State Level Professional Development Funds for Statewide Areas of Critical Need for Learning and Development

PURPOSE: This rule provides administrative guidelines for expenditure of professional development funds as provided in 160.530, RSMo. (1) The primary purpose of the state-level professional development moneys is to address statewide areas of critical need, provided the following two (2) areas shall constitute priority uses for such money: (A) Funding operation of state management teams in school districts with academically deficient schools and providing resources specified by the management team as needed in these districts; and (B) Funding for grants to school districts for resources identified as necessary by the district for those districts which are failing to achieve assessment standards. (2) The statewide areas of critical need for learning and development include: (A) Funding operation of management teams in school districts with academically deficient schools and providing resources specified by management teams as needed in these districts; (B) Funding for grants to school districts for resources identified as necessary by the district, for those districts which are failing to achieve assessment standards; (C) Ensuring all children are successful in school, especially children at risk, children with special needs and gifted students; (D) Increasing parental involvement; (E) Providing information which will assist school administrators and teachers in understanding the process of site-based decision-making; (F) Implementing recommended curriculum frameworks; (G) Training in use of new assessment techniques and the use of those assessments to improve student performance; (H) Cooperation with law enforcement authorities to expand successful anti-drug programs for students; (I) Strengthening existing curricula of local districts to stress drug and alcohol prevention; (J) Implementing and promoting programs to combat gang activity, violence and weaponry in the schools of the state; (K) Establishing family schools, where schools adopt proven models of one (1)-stop state services for children and families; (L) Expanding adult literacy services; and (M) Training board members in areas deemed important as determined by the state board of education. (3) On an annual basis, the state board of education will select additional priority areas of critical need to be funded during the subsequent academic year. (4) Funding will be awarded on the basis of competitive grants and applicants will be required to complete closing reports complete evaluative data on the effectiveness of each activity. (5) The state-level professional development moneys may be distributed to— (A) Colleges; (B) Universities; (C) Private associations; (D) Professional education associations; (E) Statewide associations organized for benefit of members of local boards of education; (F) Public elementary and secondary schools; or (G) Other associations and organizations that provide professional development opportunities for teachers, administrators and boards of education. (6) The State Board of Education reserves the right to contract for delivery of professional development services in any of the areas addressed in this rule. (7) Each proposal must include a description of how it will impact on children and include an evaluation in compliance with the application process. AUTHORITY: section 160.530, RSMo Supp. 1993.* This rule previously filed as 5 CSR 80-850.050. Original rule filed Nov. 23, 1993, effective July 10, 1994. Moved to 5 CSR 20-400.390, effective Aug. 16, 2011. *Original authority: 160.530, RSMo 1993.