Professional Development

PD Learning Network and CA Assoc. of Latino Superintendents Launch New ESSA Online PD Course

• By Richard Chang
• 02/01/17

The PD Learning Network (PDLN) and California Association of Latino Superintendents and Administrators (CALSA) have launched a new online professional development (PD) course for educators under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA).

Hosted by Glendale Unified School District’s assistant superintendent, Jacqueline Perez, the course breaks down ESSA by each Title section and identifies specific changes teachers and administrators need to understand to comply with the legislation and take advantage of new opportunities, according to a news release.

The course provides detailed yet accessible information about funding and accountability protocols under the federal law, which was enacted December 2015 to replace No Child Left Behind (NCLB), and which comes into full force in the 2017-2018 school year.

Course participants may earn digital badges/micro-credentials for demonstrating competency. As with all PDLN courses, educators may choose to demonstrate their learning by completing assessments that result in concrete materials they can use in their practice immediately. Teachers can create presentations to share with parents about the new law, and administrators may develop communication for their faculty that illustrates how ESSA will impact school staffing and services.

“One of the main advantages of this course is the opportunity to receive a broad history and background related to ESSA,” CALSA Executive Director David J. Verdugo said in a statement. “The value is that it provides educators the opportunity to really go deeper and learn more about the regulations and the new aspects of this accountability plan.”

Based in Santa Barbara, CA, PDLN creates online ed tech professional development courses for K–12 educators. Badges and micro-badges are awarded based on competency, rather than time. PDLN’s team of educators and ed tech trainers curate content and develop original video courses designed to meet the needs of today’s educators. Courses are aligned to ISTE-T standards.

To learn more about PDLN, visit the organization’s website. For more information about CALSA, visit calsa.org.