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It is the responsibility of the individual holding a certificate to maintain proper certification while employed in the Falmouth Public Schools.
Renewal of a 5 year professional certificate follows this process.
0. Know your certification expiration date.
Access your certification at the Maine DOE Certification Website.
1. Submit a Professional Renewal Plan to the LCC
Professional Renewal Plan (PREP)
Purple Form
In order to receive credit for activities, a professional renewal plan must be on file with the LCC. This can be submitted and revised at any time during your 5 year renewal cycle. You may choose to write your own goals or choose goals that have already been pre-approved by the LCC
Purple-Professional Renewal forms are available in teachers' rooms and electronically at this link: PREP Form
2. a. Choose Pre-Approved Professional Development Activities
Many professional learning activities are pre-approved in our system.
APPENDIX A: PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES
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)
2b. Some activities are NOT pre-approved and require advance approval of the PLCSS Committee
Special Projects and Travel for Educational Purposes
Special Projects and Travel for Educational Purposes must be pre-approved by the LCC.
Special Projects and Travel for Educational Purposes must be pre-approved by the LCC.
Submit this pre-approval form PRIOR to beginning any work.
In the summer months, you must have a postmark prior to the beginning of any work.
Mail to:
Shawn Towle, PLCSS Chair
157 Stevens Avenue
Portland, Maine 04102
You will get a decision, in writing, from the LCC after the next monthly meeting.
Part III. Special Projects - 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
3. Document Professional Activities to Earn Recertification Credit
Blue Form (Fall 2021)1. Complete a Professional Development Activity Report (blue form) for each activity
Professional Development Activity Report (blue form)
Question 1 on the form is to summarize the activity. Describe the "what" of the activity.
Question 2 is meant to be reflective. How does the activity help you meet your goal/enhanced professional growth in your endorsement area. Be specific. Give examples of how the learning would translate into you professional work in the classroom with students. Further Help with Reflection in Question 2.
2. Attach supporting documentation to the blue form to support recertification hours requested.
College courses: Transcript or grade report (unofficial is ok)
Peer Observations: Notes from observations and dates/times observed
PLTs: List all meeting dates and times attended. NEW: Print the page from teachpoint with your reflection and the signature of the administrator. Staple this to a blue form and say "see attached."
SCT: List all meeting dates and times attended. The district SCT coordinator confirms the total hours with their signature.
Special Projects: A list of dates, hours and time worked. A product that demonstrates completion of the project. REQUIRES PRE-APPROVAL.
Summer Curriculum work: A list of dates/hours/times worked, with a brief summary of work completed. The signature of the building administrator confirms completion of the work and confirms the times listed.
Teacher Leader: A signature from the building administrator. Attach dates/times of meetings attended.
Travel for Educational Purposes: A detailed summary that includes specific dates/times/hours/activities connected to professional learning. REQUIRES PRE-APPROVAL
Webinars: Confirmation email of attendance and/or webinar certificate of completion. If certificate is not available, submit notes along with date/time attended.
Workshops: A signed certificate from the facilitator/group providing the workshop documenting contact hours or if a certificate is not available, submit notes along with date(s)/time(s) attended.
3. Submit the blue form and attached documentation to a LCC representative in your building
4. After the next LCC meeting, you will receive an email from the LCC secretary documenting decisions made and credit granted.
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