Is your teaching certificate expiring June 30, 2023? If so it’s time to look at your credit bank in MyPGS. Not sure how to view your in-service/ESE credits to renew? You may find this clicksheet useful

Feel free to access professional learning opportunities through our weekly PL Announcement email. Additionally, you can search for professional learning opportunities in MyPGS (click sheet). Our Professional Learning website is also updated regularly with opportunities. 

---New Reading Requirements (this requirement is separate from Reading Endorsement) for Certification effective for 2020 and after (House Bill 7069)

HB 7069 includes specific in-service requirements for renewal of a professional certificate. Beginning with a validity date of July 1, 2020, or thereafter, Educators who hold certification in an area that includes reading instruction or intervention for any students in Pre-kindergarten through grade 6, will be required to earn a minimum of two college credits or the equivalent of 40 in-service points in the use of explicit, systematic and sequential approaches to reading instruction, developing phonemic awareness, and implementing multisensory intervention strategies. Here is a Flyer with more information.

Options for the 40-hour that are currently offered

Option 1: :  The BESE Portal offers two free independent study courses: 

• Reading Difficulties, Disabilities and Dyslexia (20 hours)
• Structured Literacy through a Multi-Sensory Approach (20 hours)

To enroll in one of the BESE Portal courses:

1. Go to:  www.fl-pda.org. 
2. Under the Independent Study Courses heading, click Sign In.
3. Click on Register as a New User if it is your first time on the site. If you are returning to this site to get back into a course, type in your email username and password.
4. Click on a course title to expand the course to view the description, enroll or continue in a course, and to check your status.
5. Upon completion of all required coursework, send your Certificate of Completion to Wanda Conley in the Professional Learning office for your in-service to be awarded in MyPGS.

Step by step, visual directions for registering and enrolling into these courses can be found HERE.

Option 2: RDGESECR PDA Exploring Structured Literacy Online Course (40 ESE Hours) Free and offered multiple times throughout the school year.

Option 3:  Beacon ​Educator Professional Learning Options

• Reading Challenges 1: Dyslexia and More (SWD) (20 hours) These courses require payment by participant
• Reading Challenges 2: Structured Literacy (20 hours)      These courses require payment by participant

Option 4:  To search for professional learning sessions, which you are part of the identified target audience, that count towards this 40 -hour requirement, type in RDGESECR in the course title box in MyPGS.  You will then see a list of sessions that you can register for that count towards the 40 hours of reading (which also count towards ESE) in-service points. 

Additional courses will be announced throughout the year.

If you have questions. please contact Robin King, Certification Specialist: Teacher-Certification@volusia.k12.fl.us

Registration is now open for all Spring A 2023 VCS Reading Endorsement courses! All courses – Competencies 1-5, Combo 1& 2, and Combo 3 & 4—are offered online with course facilitators. To reserve your seat in our fall sessions, click on THIS flyer to access the course section number and then register in MyPGS. Questions? Contact either Yuvi Castanon (x20552), Selina Jones (x20174) or Meg Roa (x20558)

The Volusia County Schools Professional Learning office has received approval to extend the opportunity to provide fee reimbursements to all eligible teachers for costs associated with meeting reading endorsement requirements. The following reading endorsement fees are eligible for reimbursement: 

1. $150 registration fee for successfully passing the Reading K-12 Subject Area exam
2. $75 fee for adding the reading endorsement or certification to their professional certificate

You are eligible for reimbursement(s) if:

• the above fees were incurred anytime between March 13, 2020 to the present and you have not previously been reimbursed for these costs.
• a passing score is earned on the Reading K-12 Subject Area exam between now and June 30, 2023.
  • Please note the registration fee to take the exam is the responsibility of each individual who chooses this option. The district will only reimburse after verification of a passing score is received.
• the reading endorsement or reading certification is added to your professional certificate between now and June 30, 2023.

If you believe you are eligible for the reading endorsement fee(s) reimbursement, please complete this form.

Stay in the Know with Reading Endorsement Updates

Click here to self-enroll in the VCS Reading Endorsement informational Canvas page so you can stay up-to-date with reading endorsement information. Questions? Contact Meg Roa, Specialist at mrroa@volusia.k12.fl.us

 The Test Camp is your passgate that provides free 120-day, all-inclusive passes this semester
for you, your colleagues, pre-service teachers ... everyone you invite.
Training materials are online and accessible from any electronic device. Check out The Test Camp flyer!

Passgate

https://TheTestCamp.com/FL-Volusia

The Learning Liaisons, the leaders in online FTCE Test Prep.

FTCE Boot Camps Flyer

FTCE Partner Flyer

                                                                Phillip Eddy, M.Ed.  1​ Schedule a Meeting   Click HERE

                                                               Cell    (941) 780-33018 www.thelearningliaisons.com

    2022-2023 ESOL Professional Learning 

To see the state requirements for ESOL click on this flyer to view a simplified table. 

2022-2023 ESOL Endorsement Courses

View the flyer for dates and times of courses.

Visit webpage for more information.  UCF Literacy Symposium - College of Community Innovation and Educat

CHAMPS Training (3 hours) – This training is offered in a “Live Virtual” or self-paced Canvas course format. Please see the attached flyer for registration details.  EXCEPTIONS for CHAMPS Training:   All recent DSC and Stetson graduates School Psychologists, Speech Clinicians, & Athletic Directors CHAMPS is optional for new teachers with 5+ years of teaching experience, unless recommended by an administrator.

VSET/DPP Online Canvas Course (1 hour) – This training is offered in a self-paced Canvas course and is not the same VSET training facilitated annually by school administrators to all faculty at schools. This training takes a deep dive into the rubric language of the Danielson Framework, while the school-based training focuses on the procedure/process. Please see the attached flyer for registration details.

Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA – 6 hours) – This training educates teachers to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental illness and substance use disorders in youth.  This in-person, 6-hour training gives adults who work with youth the skills they need to reach out and provide initial support to children and adolescents (ages 6-18) who may be developing a mental health or substance use problem and help connect them to the appropriate care. Please see attached flyer for registration details

Ethics in our Schools Training (1 hour) – This training is offered in-person and a “Live Virtual” format. This session focuses on Florida statutes, the Code of Ethics and Principles of Professional Conduct of the Education Profession current school board employees must adhere to.  Please see attached flyer for registration details.

Diversity & Equity Training (1 hour) – This training is offered in-person, “Live Virtual”, and a self-paced Canvas course. Culturally Responsive Pedagogy explores the art of teaching that acknowledges and respects cultural diversity in the learning community. It is a paradigm in which the student’s culture is integrated within the curriculum.  Educators will learn how to implement research-based strategies that engage students in learning as they identify relevance; thereby, cultivating intrinsic motivation making students accountable for their own learning. Please see the attached flyer for the registration details.

Professional Learning Institutes (PLI – 2 hours) – This is an opportunity for new teachers to connect with their curriculum specialists/department leads throughout the school year. New teachers should attend one PLI throughout the school year. Registration is now open in MyPGS 22-23SY PLI Dates: Wednesday, February 15, 2023 (online/virtual MS Teams) Wednesday, January 18, 2023 (in-person – Deltona HS) Please see the attached flyer for the Spring PLI times and MyPGS registration numbers.  Important Note:  The PLI component will be differentiated for the following groups: School Counselors School Psychologists Social Workers World Language Teachers Teachers on Assignment Speech Clinicians Physical Education Teachers Athletic Trainers/Athletic Directors Media Specialists Credit Retrieval Lab teachers

Digital Tools (3 hours) - New teachers must complete 3 hours of training related to digital tools/technology and /or VCS online platforms. We offer a self-paced Canvas course to fulfill this component (see below) OR there are several trainings that qualify for this component of the TIP Program (i.e. SchoolCity, Nearpod, FOCUS, VPortal, SeeSaw, etc.).

If you have any questions, please reach out to the Recruitment & Retention Team.

Target Audience:  K-12 Educators Needing 40-hours toward required Reading Recertification

40 RDGESECR Hours
What:  PDA Exploring Structured Literacy (ESL) (40-hour RDGESECR)
When: Tuesday, November 29, 2022 (course begins 11/29/22 and runs through 2/26/23)
Time:  Orientation begins promptly at 5:00pm via Microsoft Teams (link to be sent out closer to course start date)

Register for MyPGS Section #102920

LRP Media Courses offered FREE through FDOE provide evidence-based best practices, case law and compliance guidance to help serve and instruct students with disabilities.  
Earn ESE Credit while becoming a more compliant educator for students with disabilities.  Access & complete courses online following directions below. (NOT in MYPGS) 
Send your Certificate of Completion to Melissa Bisesi or Jackie Dwyer for processing of in-service points in MyPGS.   
Questions?  Please contact Melissa Bisesi 
 

Available Courses:   

·         Identifying Disabilities to Determine IDEA Eligibility 

·         Child Find: Understanding IDEA Provisions & Responsibilities 

·         Postsecondary Transition: IDEA Requirements for Processes, Procedures, and Implementation 

·         Required Components for Compliant IEPs 

·         Least Restrictive Environment (LRE): What Teachers Need to Know 

·         Independent Educational Evaluations: Responsibilities & Procedures 

·         Conducting Compliant IEP Team Meetings 

·         Evaluations & Reevaluations – Purposes, Standards, & Procedures 

·         Legal Requirements & Best Practices for Prior Written Notice 

·         Practical Strategies & IDEA Requirements for Developing IEPs 

·         When to Review & How to Revise IEPs to Stay Compliant 

·         IEP Implementation Strategies to be IDEA Compliant 

·         Requirements & Strategies to Facilitate Parental Participation in IEPs 

·         Discipline & Placement Changes for Students w/ Disabilities who Exhibit Violent Behavior 

·         Eligibility & Development of a Student’s Extended School Year Services 

·         Early Intervention Services: Facilitating Transition from IDEA Part C to Part B 

·         Collaboration & Communication:  Guidelines & Strategies for Paraprofessional Participation in Instructional Teams 
 

In order to access the LRP courses, please follow the instructions below to create an account on the DirectSTEP® eLearning website: 

1. Go to HTTP://FLDOE2022-DS.LRP.COM. 
2. Please read the “Is This Your First Time Here?” section located on the right side of the screen. 
3. Click the “Create new account” button. 
4. Create a username (Recommended format:  John Sample = jsample). 
5. Create a password (Recommended format : J#sample1) 
   Please write down your username and password and keep it somewhere secure for future reference.  
   This information will NOT be emailed to you after you register. 
6. Enter your email address as well as first and last name. 
7. Enter the letters/numbers pictured in the reCAPTCHA image.  
8. Click the “Create my new account” button. 
9. You will receive a confirmation e-mail with a link to the website.   
    

 To take a DirectSTEP® eLearning course: 

1. Login to HTTP://FLDOE2022-DS.LRP.COM  using your username and password. 
2. Select the course you would like to access or have been assigned to complete.  
3. You will enter your enrollment key and click onto “Enroll Me”. 
4. Click the course link next to the icon of a gold box. 
5. Click the “Enter” button to begin taking the course. 
6. You can use the arrow icons to move through the slides in the lower left-hand corner of the slide player. 
7. When you reach the Final Assessment, you will need to click the “submit” button after you select an answer. You will be directed to a new window which will inform you whether or not you answered each question correctly. You will need to score an 80% or higher to pass. 
8. When you have completed the assessment, it is important that you click the “Exit Activity” link in the upper right-hand corner of your screen to get credit for completing the course and to record your grade. 
9. Your “Course Completion Certificate” link will now be active. If you are required to print a Completion Certificate, you may do so from this page.           
10. To save your certificate as a PDF, click print and then select “adobe pdf” as your printer.  This will open a dialogue box for you to select the location and name of the file you are saving.  Please name your file – “last name, first name – name of course”          

Tough Kid Social Skills teaches learned behaviors that students need to get along successfully in a majority of social situation.  This professional learning is designed to help educators teach a variety of social skills to students.  This is an online Canvas course available from November 1, 2022 through December 30, 2022.  Required implementation plan and survey due by 1/13/22.

Target Audience:  2-5 ESE Teachers; Ideal for Grades 2-5 ESE Separate Class

4 ESECR Hours

Questions?  Please contact Jackie Dwyer or Melissa Bisesi  

This virtual professional learning session will be held in Microsoft Teams and introduce the concept of Executive Functioning (EF) to participants and increase their awareness of the impact of EF difficulties. Participants will learn about teaching strategies and interventions to support EF skills.

Tuesday, December 6^th from 5:00pm to 7:00pm – Register for MyPGS Section #102919

2 ESE Hours
Questions?  Please contact Jackie Dwyer or Melissa Bisesi  

Face to face training!

Thursday, December 1^st from 8:30am to 3:30pm – Register for MyPGS Section #102762

Target Audience:  K-12 Educators

6 ESE Hours

Questions?  Please contact Jackie Dwyer or Melissa Bisesi 

Face to face training!

Thursday, December 1^st from 8:30am to 3:30pm -  Register for MyPGS Section #102761

Target Audience:  K-5 Educators

6 RDGESECR Hours

Questions?  Please contact Melissa Bisesi 

  ESE SECONDARY TEACHERS Opportunity

Are you a high or middle school math or science teacher with Exceptional Student Education eligible students in your classes or an ESE teacher supporting students in math and science? Add math, science or ESE content area certification to you teaching certificate for free!  

Florida’s State Personnel Development Grant (SPDG) is pleased to announce the availability of the Content Certification Incentive Program (CCIP). CCIP was developed to remove the barrier of extra costs for ESE-certified teachers in secondary settings to obtain and add content area certifications to their teaching certificate. To qualify, teachers must already have their five-year renewable teaching certificate.  Teachers with temporary certificates do not qualify for the reimbursement.  To obtain further information please contact Andrew Willson, Administrative Specialist, at spdg@fgcu.edu or 239 590-7747.

 ESECR Canvas IEP Essentials: Writing Present Levels and Annual Goals (Q1 2022)

This session develops participants' knowledge and understanding of writing Essential IEP Components of Present Level of Academic Achievement and Functional Performance (PLAAFP) and Annual Goals. Participants will earn 5 ESE Credit Hours after successful completion of all course requirements.
This is an online Canvas course available from October 1, 2022 through December 30, 2022. MyPGS section number: 102479

Questions?  Please contact Jackie Dwyer or Melissa Bisesi

October 3, 2022 – November 30, 2022

Self-Paced Canvas course: This introductory course on Universal Design for Learning (UDL) offers a set of concrete suggestions that can be applied to any discipline or domain to ensure that all learners can access and participate in meaningful, challenging learning opportunities. All VCS staff looking for a refresher or are new to Universal Design for Learning are welcome to participate in this course.

This course is designed to help educators identify potential barriers that impact student learning and implement strategies such as the Plus One Approach to design instruction which promotes the success of ALL students.  Earn 2 ESE Inservice hours with the successful completion of this course.  Course work needs to be completed by November 30, 2022.

Elementary School Educators: #102489 ESECR An Introduction to Universal Design for Learning in 60 Minutes for Elementary School Educators : October - November 2022

Middle School Educators: #102488 ESECR An Introduction to Universal Design for Learning in 60 Minutes for Middle School Educators : October - November 2022

High School Educators: #102486 ESECR An Introduction to Universal Design for Learning in 60 Minutes for High School Educators : October - November 2022

 ESECR Learning Ally Empowers Struggling Readers

October 3, 2022 – November 30, 2022
Do you have students who struggle reading grade level text?

Learn how Learning Ally can empower struggling readers in your classroom.  Learning Ally bridges the gap by providing access to the books students want to read – and the books they need to read in an easy to absorb format.  This self-paced Canvas course is designed for all K - 12^th grade teachers.   Participants will learn how to implement Learning Ally a state funded audiobook resource that provides free access to over 80,000 human-narrated books for all K-12 students with reading deficits. 

Originally designed for individuals with special needs, Learning Ally is now available to all students who have a reading deficit. Eligible students are NOT required to have an IEP or 504 plan. 

Earn 6 ESE Inservice Credits with the successful completion of this self-paced Canvas course. An opportunity to earn two additional ESE In-Service hours is also available. Course work needs to be completed by November 30, 2022.
Each course has 50 Seats available! Click section below to register!

Elementary School Educators: #102492 ESECR Learning Ally Empowers Struggling Readers - Elementary School Teachers: October - November 2022

Middle School Educators: #102491 ESECR Learning Ally Empowers Struggling Readers -Middle School Teachers: October - November 2022

High School Educators: #102490 ESECR Learning Ally Empowers Struggling Readers - High School Teachers: October - November 2022

Note: These courses are run statewide.  Use registration link below; not found in MyPGS.  

Click here to register for a course below! 

Differentiating Science Instruction:  10/3 through 12/15  (30 ESE Hours)

Introduction to Assistive Technology:  10/10 through 12/11  (20 ESE Hours)

Engaging Learners through Informative Assessment:  10/11/ through 12/5  (20 ESE Hours)

Introduction to Differentiated Instruction:  10/12 through 12/14  (20 ESE Hours)

New! ESECR Canvas Solutions for Behavior Management (Q1 22-23)

The purpose of this course is to assist participants with access to evidence-based behavioral interventions and supports for students with disabilities by incorporating the characteristics of students with behavioral needs, including Exceptional Student Education categories and their implications on behavior. Upon successful completion of all required activities, participants will earn 6 ESE Credit Hours.
This is an online Canvas course available from October 1, 2022 through December 30, 2022. MyPGS section number: 102478
 

Questions?  Please contact Jackie Dwyer or Melissa Bisesi

The Florida Department of Education Bureau of Exceptional Student Education (BESE) Portal to Professional Development Alternatives (PDA) offers a variety of FREE online courses for Florida educators that will increase their ability to respond to the needs of students with disabilities.  There are a wide variety of online, self-paced independent courses available for ESECR credit upon submission of your Certificate of Completion to the Professional Learning. These courses are ALWAYS available online. 

Independent study courses are available in a variety of topics listed below, ranging from non-credit to 20 in-service credits.

• Assessment & Evaluation
• Behavior & Classroom Management
• Curriculum & Instruction
• ESE Policies & Procedures
• Instructional Methodology     
• Language and Communication
• Pre-Kindergarten
• Secondary Transition
• Special Areas
• Subject Area Exam Preparation

To enroll in any of these courses:

1. Go to: www.fl-pda.org 

2. Under the Independent Study Courses heading, click Sign In.
3. Click on Register as a New User if it is your first time on the site. If you are returning to this site to get back into a course, type in your email username and password.
4. Click on a course title to expand the course to view the description, enroll or continue in a course, and to check your status.
5. Upon completion of all required coursework, send your Certificate of Completion to Wanda Conley in the Professional Learning office for your in-service to be awarded in MyPGS.

Questions, please contact Melissa Bisesi