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AA421 – Local Professional Improvement Committee

  • Effective: 10/28/1975
  • Revision: 12/14/2021
  • Reviewed: 7/25/2017
  1. Board Directive
    The Board recognizes the value of a competent, professionally trained teaching staff and authorizes establishment of a Local Professional Improvement Committee (LPIC) to encourage, guide, and reward the professional development of licensed staff members.
  2. Administrative Policy
    The Administration shall administer this policy in accordance with the following administrative policy provisions:

    1. Membership
      1. The Jordan School District LPIC shall consist of the following members:
        1. Administrator of Teaching and Learning
        2. Three principals (one elementary, one middle school, and one high school)
        3. Three teachers (one elementary, one middle school, and one high school)
      2. The Administrator of Teaching and Learning shall act as chairperson.  The chairperson shall vote only in the case of a tie.
      3. The three principals shall be nominated by the Administrators of Schools and will serve two-year terms.  The elementary and high school terms expire on the odd year, and middle school term expires on the even year.
      4. The three teachers shall be nominated by the licensed employee agent group and approved by the Superintendent.  Teachers will serve two-year terms.  The middle school term expires on the odd year, and the elementary and high school terms expire on the even year.
    2. Schedule of Meetings
      LPIC meetings shall be held monthly as needed.
    3. Functional Responsibilities
      1. The LPIC shall review all school and individual in-service requests for credit and make recommendations regarding approval.  Upon LPIC approval, the Administrator of Teaching and Learning shall sign the in-service requests.  The Administrator of Teaching and Learning and Teaching and Learning consultants will review and approve District in-service requests.
        1. Any District educator may submit to the Staff Development Office a request to teach a specific in-service course.  The Staff Development Office will then arrange for the class according to District policy.
        2. Any District educator or principal may submit to the Staff Development Office a request for in-service training.  The Staff Development Office will then arrange for the class according to District policy.
        3. Before a District, school or individual course is approved, the instructor(s) must have a resume on file with the Staff Development Office as well as a course syllabus, a student evaluation plan, and a statement of the desired academic outcome.  Any in-service class for salary change credit must be approved before the class begins.
        4. Any in-service for credit must carry an approval signature of a Teaching and Learning administrator.
        5. Salary lane change credit for current employees will be granted from an accredited institution, the Utah State Board of Education (USBE) approved credit on CACTUS, District approved credit and LPIC approved in-service credit.  Credit will be granted for courses taught by other agencies as long as the courses are submitted to and approved by the LPIC before the course begins and the course meets all other policy requirements.
        6. Only requests received by the 25th of each month will be assured consideration at the next LPIC meeting.
        7. The following criteria will be used for in-service evaluation:
          1. The request meets an established District need.
          2. Fourteen (14) clock hours of instruction are required for each one (1) semester hour of credit.
          3. With the exception of LPIC approved School and Individual Professional Development used to take approved classes, all in-service credit awarded must be earned after contract hours.
        8. Clarification of salary change credit:
          1. Credit for salary changes for current employees will be granted from an accredited institution, USBE approved credit on CACTUS, District approved credit, and LPIC approved in-service credit.
          2.  Credit for salary changes for teachers receiving licensure through an alternative pathway will be granted only following completion of their  Professional Licensure Program.  Salary lane changes will be awarded as noted in h.i.
          3. In-service training where teachers receive payment may be counted for salary change and may count toward state recertification.  Payment will be considered as an hourly payment or honorarium for attendance.  Payment will be based on the current hourly in-service rate.  An honorarium will be considered a payment fee, not a reimbursement for expenses.
          4. Payments given to in-service instructors will be based on the current hourly in-service rate, plus the same rate for an agreed upon number of preparation hours not to exceed the total number of hours of instruction.
          5. In-service classes held on contract time may carry salary change credit.
          6. University credit will be accepted on a semester-hour basis.
          7. Jordan District contract employees must submit application forms and pay a registration fee based on the number of credit hours for which they register.
          8. Salary change credit will be processed in the Human Resources Department in accordance with policy DP309—Salary Guidelines, which details educator responsibilities.
      2. The LPIC shall screen all applications for sabbatical leave according to policy DP333 NEG—Sabbatical Leave, and make recommendations to the Superintendent for approval.
        1. The number of applicants approved for sabbatical leave is determined by the Board.  All applications must be approved by the Board before being granted.
        2. When a sabbatical leave is successfully completed, a copy of the educational program and a transcript of credit and a report will be submitted to the LPIC for review.  The LPIC will notify the Superintendent of successful completion or failure to comply.
        3. Personnel on sabbatical leave must submit a progress report to the LPIC by February 15 of the year the leave is granted.  The report is to include the date the employee intends to return to full-time status.  Following review by the LPIC, the report will be forwarded to Human Resources.
        4. An employee returning from a one (1) year sabbatical leave will be placed in the same school and position as was held at the time the leave was granted, unless he or she requests otherwise.  His/her replacement will be hired on a temporary basis and will be so advised upon hiring.
      1. The LPIC shall screen all applications for educational leave according to policy DP332 NEG—Educational Leave, and make recommendations to the Superintendent for approval.
        1. The number of applicants approved for educational leave is determined by the Board.
        2. Personnel on educational leave must submit a progress report to the LPIC by February 15 of the year the leave is granted.  The report is to include the date the employee intends to return to full-time status and/or a request for a one-year extension if needed.  Following review by the LPIC, the report will be forwarded to Human Resources.
        3. When an educational leave is successfully completed, a copy of the outline of studies and a transcript of credit and a report will be submitted to the LPIC and the Superintendent for review.
      2. The LPIC shall screen all applicants for short-term, less than four-week paid educational leaves associated with Fulbright scholarships and exchanges.
      3. The LPIC will function to assist District educators with certification and endorsement needs in accordance with the standards and guidelines of the Utah State Board of Education.