Professional Development » Instructional Leaders

Instructional Leaders

Professional Learning Units

Anyone seeking to renew instructional leadership certification that expires after June 30, 2009, must earn PLUs, regardless of her/his position, title, or place of employment. The term "instructional leadership certification" includes the following
certificates:
  • Instructional Leader
  • Practicing Instructional Leader
  • Education Administration
  • Superintendent/Principal
  • Superintendent
  • Principal (Any Grade)
  • Supervisor (Any Subject and/or Any Grade)
  • Vocational Administrator
  • Vocational Supervisor
  • Administrator of Career and Technical Education
 
CEUs will be counted if they were earned prior to June 30, 2009, within an individual's five-year instructional leader certification cycle.
 

Certificate Valid Period

PLUs Required

Maximum CEUs Allowed
2005-2010 1 4
2006-2011 2 (1 ACLD PLU min.) 3
2007-2012  3 (1 ACLD PLU min.) 2
2008-2013 4 (2 ACLD PLU min.) 1
 2009-2014 5 (2 ACLD PLU min.) 0

 

Definition of a Professional Learning Unit (PLU)

Pursuant to the Alabama Administrative Code § 290-3-2-.01(29), a Professional Learning Unit (PLU) is a content driven, long-term unit of professional study for instructional leaders that fully addresses all knowledge and ability indicators under an Alabama Standard for Instructional Leaders. Professional study that constitutes a PLU requires multiple professional development experiences over time and will always be aligned with the Alabama Standards for Professional Development in Rule 290-4-3-.01(3).
 

Completing a PLU

A PLU is earned at the completion of professional study which fully addresses the knowledge and ability indicators under an Alabama Standard for Instructional Leaders. The professional study must include comprehensive coverage and evaluation of effectiveness in the school setting. Professional study that earns a PLU must be approved either by the Alabama Council for Leadership Development (ACLD) or approved by the local superintendent. The PLU will take the place of the continuing education unit (CEU) which is based on seat time at one event rather than the development of knowledge and ability over time.
 
 
 
Information about earning PLUs may be obtained on the website of the Leadership and Evaluation Section of this Department at www.alex.state.al.us/leadership or by contacting personnel in that office at (334) 242-9962.
 
1. PLUs earned at the completion of professional studies and submitted for renewal must be:
  1. ACLD approved or locally approved through either an Alabama city/county superintendent or an administrator of an Alabama nonpublic school; and
  2. Verified in STI PD.
2. Graduate credit substituted for a PLU shall be:
 
  1. Coursework that has been approved by the Alabama State Department of Education (ALSDE) as shown in the listing of courses found at www.alex.state.al.us/leadership; and
  2. Limited to course credit in which a grade of B or above has been earned; and
  3. Verified on official transcript(s). See Application Procedures on page 1; and
  4. Counted as a locally approved PLU.
3. Each 3 semester hour graduate credit course referenced in 2. above may be substituted for 1 PLU.
 
4. Credit that was applied to the issuance of a certificate cannot be applied to its renewal.
 
  • NOTE: Individuals employed with an Alabama public school system or with an Alabama non-public school must receive approval by the city/county superintendent or non-public school administrator to use graduate credit as a substitute for a locally approved PLU.
  • NOTE: Individuals not employed with an Alabama public school system or with an Alabama non-public school will submit approved coursework found at www.alex.state.al.us/leadership on official transcripts (see page 1 of this summary sheet) to this Office with their application packet.
 

Continuing Education Units (CEUs)

1. CEUs submitted for renewal shall be:
 
  1. Consistent with the Alabama Standards for Professional Development and based on the individual’s professional growth needs as identified through performance evaluations, if employed; or related to professional education with consideration given to the sponsoring organization, the professional qualifications of the presenter and the purposes, goals and evaluation of the activity;
  2. Verified on Supplement EXP, or in STI PD for CEUs earned through Alabama school systems, OR by photocopies of completion certificates for CEUs earned while not employed with a school system, OR official transcripts or certificates of completion for any CEUs earned through a college or university, OR for CEUs earned through school systems outside of Alabama, either photocopies of completion certificates or official documentation authorized by the school system or state education agency.
2. One CEU is equivalent to 10 clock hours of professional development.
 
3. College course credit is not equivalent to continuing education credit.
 

Allowable Graduate Credits:

  • Credit allowable for renewal must be earned at a regionally accredited senior institution and must be:
 
      • Credit which is part of a state-approved teacher education program OR credit which is part of a doctoral program in the teaching field or area of instructional support for which the certificate is held; and
    1. Earned on the graduate level for renewal of master’s or sixth-year level certification; and
      • Limited to course credit in which a grade of B or above has been earned; and
    1. Verified on official transcript(s). See Application Procedures on page 1.
  • Credit that was applied to the issuance of a certificate cannot be applied to its renewal.
  • Continuing education credit is not equivalent to college course credit.
 

Testing Requirements:

Applicants for the reinstatement of professional educator certificates that have lapsed for more than six months from their expiration date must successfully complete the requirements of the basic skills assessments (Applied Mathematics, Reading for Information, and Writing) and the prescribed Alabama-approved Praxis II subject assessment(s) of the Alabama Prospective Teacher Testing Program (APTTP).
 
Applicants who apply on or after April 14, 2006, will be required to have passed the basic skills assessments and passed the appropriate subject assessment(s) of the APTTP.
 
An applicant who passed the Alabama Basic Skills Test in effect from June 1992 to January 2002 is exempt from the APTTP basic skills assessments.
 
An applicant who was required to pass the appropriate subject test from the Alabama Initial Teacher Certification Testing Program in effect from 1981 to 1988 is exempt from the APTTP subject assessment for the appropriate certification area to be reinstated.
 
Information about the APTTP may be obtained at Internet websites www.alsde.edu or www.act.org/alabamapttp (for basic skills assessments), or www.ets.org/praxis (for subject assessments), or by contacting the teacher testing staff in the Teacher Education and Certification Office at (334) 242-9983 or [email protected].
 

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