APPENDIX A: PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES
In accordance with Maine state law, the Falmouth Local Credentialing Committee (LCC) must approve professional development activities. Contact hours will only be granted for professional development activities in the field for which you hold an endorsement (or are seeking a new endorsement), or are designed to improve your teaching practice/student learning.
90 contact hours are required every 5 years for professional certificate renewal.
*1 CEU = 10 contact hours *1 credit = 15 contact hours *3 college credits = 45 contact hours
Submit a Special Project Pre-Approval form (pink) only for special projects and Travel for Educational Purposes. Professional development activities must match at least one of the goals on the individual’s Professional Renewal Plan (purple sheet), and subsequently be documented after completion (blue sheet).
I. College level course credits issued by an accredited college or university (approved activities)
II. Contact hours (approved activities)
A. Attending workshops/conferences – i.e. ACTEM, NCTM, NCTE, BER, ATOMIM, MAMLE,
B. Participating in district-sponsored professional learning communities and/or staff development activities that are related to your endorsement area, are designed to improve your teaching practice/student learning, and are a minimum of 1 hour in length.
Example: Professional Learning Team (PLT), content/team meeting regarding curriculum development/alignment, assessment, instruction, student learning.
(Non-example: content/team meeting regarding budget, curriculum materials management, short-term planning—i.e., scheduling, field trip planning, etc.)
C. Observations of peers – up to 15 contact hours over a five-year renewal period
D. Serving as a Teacher Leader – up to 20 hours over a five-year renewal period
Example: Content team leader, technology coordinator, grade level leader
E. Completing National Board certification process – up to 90 contact hours for initial certification (45 contact hours for recertification) over a five-year renewal period.
F. Serving as a PGPE Mentor or LCC Support Mentor – up to 15 hours per assignment and up to 45 hours (3 assignments) over a five-year renewal period
G. Supervising a student teacher or intern - up to 45 contact hours over a five-year renewal period
1. Shared placement – up to 10 contact hours
2. Regular placement (one semester) – up to 25 contact hours
3. Extended placement (full year) – up to 45 contact hours
H. Teaching a college level or adult education course beyond the regular contract – limited to one course and 45 contact hours over a five-year renewal period – 45 contact hours
I. Leadership role in state/national organization in an area related to professional endorsement – up to 15 contact hours over a five-year renewal period
J. Preparation for and presentation of a new workshop – up to 15 contact hours per workshop and up to 60 contact hours over a five-year renewal period
K. International teacher exchange - up to 45 contact hours over a five-year renewal period
L. Participation in the NEASC Accreditation process – up to 45 contact hours over a five-year renewal period
M. Serving on one accreditation visiting team – up to 15 contact hours over a five-year renewal period
N. Participation on a Student Centered Team (SCT) - up to 15 contact hours over a five-year renewal period
O. NEA Microcredentials: Each new credential may earn up to a maximum of 15 contact hours per credential
P. Completion of an LCC Mentoring Plan - up to 15 hours for a 1 year plan; up to 30 hours for a 2-year plan (for mentee)
III. Special Projects/Travel for Educational Purposes - requires Special Project Pre-Approval form (pink) - submitted in advance of any work
A. Special project – for each new individual project up to 15 contact hours per project; up to 60 hours over a five-year renewal period
Examples: independent projects, action research, grant writing, publishing in a field of expertise, teaching a community class, serving on a community committee
B. Travel for educational purposes – up to 45 contact hours over a five-year renewal period
Updated 11/2021 (O)