PDP’s

PDP's

Click here to download our handy-dandy PDP calculator; it will help you track your PDPs!

  1. I am still on a Preliminary or Initial license. Do I need to be thinking about PDPs?

    No, though forming a system now (so you have one in place once you *do* need to be tracking them) would be a wise practice, so when you do acquire professional licensure you have a good tracking method in place.

  2. I *do* have a Professional license. How many PDPs am I required to accrue over the course of a 5-year span?

    Assuming you have a single license, 150.

  3. If I attend every PD offered to me by Chicopee Public Schools, how many PDPs will I have over the course of 5 years?

    It really depends on your specific school, and your position within that school.  For teachers, about 120. For guidance counselors, nurses, etc – these numbers sometimes come in much lower. Each person is unique; the best thing to do is to check your PDP folder/tracking system to ensure that you have something nearing 150 as you near the conclusion of your 5th year.

  4. Am I required to seek out any PDPs on my own (outside the district-sponsored ones) to maintain my Professional Licensure?

    Chances are, you will need to accrue about 30 PDPs on your own to meet the DESE mandate of 150 PDPs every 5 years (assuming you attended *all* PDs offered by Chicopee Public Schools during the 5-year period in question).

  5. When in the 5-year cycle should I start asking questions about how many PDPs I have?

    Ideally, in year #1 – so you can make a plan and not get slammed having to come up with a ton of points in your final year.  But definitely take a close look at the # of PDPs you have at the beginning of your 4th year, so you can make a plan for the coming 20 months to accrue what’s needed before the end of year 5.

  6. Will the state/district be tracking the PDP points I have earned, or is it my responsibility?

    Neither the state nor Chicopee tracks PDPs; it is the educator’s responsibility to keep meticulous records.  Make sure you always get signed PDP slips (or agendas – more below) every time you participate in a PD, and file that information away!

  7. Will the state/district ask me to see my PDPs when I renew my professional license?

    Neither the state nor Chicopee will ask you for proof of your PDPs at the time of your renewal.  Much like the IRS, the state conducts random “audits” of educators – and gives very little turnaround time to produce proof of PDPs.

  8. What types of activities are eligible for PDPs?

    Ultimately, anything that lends itself to expansion of your knowledge as an educator – in or out of your subject matter. This also includes the instruction of others. There is a wide range of PD activities that can qualify for PDPs, including (but not limited to):

    1. ongoing participation in job-embedded activities (e.g. mentoring/coaching, etc).
    2. Attending a series of short-term activities on a given topic that equal 10 hours (e.g., workshops, seminars).
    3. Leading PD sessions for other teachers within the district (this gets twice the PDPs as just attending a session).
    4. Attending university courses within your discipline.
    5. Teaching graduate-level university courses within your discipline.

    For more, information – or if you have something you think qualifies which isn’t listed above – contact DESE or read their FAQ here:

    http://www.doe.mass.edu/pd/faq.html

  9. How many PDPs do I get for each activity?

    It depends on the activity, who sponsors the activity, and if there is a follow-up component.  For the most part, it breaks down like this:

    • Typically, District- & Site-based & DESE-sponsored PD programs = 1PDP per clock hour (so a 4-hour afternoon session = 4 PDPs)

    Additional PDPs may be offered (1.5>2 PDPs per clock hour) for facilitating a PD or producing a follow-up component (something written or a presentation).

    • Upper level undergraduate course in your area of licensure = 15>22.5 PDPs per semester hour
    • Graduate course = 22.5 PDPs per semester hour
    • Instructor of a graduate-level course = up to 45 PDPs per semester hour (only the first time the course is taught in a five-year renewal cycle)
    • Audited undergrad/grad course = 7.5 PDPs per semester hour
    • Achieving a passing score on a performance assessment approved by the Mass Board of Education = 120 PDPs (90 in the content area of the certificate and 30 in pedagogy)
  10. I taught a course outside of Chicopee, or attended a conference where they weren’t handing out PDP slips as I was exiting. How do I earn PDPs for that, and how do I track those?

    File the materials in your PDP folder, and give yourself credit for those PDPs according to the below.

    • For a conference: keep the agenda, and track the hours you were at the conference: 1 hour in a session = 1 PDP.
    • For a non-semester class (like a summer intensive, etc) that you taught: keep your lesson plans, and track the # of hours your class met. 1 PDP for each class hour, and .5 PDP *prep* for each class hour.  So a class that met for 30 hours of class time = 30 PDPs class, 15 PDPs prep (45 total PDPs).
    • For a semester-long class you taught, see above question (How many PDPs do I get for each activity).
  11. Who do I contact if I have more questions about PDPs?

    You can contact DESE by phone or e-mail:

    Licensure Hotline: 781-338-66000

    DESE’s PD office:  profdev@doe.mass.edu