WHAT IS A PLU?WHAT IS A PLU? • Content driven, long-term unit of professional study

• Fully addresses the Alabama Standards for Instructional Leaders

• Completely aligned to the Alabama Standards for Professional Development

• Earned upon completion of an ACLD or LEA approved professional study

• Replaces the continuing education unit (CEU), which is based on seat time at one event rather than the development of knowledge and ability over time

WHO MUST EARN A PLU?WHO MUST EARN A PLU?

• All educators electing to maintain their instructional leader certification

HOW WILL PLUs BE RECORDED?HOW WILL PLUs BE RECORDED?• Software Technology Incorporated, Professional Development Software Technology Incorporated, Professional Development (STI PD, (STI PD, Part III Online TrainingPart III Online Training) )

WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS FOR EARNING A PLU?WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS FOR EARNING A PLU?

• Educators electing to maintain instructional leader certification must earn five PLUs over a five-year certification cycle.

• At least two PLUs must be earned from ACLD approved professional studies.

• Two PLUs may be earned from an LEA approved professional study.

• The fifth PLU may be earned from professional studies approved by either the ACLD or the LEA.

WHEN WILL EDUCATORS BEGIN EARNING PLUs?WHEN WILL EDUCATORS BEGIN EARNING PLUs?• 2009 – 2010

• A method is in place for transitioning from CEUs to PLUs over a five-year period (PART III Online Training).

• Complete conversion to PLUs is anticipated in 2014.

Approved Professional Study Approved Professional Study andand

Professional Learning Units Professional Learning Units

AREARE directly related to an individual’s instructional directly related to an individual’s instructional leader certification.leader certification.

ARE NOTARE NOT related to an individual’s position, role or related to an individual’s position, role or place of employment.place of employment.

Important Important

The Term “Instructional Leader”The Term “Instructional Leader”

Includes anyone holding a valid Alabama certificate inIncludes anyone holding a valid Alabama certificate in

one or more of the following areas:one or more of the following areas:

SuperintendentSuperintendent Superintendent-PrincipalSuperintendent-Principal Principal (any grade level)Principal (any grade level) Educational AdministratorEducational Administrator Supervisor (any subject and/or grade level)Supervisor (any subject and/or grade level) Administrator of Career and Technical EducationAdministrator of Career and Technical Education Instructional LeaderInstructional Leader Practicing Instructional Leader Practicing Instructional Leader

Adopted in July 2005Adopted in July 2005

Applies to Applies to - Superintendents- Superintendents- Central Office Instructional Leaders- Central Office Instructional Leaders- Principals- Principals- Assistant Principals- Assistant Principals- Aspiring Principals- Aspiring Principals- Teacher Leaders- Teacher Leaders

1.1. Planning for Continuous ImprovementPlanning for Continuous Improvement

2.2. Teaching and LearningTeaching and Learning

3.3. Human Resources DevelopmentHuman Resources Development

4.4. DiversityDiversity

5.5. Community and Stakeholder RelationshipsCommunity and Stakeholder Relationships

6.6. TechnologyTechnology

7.7. Management of the Learning OrganizationManagement of the Learning Organization

8.8. EthicsEthics

Preceded by RationaleRationale

Has several Key IndicatorsKey Indicators

Key Indicators Key Indicators are written as Knowledge Knowledge or Ability Statementsor Ability Statements

Adopted in September 2006Adopted in September 2006 Twelve StandardsTwelve Standards Applies to . . .Applies to . . .

- - Superintendents- Central Office Instructional Leaders- Principals- Assistant Principals- Aspiring Principals- Teacher Leaders- Teachers

1.1. Organize adults into learning communitiesOrganize adults into learning communities2.2. Require knowledgeable & skillful school and Require knowledgeable & skillful school and

district leadersdistrict leaders3.3. Provide resourcesProvide resources4.4. Use disaggregated student dataUse disaggregated student data5.5. Use multiple sources of informationUse multiple sources of information6.6. Prepare educators to apply researchPrepare educators to apply research7.7. Use learning strategiesUse learning strategies8.8. Apply knowledge about human learning and Apply knowledge about human learning and

changechange9.9. Provide educators with collaborative skillsProvide educators with collaborative skills10.10. Prepare educators to understand and Prepare educators to understand and

appreciate all studentsappreciate all students11.11. Deepen educators’ content knowledgeDeepen educators’ content knowledge12.12. Provide educators with knowledge and skills Provide educators with knowledge and skills

to involve families and stakeholdersto involve families and stakeholders

Available 2009Available 2009

Fully addressesFully addresses• Alabama Standards for Instructional LeadersAlabama Standards for Instructional Leaders

Completely aligns toCompletely aligns to• Alabama Standards for Professional DevelopmentAlabama Standards for Professional Development

Approved two waysApproved two ways• ACLDACLD

• Local Education Agency (LEA) superintendentLocal Education Agency (LEA) superintendent

Applies to Applies to • All educators maintaining instructional leader All educators maintaining instructional leader

certificationcertificationOnly method to earn Professional Learning UnitsOnly method to earn Professional Learning Units

Page 3 Page 3 • Professional DevelopmentProfessional Development• Professional StudyProfessional Study• Alabama Council for Leadership DevelopmentAlabama Council for Leadership Development• Alabama Standards for Instructional Leaders (Abridged)Alabama Standards for Instructional Leaders (Abridged)

Page 4Page 4• Alabama Standards for Professional Development (Abridged)Alabama Standards for Professional Development (Abridged)• Instructional Leaders Instructional Leaders • Instructional Leader Certification as related to instructional leadersInstructional Leader Certification as related to instructional leaders• How to obtain a copy of an instructional leader certificateHow to obtain a copy of an instructional leader certificate

Page 5Page 5• Professional Learning Unit (PLU)Professional Learning Unit (PLU)• Approved Professional StudyApproved Professional Study• Continuing Education Unit (CEU)Continuing Education Unit (CEU)• Commonly used acronymsCommonly used acronyms

Almost Almost FinishedFinished

Page 10Page 10

•How does an individual know if he/she must earn PLUs?How does an individual know if he/she must earn PLUs?

•How many PLUs does an individual holding instructional leader How many PLUs does an individual holding instructional leader certification need to earn? certification need to earn?

•Over what time period must PLUs be earned?Over what time period must PLUs be earned?

•What is the timeframe for phasing in PLUs?What is the timeframe for phasing in PLUs?

•If an individual holds multiple certificates, will meeting the If an individual holds multiple certificates, will meeting the renewal requirements for instruction leader certification rewew renewal requirements for instruction leader certification rewew the other certificates?the other certificates?

Page 11Page 11•If a teacher holds both instructional leader and teacher certification, If a teacher holds both instructional leader and teacher certification, may he/she elect not to renew the instructional leader certificate and may he/she elect not to renew the instructional leader certificate and renew the teaching certificate?renew the teaching certificate?

•When an individual renews an existing instructional leader When an individual renews an existing instructional leader certificate, will he/she receive a certificate that states “instructional certificate, will he/she receive a certificate that states “instructional leader”? leader”?

•Must an individual earn PLUs if he/she is an administrator, but does Must an individual earn PLUs if he/she is an administrator, but does not serve as an instructional leader in various roles, positions, and/or not serve as an instructional leader in various roles, positions, and/or places of employment ?places of employment ?

•Will reading coaches follow the Alabama Standards for Instructional Will reading coaches follow the Alabama Standards for Instructional Leaders or the Alabama Quality Teaching Standards?Leaders or the Alabama Quality Teaching Standards?

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