the placement of teachers on the salary schedule of LUSD.
       
  4. Procedures
    1. College/University Credit
      1. All College/University coursework must be completed by September 1 and the transcript/grade card verifying the additional units must be received by the Certificated Personnel Department no later than October 15 in order that credit may be given for that school year.
      2. For proposals requesting College or University units, employees must submit Form A to the Director of Certificated Personnel for consideration. Approval must be obtained prior to enrollment.

Note: Those unit members who are currently (2001-02) held at an experience step within a four-year block pending completion of four (4) units, must complete those four units in order to be placed higher on the salary schedule.