Individual Professional Development Plan (IPDP)

Ohio's Required Individualized Professional Development Plan

According to the Ohio Department of Education (ODE), "an IPDP is a document prepared by individual educators as a record of personal professional development goals and as a document of their achievement."

The Ohio Revised Code 3301.24.08 states: "Each educator wishing to fulfill the license renewal requirements is responsible for the design of an individual professional development plan, subject to approval of the local professional development committee. The plan shall be based on the needs of the educator, the students, the school, and the school district, and shall be aligned with the various professional educator standards adopted by the state board of education.... Professional development may then be completed in accordance with this plan."

Formats for the IPDP vary from district to district. The form that the MF LPDC uses was created from the suggested ODE form with a few minor additions. This form is available on the Google Classroom.

Many ask, "Why do I have to write an IPDP?" The answer is because it's the law.

Writing an IPDP

Each educator must write a new IPDP at the beginning of each license cycle. If an educator is teaching under a current 5-year professional license, the educator should already have an IPDP in place that will expire on the expiration date of the license. IPDPs are submitted to the LPDC through Google Classroom during the renewal process so that the educator can begin implementing the plan as soon as the license is renewed. Formats for the IPDP vary from district to district. The form that the MF LPDC uses is based on the suggested form from the Ohio Department of Education with a few minor additions. This form is available on the Google Classroom. It is helpful for educators to have a copy of their current license handy, or to be signed into their SAFE account on ODE when completing the form.

The annotated illustrations below provides a visual guide to completing the IPDP. If you hold more than one license, be sure to list each one on the IPDP. If the issue dates or expiration dates are not the same, be sure to list them on the IPDP.

Some information required on the IPDP can be found on a current educator license. The annotated illustration below provides guidance on where to find the required information.

Constructing Goals for the IPDP Discussion Board Activity (required for credit)

The district's IPDP form consists of an area for three goals. One of the goals has been included for all teachers and is meant to encompass all district-required professional development (for example, inservice days). The other two goals are to be written by individual educators and must reflect their specific plan for professional development activities. Because the State of Ohio is now requiring teachers to complete professional development in the area of gifted education, the LPDC highly recommends that teachers write a goal to address this area.

Each goal must include three elements: (1) intention to engage in learning; (2) focus for learning; and (3) rationale for & application of learning.

An appropriate goal might look like this:

I will investigate appropriate strategies for advancing the learning of gifted students in my classroom to advance student learning.

This goal does include all three elements:

(1) intention to engage in learning: I will investigate...

(2) focus for learning: ...appropriate strategies for advancing the learning of gifted students in my classroom...

(3) rationale for & application of learning: ...to advance student learning.

TRY IT!

This activity will assist you in constructing goals for the IPDP by helping you think about each required element. To begin, open the SMART Goals Chart. The table consists of three columns: one for each required element. Some suggestions are already included in the table, but the possibilities are endless!

1. First, open the SMART Goals Chart. Right click on any row and choose "Insert a Row Below." Then, add an element under each of the columns.

2. In the discussion board, post a goal that would be appropriate to use on an IPDP. Be sure to include each of the three elements, although you do not have to include all of your own suggestions. Feel free to choose from any of the suggestions in the columns. When you are ready to write your IPDP, you can actually use this goal if you choose!

3. Then, discuss how the goal that you wrote would help you to choose professional development activities during your license cycle.

Applying the Standards for the Teaching Profession

Ohio Department of Education's publication Ohio Continuum for Teacher Development: A Resource Tool for Educators states, "The philosophy behind the Continuum is that teachers will continue to grow over the course of their careers with the assistance of a system that supports their growth and development."

Teachers must link each professional development goal to at least one of the seven Standards for the Teaching Profession listed in Standards for Ohio Educators.

Principals must link each professional development goal to one of the Standards for Principals. These standards may have been revised since your last renewal.

On the IPDP, indicate which standard applies by typing the number of the standard in the same box as each goal. Although educators do not have to use all seven standards when matching with goals, each goal should be linked to a different standard.

Example:

Goal--I will improve my skills in the use of various technologies to encourage computational thinking.

Standard #5-- Teachers create learning environments that promote high levels of learning and achievement for all students.

Implementing the IPDP

Once the license cycle begins, educators may begin choosing and logging professional development activities. The next step--Professional Development Record--will provide guidance for recording these activities. Keeping the IPDP close at hand will ensure that the activities are aligned with goals.

Required Activities in this Section for Course Credit

1. Complete a row in the SMART Goals Chart.

2. Post a goal in the discussion board and discuss its potential for guiding professional development.

3. Complete Quiz #2.