Professional Development Fund

The Professional Development Fund is a product of the Collective Bargaining Agreement negotiated between the Board of Education and the Cincinnati Federation of Teachers. A committee of teachers and administrators capturing the intent and spirit of the cooperative process began developing the guidelines for this fund in September 1988. The committee recognized the value of professional growth, not only for the individual teacher participating in a self-development program but also for the entire school district. The committee agreed that maintaining a high quality professional growth program sharpens skills of teachers, introduces new and creative ideas, serves as a catalyst to productivity and increases the spirit of collegiality among professional educators at all levels. The committee assumed that a fund of this nature would generate a large number of requests. It spent a great deal of time deliberating as to how this fund could serve the needs of a varied and complex workforce. The committee never lost sight of the fact that providing resources for teachers to improve their skills would ultimately improve the quality of education that students receive.

IMPORTANT NOTES:

Please note that funds are available based on availability. If the PDF committee receives a high volume of applicants, random assignment will be used to select the applicants to be funded.

 Cincinnati Teachers Professional Development Fund (CTPDF)

2025-2026 5th &1st cycle Guidelines

Introduction

The Cincinnati Teachers Professional Development Fund (CTPDF) is a product of the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) negotiated between the Board of Education and the Cincinnati Federation of Teachers. A committee of teachers and administrators capturing the intent and spirit of the cooperative process began developing the guidelines for this fund in September 1988. The committee recognized the value of professional growth, not only for the individual teacher participating in a self-development program but also for the entire school district. The committee agreed that maintaining a high quality professional growth program sharpens skills of teachers, introduces new and creative ideas, serves a catalyst to productivity and increases the spirit of collegiality among professional educators at all levels. The committee assumed that a fund of this nature would generate a large number of requests. It spent a great deal of time deliberating as to how this fund could serve the needs of a varied and complex workforce. The committee never lost sight of the fact that providing resources for CFT members to improve their skills would ultimately improve the quality of education that students receive. 

Guidelines

The committee believes that all of those eligible for the fund covered under the Collective Bargaining Agreement (referred to in this document as “CFT member”) should have access to the CTPDF and that the fund should be administered in a fair and judicious manner. To ensure this, the following guidelines were developed:

Budget

1. Per the Professional Development MOU, the CTPDF has a budget of $325,000 for 2025-2026 fiscal school year . 

Cycles 5th and 1st (May 25, 2026-August 2, 2026)  are allotted $195,000 for professional development during summer months.

2.  The school fiscal year is from July 1-June 30. An applicant may travel one time during 5th or 1 cycle (not both cycles) in the same year, not fiscal year.

3. The allotted amount per individual for 5th and 1st Cycle  is up to $2500.00 per CFT member.   

Please note that the guidelines and dates are subject to change. 

Allocation

1.  Money will be allocated on a reimbursement basis to CFT members who request attendance at a recognized national conference, convention, workshop or training that directly relates to their work responsibilities.

2. Money will be allocated to fund domestic travel to national conferences, conventions, workshops and training within the United States.  The conference may be in person or virtual.  Travel to out-of-state associated conferences, conventions, workshops, or training will be considered on a case-by-case basis and considered against possible in-state options. 

3.     Consideration will be given first to full time employees. Full time employees, per the CBA, are employees who are employed at a FTE of .6 or higher.  Considerations will then be given to part time employees in descending order of percentage employed by the District.  Staff will be approved for PD during school cycles. 

4. The fund will be accessible to a CFT member during the summer travel ( May 25, 2026-August 2, 2026). Please note that funds are based on availability.  If the PDF committee receives a high volume of applicants, a random selection process will be used to select the applicants to be funded.

5.    Priority is given to two council delegates per a fiscal school year (July 1-June 30) according to the process outlined on the required delegate form.

A.  Please complete the PDF application.  No council delegate joint applications will be accepted.
B.  Two signatures are required on the form.  Email your delegate form to Joyce Fischer.  

C.  Please complete the PDF reimbursement form at the conclusion of your travel (within 21 days). 

6. These funds may not be used to pay for graduate studies or degrees that award semester hours. Tuition will not be reimbursed. 

7. A request to attend a professional conference/convention may be denied if the Committee 

administering the fund believes that the absence of each CFT member conflicts with a critical event of the district and would have an adverse impact on the education of children (for example, a CFT member responsible for administering any CPS mandated test). 

Prior to, making a judgment of this nature, the committee administering the fund shall review the

matter thoroughly. The CFT member who had been denied a request will be informed of the reason for the denial.

The following time frames are “blackout” periods for the CTPDF allocation:

A.  District-wide Professional Development Days

B.  Third (3rd) grade teachers: Fall test administration

C.  K-12 teachers: Spring test administration

8.       The committee will reimburse food, hotel, and ground transportation for one day prior to        conference and/or one day after the conference.  Additional days will be covered by the applicant. 

Please note that substitute coverage is only available for up to three (3) days.

Application Process

A standardized application form will be available online through the  Professional Development Fund website. The application must be completed in its entirety. Disqualification of an application may occur if information is incomplete. The following must be submitted:

• Please check your conference dates, to make sure that you are applying in the right cycle.

• Please follow the directions in the Google application form.

• Personal explanation (in your own words) of how the conference directly relates to your certificated position assignment.

• Joint Application: You may turn in one application for both applicants that will be considered jointly through the selection process. Please indicate on the application that it is a joint application.  

• Group Travel:  If you are traveling in groups, you may not use the same personal explanation of how the conference directly relates to your certificated position assignment.  Each person in your group must complete a separate application.

Application Dates

Please read the 5th &1stth cycles guidelines before completing the application. An applicant may travel one time during the 5th &1st  travel cycle. You may receive up to $2,500. Joint applications may apply for $2,500 each. If you have been employed with the district, less than 5 years, please submit the new hire application.

5th Cycle Summer Travel (May 25, 2026 –June 30, 2026)  

Applications are accepted from Tuesday Mar 3, 2026 to Monday March 9, 2026 (Extension). Application must be submitted by 8am. 

 The PDF committee will meet on Wednesday, March 11th, 2026 to review applications.

 Notification will be emailed to the applicants by Wednesday March 20th, 2026

 1st Cycle Summer Travel (July 1, 2026-August 2, 2026)

Applications are accepted fromTuesday Mar 3, 2026 to Monday March 9, 2026 (Extension). Application must be submitted by 8am. 

  The PDF committee will meet on Wednesday, March 11, 2026 to review applications.

 Notification will be emailed to the applicants by Wednesday March 20th, 2026

Reimbursement for Summer Travel Expenses ($2,500) ( May 25, 2026-August 2, 2026

The appropriate Cincinnati Public Schools reimbursement document, “Claim for Travel Expense and/or Consultant’s Compensation,” will be paid according to IRS guidelines as stated on the back of the reimbursement form. Professional Development Fund request form & travel reimbursement expense form, must be submitted within 21 calendar days from last day of conference. If the 21st calendar day falls on a Saturday or Sunday, all documentation must be submitted by the end of the business day on the following work day.  Please note that if you fail to submit your reimbursement claim before or on the 21 calendar day, Accounts Payable may not process your reimbursement claim.  

The fund will reimburse CFT members for expenses as follows:

A.  Conference registration (no membership dues, books, or classroom materials). A copy of the conference schedule must be attached to the reimbursement form.

B.  Transportation - Plane ticket/ baggage fees, transportation to/from airport, transportation to/from hotel, taxis, Lyft, Uber, parking, etc. will be reimbursed.  When CFT members travel together, only the person driving the car can submit for reimbursement for parking. The entire amount should be submitted by the driver of the car. 

Mileage claims reimbursement-(driving your own vehicle), reimbursement will be approved equal up to one coach ticket to and from your conference destination. Please attach a copy of the estimated one coach ticket to your application.

Car Rental-reimbursement will be approved for one vehicle and gas receipts (no mileage claim). No prior approval is needed for a car rental.

 Please attach all receipts for any form of transportation to the reimbursement form. 

* Note rental of a 7 passenger van or sports utility vehicle must be approved by committee (only if you are traveling with a group of certificated employees, please provide the committee with a list of employees traveling in the van or SUV). No reimbursement for insurance, GPS rental, XM radio, etc.

C.  Lodging - The PDF committee will approve lodging provided the conference is at least 50 miles from Cincinnati. AirBnB and VRBO are considered “non-conventional lodging” and can only be used when no other “conventional lodging” is available. Lodging costs may be shared.  

D.  Food - Reimbursements for food purchased prior to the first flight from any of the following cities: Cincinnati, Dayton, Lexington, Indianapolis, Louisville and Columbus will not be reimbursed. Reimbursement will be based upon federal per diem guidelines (www.gsa.gov) and cannot exceed allowable amounts. Food receipts must be itemized. Each person must have his or her own food receipt, regardless of how many people travel or dine together. Alcoholic beverages will not be reimbursed. Room service must be itemized.

E.  Substitute coverage for up to three (3) days

F.  ALL individual receipts must be taped onto a sheet of white paper for each day.  Do not overlap receipts.  Scanner does not scan what is underneath.

As a reminder, prior to review, all reimbursement forms must be time stamped through the Human Resources Department. Or, your email with scanned documents attached will be the timestamp.

Reimbursement claims may take up to 6 weeks.

Decisions regarding approval or denial of a request will be made no later than ten days after the scheduled meeting. Decisions of the CTPDF Committee are final. Both the CFT member and the principal(s) will be informed when approval is granted in order to begin discussing arrangements that need to be made during the absence of the CFT member. The committee administering the fund will also notify those not receiving approval.

FAQ:

Struggling to find conferences?

Please contact your content area Curriculum Council chair and/or colleagues in your department for conference information. 

When do I receive the funds for travel?

Once you are awarded the funds, you must cover all costs of the conference up front. Funds will be reimbursed  AFTER  travel, once receipts are submitted according to the guidelines sent with your approval letter.  If all paperwork is completed accurately, you should receive your reimbursement within 6 weeks of submitting your reimbursement claim.

Am I able to rent a car at my destination?

Yes, you are able to rent a car.  No prior approval is needed. Please include your car rental estimate in the transportation section. If you are renting a car, you may include gas and parking receipts. 

Can I change a conference during my approved application cycle?

Please contact the PDF committee.

What happens if your conference is canceled or no more registrations are being accepted?         Please notify the PDF committee via email immediately.

Can I spend over the government per diem  food allowance?   No, you can spend over the per diem amount allowance per a day. If you wish to eat only lunch and dinner and your amount reaches the per diem allowance, that is okay.

I was approved for $2,500, do I need to spend the amount stated in each category? You may spend up to $2,500.  If you choose not to include a travel category with reimbursement but your reimbursement still total, $2,500 that is okay. 

Video - How to Complete the Application:  https://youtu.be/3mEBbikmoOc

 2025-2026  PDF Committee Members

LaTosha Wright - School Social Worker

Rodger Horton - Teacher

Lisa Galvez - Teacher

Nedria West - Principal

Angela Cook-Frazier - Principal