School-Based Professional Development Plan

Association of Christian Schools International / ACSI / Accreditation & Certification / School-Based Professional Development Plan

This program is for schools who have a robust professional development program and are planning to use this in place of the required teacher/administrator certification chart for ACSI. (Indicators 4.4 and 4.6)  Schools must 1) apply and be accepted into the program 2) complete the full plan 3) submit a monitoring document each year in lieu of the certification chart with their Annual Report.

The following is a summary of the plan.  The actual plan has details for each of the following sections:

  1. Program Analysis: This portion is due as part of the application The purpose of a Program Analysis is to gain an institution-wide perception of professional development strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats, rather than one person’s perception. (Cost of the application is $250.) Parts 2-7 (outlined below), to be clearly built on the results of the Program Analysis, are due once the application has been accepted.

The application and program analysis can be found here:  School-Based Professional Development Plan Application . Once completed, the ACSI Office of Academic Services will review the application. Upon approval, the Office of Academic Services will reach out to the school to complete steps 2-7 below. 

  1. Philosophy/Goals for Professional Development:

Part I – In two to three paragraphs or a series of belief statements, present the school’s philosophy/general goals for professional development based on the needs of your school and its strategic plan.

Part II – Identify the anticipated overall PD goals/content areas for years 1-5.  You may list more than one per year and you may break it down by groups or levels (ES, MS, HS, or groups such as new teachers, etc.)

  1. SPD Activities:

Part I – List your school’s planned SPD activities for the coming school year (Year 1).

Part II – The following is a list of critical components of a robust professional development plan. In a narrative form, write a rationale that clearly articulates why the activities in Section 3, Part I were chosen.  Please address the following characteristics:

a. aligned with goals for instruction and expected student outcomes

b. content-rich

c. relevant to perceived needs

d. includes active learning

e. cohesive, from one segment to another, with the overall SPD and strategic plan

f. of significant duration (number of hours, as well as over time)

g. research-based

h. varies in presentation/learning styles with individual, small/large group participation, and allows for collaboration.

Part III – Describe how plans were developed for personal growth of individuals or sub-groups.

  1. Required Elements:

Part I – Bible:  Describe how teachers are going to receive ongoing Bible training.

Part II – Biblical Integration:  Describe how your teachers will be trained in biblical integration and Christian worldview teaching in the context of your SPD.

Part III – Christian Philosophy of Education:  This is to be completed by the end of the third year every new teacher and administrator.  (includes philosophy and biblical integration)

  1. Measurement and Evaluation: Describe how your school’s SPD is designed with feedback/monitoring features embedded into the system yielding both formative and summative information. (includes surveys).                          
  2. Leadership and Continuous Improvement: (answer these with a five year perspective, as much as possible)

Part I – Describe how the professional development for school leaders will be provided throughout the term of the SPD, as well as how the overall SPD supports/enhances individuals’ roles as instructional leaders and PD facilitators.

Part II – Describe how the full cycle of SPD fits into and enhances a schoolwide culture of growth, along with instructional improvement across the school.

  1. Accountability and reporting:
  • The school must show compliance with the required percentage of participation in the SPD activities. This can be done by using the monitoring tool that was submitted for the plan. (80% for faculty, 100% for administration)
  • The school must turn in a plan for the following year that includes:
    1. Annual plan for professional growth activities, including metrics
    2. If the overall goals/content area has changed from the initial 5-year plan, address 1) reasons for change 2) metrics/evaluation used 3) rationale for the new priorities
  • The annual fee must be up-to-date. ($150 for schools up to 250 students, $200 for schools over 250 students)

Please note:  Schools in this program will not be required to maintain individual certification for their teachers or administrators while maintaining a positive status with the Annual Reports.  However, if the school desires, there will be a REDUCED FEE for individual teachers and administrators if they want to remain certified.  ($50 each at this time)