1998 Florida Code
TITLE XVI EDUCATION
Chapter 231 Personnel Of School System  
231.600   School Community Professional Development Act.

1231.600  School Community Professional Development Act.--

(1)  The Department of Education, public community colleges and universities, public school districts, and public schools in this state shall collaborate to establish a coordinated system of professional development. The purpose of the professional development system is to enable the school community to succeed in school improvement as described in s. 229.591.

(2)  The school community includes administrators, instructional personnel, support personnel, principals, members of school advisory councils, parents, business partners, and personnel that provide health and social services to school children. School districts may identify and include additional members of the school community in the professional development activities required by this section.

(3)  The activities designed to implement this section must:

(a)  Increase the success of educators in guiding student learning and development so as to implement state and local educational initiatives;

(b)  Assist the school community in developing in school children the dispositions that will motivate them to be active learners; and

(c)  Provide continuous support, rather than temporary intervention, for improving the performance of teachers and others who assist children in their learning.

(4)  The Department of Education, school districts, schools, and public colleges and universities share the responsibilities described in this section. These responsibilities include the following:

(a)  The department shall develop and disseminate model professional development methods that have demonstrated success in meeting identified student needs. The Commissioner of Education shall use data on student achievement to identify student needs. The methods of dissemination must include a statewide performance support system, a database of exemplary professional development activities, a listing of available professional development resources, and technical assistance.

(b)  Each district school board shall consult with teachers and representatives of college and university faculty, community agencies, and other interested citizen groups to establish policy and procedures to guide the operation of the district professional development program. The professional development system must:

1.  Require that schools identify student needs that can be met by improved professional performance, and assist schools in making these identifications;

2.  Provide training activities coupled with followup support that is appropriate to accomplish district-level and school-level improvement goals and standards; and

3.  Provide for systematic consultation with regional and state personnel designated to provide technical assistance and evaluation of local professional development programs.

(c)  Each public community college and university shall assist the department, school districts, and schools in the design, delivery, and evaluation of professional development activities. This assistance must include active participation in state and local activities required by the professional development system.

(5)  Each district school board shall provide funding for the system as required by s. 236.081, and shall direct expenditures from other funding sources to strengthen the system and make it uniform and coherent. A school district may coordinate its professional development program with that of another district, with an educational consortium, or with a college or university, especially in preparing and educating personnel.

(6)  The Department of Education shall design methods by which the state and district school boards may evaluate and improve the professional development system. The evaluation must include an annual assessment of data that indicate progress or lack of progress of all students. If the review of data indicates an achievement level that is unusual, the department may investigate the causes of the success or lack of success, may provide technical assistance, and may require the school district to employ a different approach to professional development. The department shall report annually to the State Board of Education and the Legislature any school district that, in the determination of the department, has failed to provide an adequate professional development system. This report must include the results of the department's investigation and of any intervention provided.

(7)  The State Board of Education may adopt rules to administer this section.

History.--s. 41, ch. 73-338; s. 3, ch. 76-168; s. 1, ch. 77-457; ss. 2, 3, ch. 81-318; ss. 28, 29, ch. 82-242; ss. 30, 31, ch. 83-324; ss. 1, 20, 21, ch. 85-238; s. 1, ch. 95-236; s. 10, ch. 98-281.

1Note.--Repealed October 1, 1995, by s. 21, ch. 85-238, but prior to that date was substantially reworded by s. 1, ch. 95-236, effective June 9, 1995; further amended by s. 10, ch. 98-281.