Professional Learning and Growth

Title II Part A funds from Federal Programs are utilized to recruit and develop teachers and principals. Title VI Part B funds are used to support student achievement in rural and low-income areas.

The purpose of the professional development system is to increase student achievement, enhance classroom instructional strategies that promote rigor and relevance throughout the curriculum, and prepare students for continuing education and the workforce.

Renewal of the Professional Educator’s Certificate is the educator’s responsibility.

We aim to help educators meet your professional learning and growth needs. If you have questions or need assistance with professional development, inservice credits, inservice transcripts, and other professional learning and growth needs, please contact the Department of Teaching and Learning at (386)329-0570.

How can I earn inservice credits (points)?

Professional Learning Courses, Sessions, & Conferences

College Credits

Teaching College Courses

Subject Area Exams

Educators may be eligible to earn inservice credit for attending and implementing new learning from courses, sessions, learning communities, and conferences that are facilitated within the district and that are included as part of our PCSD Professional Learning Catalog.

Sessions, courses, and conferences facilitated by other entities must be pre-approved by your supervisor and the Department of Teaching and Learning to ensure alignment to the PCSD Professional Learning Catalog, Florida’s Professional Learning Standards, and identified needs.

Inservice points will not be awarded for attendance only. Attendance and documentation of implementation are required in order to earn inservice credits/points.

College level credits for appropriate topics may be used for certificate renewal if earned within the current renewal period.

College credits must be awarded by an accredited or approved institution , or the American Council on Education (ACE), and must be reflected on an official transcript. View a list of Florida's accredited state universities and state colleges and community colleges using the links above or on the Florida Department of Education Website. One semester hour is equivalent to 20 inservice points.

An educator who teaches a college level course for appropriate topics at an accredited or approved institution may be awarded a credit equivalent to the course credit, if taught during the renewal period.

Points for teaching a specific course may only be awarded once.

View a list of Florida's accredited state universities and state colleges and community colleges using the links above or on the Florida Department of Education Website.

One semester hour is equivalent to 20 inservice points.

A passing numerical score on the Florida subject area exam may be used for certificate renewal. The exam must be specific to the coverage to be renewed.

The exam must be taken and passed within the current certificate validity period to qualify for inservice points/credit.

Passing the exam is equivalent to three (3) semester hours of college credit or 60 inservice points for renewal purposes.

Please Note: It is the educator’s responsibility to ensure that all documentation is submitted to the Department of Teaching and Learning in order for inservice credits/points to be awarded.

Earning Inservice Points/Credits: Within District Events

Certified educators may earn points/credits for certificate renewal by attending and implementing learning from face-to-face and virtual professional learning sessions and courses by completing the Bridge-to-Practice from the professional development that are part of PCSD’s Professional Learning Catalog (formerly Master Inservice Plan or MIP).

How do I register district professional learning events happening within the district?

Kickup Professional Learning System

Instructional PCSD personnel use the Kickup Professional Learning and Growth System to register for most events.

Kickup provides educators with an easy and digital way to:

Manage and align professional learning events
Search and find professional learning events and courses
Register for events
Digitally confirm event attendance at both virtual and face-to-face events and meetings
Track inservice points
Submit Bridge to Practice professional learning implementation
Read and reflect on collegial feedback during and after the implementation process
Provide feedback on professional learning events and courses

Helpful Kickup Tools and Articles:

How to Register for an Event

Confirming Attendance at an Event

How to View Your Event Logs

Earning Inservice Points/Credits: Non-District Events

Certified educators may also earn points/credits for renewal by attending and implementing learning from pre-approved, accredited conferences, courses or other events that correspond to areas of need. Please reach out to your administrator and the Department of Teaching and Learning for more information on pre-approval for attendance and pre-approval for inservice credit/inservice point consideration.

How do I verify the implementation of my new learning in order to receive inservice points/credits?

PCSD educators have two options to verify the implementation of skills and knowledge gained through a professional learning session or course.

When the event is within our district, the facilitator will determine and identify the most appropriate verification method during the session or course.

Option 1: Bridge to Practice

The PCSD Bridge to Practice model promotes and encourages educator support during the most critical and important phase of learning - the implementation phase.

The Bridge to Practice structure typically requires 2 implementation steps. Please see the example below.

Step 1 - Planning with Collegial Feedback
The educator selects a piece of new or extended learning that they will try in the classroom. Educators will then create a plan for implementing the new learning and share it with a selected colleague (peer teacher, mentor, coach, facilitator, administrator) for feedback.
Step 2 - Implementation with Collegial Feedback
The educator invites a colleague (peer teacher, mentor, coach, facilitator, administrator) to observe the implementation of the plan and provide feedback on expected instructional behaviors and student learning behaviors.

All Bridge to Practice artifacts must be submitted through the Kickup platform using SSO credentials by the designated due date. Implementation is due within 90 days of the event.

To see a sample Bridge to Practice, click HERE.

Option 2: Professional Learning Implementation Form & Implementation Hour Log

The PCSD Professional Learning Plan and Implementation Hour Log model requires self-guided learning and implementation and may not include support and/or feedback during implementation. Like the Bridge to Practice, Option 2 also requires 2 implementation steps.

Step 1 - Professional Learning Implementation Form
Write a narrative report responding to each section listed below. Each section must be a minimum of 100 words.
FOCUS: Describe how this training specifically relates to your school’s School Improvement Plan and your Individual Professional Development Plan.
PURPOSE: What specific instructional practice, leadership practice, or student learning behaviors are you hoping to impact?
ACTIVITIES: What information, strategies, or ideas that were shared were of greatest value to you?
FOLLOW-UP: What specific actions did you take to implement this new learning?
IMPACT(Educator): What specific instructional or leadership practices were impacted as a result of this new learning and your implementation?
IMPACT(Student): What specific student learning behaviors were impacted as a result of implementing this new learning? What is your evidence?
Step 2 - Time and Implementation Log
The educator records specific implementation activities, along with the dates and times of implementation, and acquires his or her administrator’s signature. The signature designates validation of implementation.

Professional Development Implementation Form and Time and Implementation Log forms are submitted electronically to the Department of Teaching and Learning by the designated due date. Implementation is due within 90 days of the event.

To access the Professional Learning Implementation Form and Implementation Log, click HERE

What are banked points/credits?

Inservice points/credits earned within each certificate validity period expire after the certificate is renewed. However, banked points do not expire until used. Courses that qualify for banking include:

Approved Reading Endorsement Courses
Approved ESOL Endorsement Courses
Autism Spectrum Disorder Endorsement Courses from NEFEC
Approved ESE/SWD Courses

For additional assistance with inservice credits, please contact Susanne Lineberger with the Department of Teaching and Learning (386)329-0570.

PCSD District-wide Learning Communities

The Strategic Plan of the Putnam County School District is focused upon the achievement of a single, critical goal — cultivating a learning community where both students and educators are engaged in learning, where they strive for excellence, and where they are supported to achieve.

PCSD offers a variety of optional educator-driven and collaborative learning communities. Topics and strategies shared in these communities are identified through data analysis by classroom teachers and include elements of content expert sharing of model lessons or mini-lessons, team problem-solving and study, and collaborative planning.

In this community model, inservice points are awarded through the Bridge to Practice model of implementation.

PCSD Learning Communities 2026-2027

ELA	Mathematics	Science	Social Studies	Combination
2nd Grade ELA 3rd Grade ELA 4th Grade ELA	PCSD Math Initiative	3-5th Grade Science	Civics	1st Grade
7-8th Grade ELA 9th Grade ELA 10th Grade ELA	4th Grade Math	6-8th Grade Science
7-8th Grade Intensive Reading
9-12th Grade Intensive Reading

Reading Endorsement and K12 Reading Certification

Beginning with the 2020-2021 school year, new legislation requires certified teachers who provide reading interventions under a school district's K-12 comprehensive reading plan to be certified or endorsed in reading. 6A-6.053 K-12 Comprehensive Reading Plan.

K-12 certified teachers need to be K12 Reading Certified OR Reading Endorsed if they:

Provide Tier 3 interventions in Reading for students Kindergarten through Grade 12
Teach reading to third grade retained students (including Summer Reading Camp)

Some examples of teachers who may be providing Tier 3 reading interventions:

K-6 General Elementary
ESE Self-Contained
6-12 Intensive Reading
Teacher Interventionist

Please see the FDOE website for a complete list of subject areas requiring specific learning and associated inservice credits.

Use the graphic below to help you determine your status and next steps.

Please see the table below for additional information regarding the PCSD Reading Endorsement Add-On Plan and the K12 Reading Certification Exam.

Reading Endorsement - PCSD Reading Endorsement Add-On Plan
Successful completion of the endorsement pathway, through one of the following approved organizations (NEFEC’s Add-on Reading Endorsement Pathway, UF Lastinger Center’s Flamingo Literacy Matrix, or FCRR’s Reading Endorsement Pathway): Competency 1: 60 Inservice Credits Competency 2: 60 Inservice Credits Competency 3: 60 Inservice Credits Competency 4: 60 Inservice Credits Competency 5: 60 Inservice Credits *The cost for these courses varies. Courses must be taken through the Board approved programs for the PCSD Reading Endorsement Add-on.

Reading Endorsement -

PCSD Reading Endorsement Add-On Plan

Successful completion of the endorsement pathway, through one of the following approved organizations (NEFEC’s Add-on Reading Endorsement Pathway, UF Lastinger Center’s Flamingo Literacy Matrix, or FCRR’s Reading Endorsement Pathway):

Competency 1: 60 Inservice Credits

Competency 2: 60 Inservice Credits

Competency 3: 60 Inservice Credits

Competency 4: 60 Inservice Credits

Competency 5: 60 Inservice Credits

*The cost for these courses varies. Courses must be taken through the Board approved programs for the PCSD Reading Endorsement Add-on.

Introducing the Multisensory Inservice Requirement for Certificate Renewal

For professional certificates with a beginning validity date of July 1, 2020, or thereafter, in

any area of certification that includes reading instruction or intervention (see certification areas below)for any students in kindergarten through grade 6 educators will be required to earn two college credits or the equivalent inservice points (40) in the use of explicit, systematic and sequential approaches to reading instruction, developing phonemic awareness and implementing multisensory intervention strategies.

Section 1012.585(3)(f) F.S. An applicant for renewal of a professional certificate in any area of

certification identified by State Board of Education rule that includes reading instruction or

intervention for any students in kindergarten through grade 6, with a beginning validity date of July 1, 2020, or thereafter, must earn a minimum of 2 college credits or the equivalent inservice points (40) in the use of explicit, systematic, and sequential approaches to reading instruction, developing phonemic awareness, and implementing multisensory intervention strategies.

Teachers with the following certification will be required to have the 40 inservice points when they renew:

Elementary Education (K-6)
Pre-Kindergarten/Primary Education (age 3-Gr 3)
Elementary Education (1-6)
Primary Education (K-3)
English (Gr 1-6)
Middle Grades English (Gr 5-9)
Middle Grades Integrated Curriculum (Gr 5-9)
English (6-12)
Reading (K-12)
Reading (Endorsement)
English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) (K-12) (This is for an ESOL Certification Teacher, does not apply to ESOL endorsement.)
ESE (K-12) - This subject area was added to the required certification list in 2023.

Please see the FDOE website for a complete list of subject areas requiring specific learning and associated inservice credits.

Courses approved to satisfy the Students with Disability (20 point SWD) and the Multisensory Reading Renewal Requirements (40 point MSR). Please remember that you must have a total of 20 points to meet the SWD requirement and 40 points to meet the Multisensory Reading Renewal Requirement.

Please note, there are many additional courses available through FDLRS NEFEC, BEESS, and PCSD to meet the SWD requirement.

	Name of Course	# Inservice Points
BEESS Independent Study Courses REGISTER HERE These courses are currently free.	Reading Difficulties/Dyslexia	20 SWD or MSR
	Structured Literacy through a Multisensory Approach	20 SWD or MSR
BEESS Facilitated Courses REGISTER HERE These courses are currently free.	Differentiated Reading Instruction	60* Satisfies both the 20-point SWD and 40-point MSR requirements.
	Exploring Structured Literacy	40 SWD or MSR
UF Flamingo Literacy Matrix REGISTER HERE These courses are currently free.	Reading Endorsement Competency 1	60* Satisfies both the 20-point SWD and 40-point MSR requirement.
UF Flamingo Literacy Microcredentials REGISTER HERE	Elementary Literacy Secondary Literacy Emergent Literacy (*Only if completed after 10/21/2024)	60* Satisfies the 40-point MSR requirement
NEFEC eLearning Reading Endorsement Pathway	Competency 1: Foundations of Reading Instruction Competency 2: Applications of Evidence-based Practices Competency 4: Foundations and Applications of Differentiated Instruction	60* Satisfies the 40-point MSR requirement 60* Satisfies the 40-point MSR requirement 60* Satisfies the 40-point MSR requirement
Beacon Educator REGISTER HERE These courses are currently self-pay and reimbursement is not available.	Reading Challenges 1: Dyslexia and More	20 SWD or MSR
	Reading Challenges 2: Structured Literacy	20 SWD or MSR
	+Reading Challenges: Structured Literacy for All	40 MSR

When the course is listed as SWD or MSR, it is the educator’s responsibility to communicate whether they wish the course to be captured as SWD or MSR. Please send the course certificate or official transcript via email or written communication to Susanne Lineberger at slineberger@my.putnamschools.org. If you have questions, please contact the PCSD Department of Teaching and Learning at (386)329-0570.