Senate Bill (SB) 1267 (87th Regular Session) addressed several staff development changes. Most of the changes went into effect in the 2021–22 school year, but SB 1267 also requires the following:
- The State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) to publish a professional development clearinghouse by June 1, 2022.
- School districts to adopt a professional development policy, guided by the clearinghouse, by August 1, 2022.
Let’s look at what SB 1267 requires and what districts should do to meet the law’s requirements.
What SB 1267 requires
State Board for Educator Certification
SB 1267 requires SBEC to develop a clearinghouse of information regarding continuing education and training requirements for educators and other school personnel, including best practices and industry recommendations for the frequency of training.
School districts
SB 1267 requires the school board to annually review the clearinghouse and adopt a professional development policy that must:
- Be guided by SBEC clearinghouse training recommendations.
- Note any differences in the professional development policy from the clearinghouse recommendations.
- Include a schedule of all training required for educators or other school personnel.
What Policy Service recommends
To meet these requirements, TASB Policy Service recommended in Update 119 adding provisions at DMA(LOCAL). Update 119 was issued to districts in June 2022. As required by SB 1267, districts should make every effort to adopt DMA(LOCAL) and approve a professional development plan by August 1, 2022.
These recommended revisions to DMA(LOCAL) will require the board each year to:
- Review the SBEC professional development clearinghouse.
- Approve the district’s professional development plan, which must meet all the requirements listed in law for a district’s professional development policy.
The district’s professional educators, rather than the board, may be in the best position to assess the district’s needs and select the best professional development programs to meet those needs. Policy Service recommends that the district administration create an annual professional development plan and submit it to the board for consideration and approval. The board’s approval of this plan avoids annual readoption of (LOCAL) policy while still ensuring that the board approves the programs, activities, and schedule for the district’s professional development. A motion and vote to approve the district’s professional development plan will suffice.
Your policy consultant is always available to help with any questions.
This article was originally published on May 11, 2022 and revised on August 23, 2022.