The Ocean Springs School District seeks to maintain a well-qualified professional staff and encourages its teachers to improve their individual competence through appropriate continuing education programs.  The superintendent shall be responsible for developing continuing education guidelines for professional staff.  The following shall be considered in developing such guidelines:

1.    Consideration of the Mississippi Professional Development Model, available from the Mississippi Department of Education;

2.    Emphasis on, and a definition of,  appropriate continuing education;

3.    Categories / qualifications of professional employees to whom the guidelines will apply;

4.    Availability of funds for reimbursement of tuition and/or other costs;

5.    Factors to be used in determining if the continuing education course/program/activity qualifies for reimbursement;

6.    Application procedure for reimbursement of tuition and/or other expenses; and,

7.    Other factors as deemed appropriate for this district.

Persons who possess two (2) years of classroom experience as an assistant teacher or who have taught for one (1) year in an accredited public or private school shall be allowed to fulfill student teaching requirements under the supervision of a qualified participating teacher approved by an accredited college of education. The local school district in which the assistant teacher is employed shall compensate such assistant teachers at the required salary level during the period of time such individual is completing student teaching requirements. ' 37-3-2 (6) (a)

LEGAL REF.: MS CODE as cited

CROSS REF.: Policies CK - Administrative Personnel Professional Development

                             GAD - Professional Staff Development

                             GADD - Beginning Teacher Support Program

ADOPTED:    02/14/2006