A. Please use the IPDP guidelines to help you draft your goals. You will need to provide an Action, a Focus, and a Rationale. Often times, you will need to include some additional language to help ensure that your goal is understood. We strongly encourage you to not make your goal too specific by including how you plan to receive your learning (i.e. attend workshops and webinars) When you include those things, you are saying that you cannot use any other means of learning to achieve that goal. Who knows what amazing things will be available in 5 years? We don't want you to force yourself into completing your work a certain way. Just include the goal so that you have options for your learning.
A. Activities are often returned if they don't meet the criteria. Please review the Manual or the Activity Approval checklist to ensure that you have met all criteria. Changes will be made to your submissions if you have uploaded something incorrectly. Often times this could include things like: the date, the title, or the number of hours. Sometimes certificates say CEUs but are really contact hours...for example, if a certificate for a one-day training says 6 CEUs, it is not a 60-hour training (which is what that means). It is a 6-hour course, so we will modify it on our end.
A. Any learning towards your goals that does not come with a certificate of attendance will need a pre-approval if you want to use it towards license renewal. Some common things people request pre-approval are: projects, book studies, implementation activities, etc. You should also request pre-approval if you are planning to attend a conference (which you should receive a certificate of attendance for), but plan to seek out additional learning or work based on what you learned (i.e. presenting what was learned to your colleagues, utilizing what was learned to develop a Unit). You can request pre-approval for any of that additional work.
A. You can apply for renewal as early as November in the school year your license is expiring as long as you have 180 approved hours from the LPDC Committee. The earlier you apply, the quicker you will receive your new license and begin being able to work towards your next renewal. If you wait until June, there is a chance that your license renewal will be delayed as many educators across the state will be applying at that time.
A. We are not tied to the ESC of Northeast Ohio's IRN. Originally, we were the ESC of Cuyahoga County. We still use that IRN when applying for license renewal. Here is the IRN# you should use. ESC IRN: #008493
You can find the number, and additional information about the application process on the License Renewal page of this website.
A. This is tough. Our Committee is here to help support the license renewal process. We do our best to communicate with members of our LPDC. Ultimately; however, keeping track of your license expiration date and approved contact hours is your responsibility. There may be options for an extension. But not everyone qualifies for that extension. The best thing you can do is know when your license expires and work towards earning the hours you need well before that date.
A. We strongly suggest you submit your PD hours as soon as you complete them. Don’t hold onto them. We review each activity to ensure its alignment with IPDP goals. As this process does take time, submitting your hours monthly (or annually at a minimum) will help ensure activities are approved in a timely manner and there is no delay when it comes time to apply for license renewal.
A. As soon as possible after you renew your license. You must have a current and approved IPDP on file before any coursework will count towards your next renewal. We strongly recommend a 60-day timeline (within 60 days from the date of hire; within 60 days of joining our LPDC; within 60 days of receiving your new license.
A. An IPDP is an Individualized Professional Development Plan. It is for you. It is supposed to help guide your professional growth goals as an educator. If you’re still working on the same goals after five years, that is okay. But hopefully, you have made some progress and are able to update your goals accordingly.
A. Members are permitted to appeal the following LPDC decisions:
IPDP approval
Coursework or professional development pre-approval/approval
The appeal process is outlined in detail in the LDPC Manual and the appeal form is located on the Guidelines & Resources page. Please review and follow the steps to ensure compliance with policies.
A. Every LPDC establishes its own policies and procedures consistent with ORC and state guidelines. Please review our manual, procedures, and other guidelines. We cannot speak to how your former district 's LPDC operated. We can only share our policies. If you have questions, please ask a committee member.