ACS Professional Learning Funds

I. Individual Professional Learning Funds The use of individual professional learning funds should be utilized for activities that relate to identified school improvement goals (school-wide, divisional, or PLT-related) and/or current job responsibilities. The intent of the professional development fund is to help finance the cost of activities that have direct, tangible input on the specific duties of teachers. 1. Each teacher is eligible for 3120 AED ($850) to use for individual professional learning activities each year. Part-time teachers or teachers hired for permanent employment after the start of the school year, will receive a prorated amount according to the actual time they are employed during the school year. Professional learning funds are not available for employees who are temporarily employed and who may not be completing the school year. Professional learning funds are not interchangeable with spouses or other ACS employees. 2. Individual professional learning funds may be accumulated up to THREE years for a total of 9360 AED (US $2550). The maximum amount a teacher can be reimbursed at any time for any activity or activities is 9360 AED (US $2550). 3. In addition, ACS will pay for registration to EITHER the NESA Fall Training Institute OR the NESA Winter Training Institute for teams of teachers who are eligible to attend. Travel and lodging for conference attendance will be deducted from each individual’s professional learning fund, unless otherwise arranged (see Note #5 below). 4. Individual professional learning funds can be used for: a. NESA-sponsored conferences; b. subject area conferences; c. university course work; d. distance learning course work; e. summer workshops and seminars; f. tuition, course materials, and lodging (standard hotel rates). Funds may be used for individual or group travel to regional workshops, intercontinental travel (see Note #2 below), or for domestic travel within the United States during the summer months, as well as round-trip taxi service from airport to hotel within the same city. Individual or small groups of participants needing ground transportation within the UAE should make arrangements through the Office of Teaching and Learning as it may be possible for school drivers to assist you. g. other approved professional learning activities. 5. Individual professional learning funds cannot be used for: a. food and drink; b. additional ground transportation unless previously authorized (e.g.: taxi to Dubai airport or car rental would not be reimbursable unless previously approved); c. gifts or souvenirs; d. business class or airfare upgrades; e. hotel upgrades; f. extra luggage; g. travel or lodging for family members not participating in the activity. 6. Team-based participation in regional conferences or workshops is preferred over individual participation in an external conference or workshop. If multiple faculty requests exceed the cost of funding a comparable on-site consultant, the use of “pooling” individual funds for this purpose may be considered.

7. Faculty members who are invited to present at a regional conference or workshop will be given priority for reimbursement for travel and lodging not already covered by the host school or organization. 8. All faculty members who attend conferences, workshops, or other external activities are expected to share their learning via University of ACS sessions. Offered throughout the year, University of ACS sessions provide a forum for teachers to teach other teachers across the school. 9. When requesting the use of professional learning funds, consideration should be given to the cost of the activity as compared to the cost of travel and lodging. While it is not always possible to find reasonably priced travel and lodging, it is requested that participants research several options to determine travel and lodging costs that are not excessive. Notes: 1) In order to be approved, professional development activities or purchases must be relevant to the faculty member’s current or future role at ACS. 2) The use of professional learning funds for intercontinental travel will not be authorized during summer holidays for overseas hire staff. However, the cost of actual regional or domestic airfare during the summer break is reimbursable. 3) The Office of Professional Learning maintains records on the amount of money in each teacher's individual professional learning account. If you need information regarding your account, please call Michal at 441. 4) Faculty not returning to ACS may apply for reimbursement (submit proof of completion and receipts) for work completed in the FIRST semester from their professional learning fund. Application for use of professional learning funds during an employee’s last semester of employment requires Superintendent approval. 5) Certain NESA workshops may be reimbursed from the NESA budget in the Office of Teaching and Learning if deemed essential to an area under curricular review. II. Requests That Exceed Available Individual Professional Learning Funds If the cost of a requested activity exceeds the individual’s professional learning fund total, faculty may request additional funding from the Office of Professional Learning. A tiered rubric will be used to determine level of additional funding by the school. A Professional Learning Committee composed of teachers and administrators will determine and approve leveled funding. A detailed plan of action will be required for consideration. There are limited funds for this purpose.

Alignment to School/Division Goals Potential for transfer to OnSite JobEmbedded Professional Learning

100% Exceeded Funds Reimbursed by School Clear, strong alignment

50% Reimbursement from School Some alignment

0% Exceeded Funds Reimbursed by School No alignment

Training will offer strong macro-to-micro link in priority area

Training will offer macroto-micro link in priority area

Training will not provide macro-tomicro link

III. Applying to Use Your Professional Learning Funds Professional learning activity requests should align with professional learning plans: an individual plan, a team-based plan, or the school-wide plan. Applications for funding approval for professional development activities should be submitted at least one month before the schedule activity (May 15 for summer activities) when possible. A. NESA Conferences To apply to use professional learning funds for attendance at a NESA conference: 1.Complete the Individual Professional Learning Pre-Approval Form. The form is available on the Teacher Portal page in Veracross, on the ACS Teaching & Learning website, from the Professional Learning office, or from the division executive assistant. 2. Contact the Professional Learning office for your available PL funds. 3. Indicate “NESA Event” on the form. 4. Complete form and give it to your division principal for his/her approval. 6. If the principal gives approval and all funding will be taken from individual PL accounts, s/he will pass the form to the Office of Professional Learning. If the principal does not feel the program is appropriate, s/he will meet with the faculty member to discuss the proposal. 7. Once approved, you will need to sign the final section, indicating that you are aware of the total amount to be funded by the school. 8. NESA registration, travel and lodging will be arranged by the Office of Professional Learning. 8. If additional school-based funding is required, approval will be necessary from the Professional Learning Committee (see below). B. Non-NESA Workshops, Courses, Seminars, Online Events and Conferences To apply to use professional learning funds for non-NESA workshops, courses, seminars and conferences: 1.Complete the Individual Professional Learning Pre-Approval Form. The form is available on the Teacher Portal page in Veracross, on the ACS Teaching & Learning website, from the Professional Learning office, or from the division executive assistant. 2. Contact the Professional Learning office for your available PL funds. 3. Gather and print information regarding the date, location, and registration fee of your requested activity. 4. Gather and print current quotes related to airfare, lodging, and additional costs. 5. Give the form to your division principal for his/her approval. 6. If the principal gives approval and all funding will be taken from individual PL accounts, s/he will pass the form to the Office of Professional Learning. If the principal does not feel the program is appropriate, s/he will meet with the faculty member to discuss the proposal. The Superintendent will grant final approval. 7. Once approved, you will need to sign the final section, indicating that you are aware of the total amount to be funded by the school. 8. If additional school-based funding is required, approval will be necessary from the Professional Learning Committee (see below). 9. NESA conference travel and lodging will be arranged by the Office of Professional Learning. C. IB Workshops/Conferences IB Workshop Training is determined and approved by the IB Coordinator and HS Principal based on a tiered funding framework. If personal professional learning funds are utilized for this purpose, teachers must complete a “Personal Funds for IB Training” request form and submit to

the Office of Professional Learning for record-keeping purposes. IV. Reimbursement Guidelines Reimbursement of professional learning funds occurs after the activity has been completed. Exceptions to this rule are NESA event registration, travel, and lodging. To receive professional learning funds, the following information should be submitted to the Assistant Superintendent for Learning within one month after the activity (September 30 for summer activities) when possible. 1. Evidence of your payment for the activity. Please provide official receipts. 2. In order to be reimbursed, the Individual Professional Development Pre-Approval Form must be approved. 3. See previous notes for reimbursible areas. Other than reimbursement for receipt of round-trip transfer to the Abu Dhabi airport and round-trip transfer from arrival airport to hotel, no other ground transportation receipts are reimbursible. Taxi costs from Abu Dhabi to Dubai are not reimbursible. Please contact the Office of Professional Learning for supporting transport within the Emirates. Food, beverages and personal expenses are not reimbursible. Individual PL funds cannot be used for technology purchases or for purchase of classroom resources used by students – these are funded through division-specific budgets. 4. Reimbursement will be made at the currency exchange rate provided by the Business Office.