Common use of Professional Learning Stipend (PL Stipend Clause in Contracts

Professional Learning Stipend (PL Stipend. The District is committed to fostering a culture of on-going professional learning in PAUSD in order to create an environment in which every staff member is actively engaged in professional learning that enhances their ability to improve the experience and education of our students. Unit members and administrators will jointly identify and provide quality professional learning opportunities focused on student learning. 1. The District shall form a committee with teacher representation to assist in identifying eligible professional learning activities and in evaluating the effectiveness of the activities. The Professional Learning Committee will consist of three (3) unit members appointed by the Association and three (3) members appointed by the District. The committee shall be responsible for: a. Assisting in the identification of eligible professional learning activities b. Assisting in the communication with unit members of those activities that qualify for the PL Stipend. c. Providing feedback on the effectiveness of professional learning activities offered by the school sites and District during staff development days 2. Unit members will earn the PL Stipend by engaging in 18 hours of eligible professional learning activities outside the professional workday and beyond those activities provided during designated staff development days. 3. The PL Stipend will be paid at the rate published in Appendix H. 4. Unit members who plan and complete 18 hours of eligible professional learning activities in a given year may earn the PL Stipend annually. 5. Unit members changing grade levels, by their choice, and unit members returning from leave of absence shall be encouraged to participate in this PL program prior to the start of the school year. 6. Unit members shall have their proposed professional learning activities pre-approved by their site principal using district-supplied forms. If a proposed activity is denied by the principal, the unit member may appeal the decision to the Associate Superintendent or designee. 7. In extenuating circumstances, the Superintendent or Superintendent’s designee may grant a unit member an extension beyond the two-year time frame to complete the 18 hours of professional learning. 8. Unit members approved by their sites for professional learning hours beyond the 18 hours needed for the PL Stipend will be paid at the hourly professional learning rate in Appendix H. 9. Professional learning hours used for the PL Stipend may not be used for units to move columns on the salary schedule. 10. The District has the sole discretion to discontinue the PL Stipend program (stipend and expectation of 18 hours of professional learning every two years) for any school year beyond 2015-16.