The Kansas State Department of Education’s (KSDE) Professional Development (PD) Planning program has received numerous questions from districts regarding the use of PD points for movement on the district salary schedule. Specific guidance is embedded within the PD plan review process to distinguish awarding PD points for renewal and districts’ policies toward salary movement based on PD points.  

The goal of this information is to provide clarity regarding the KSDE’s role and responsibilities relating to the awarding of PD points for license renewal versus salary schedule movement. 

Regulatory requirements to award PD points and license renewals 

• Oversight entity: The Kansas State Board of Education (KSBOE) through the KSDE Teacher Licensure team. 
• Awarders of points: Properly trained and duly selected local professional development committee (PDC) members as described in the district’s SBOE-approved PD plan.  
• The formula to award PD points is: 
• One clock hour of in-service education = one PD point for knowledge level in-service education or service to the profession.  
• Variations 
• One semester credit hour of college = 20 PD points. 
• For application level of the original knowledge, the original points are doubled.  
• For impact level of the original knowledge, the original points are tripled. 
• The basic tenet for awarding points is that if the evidence for the validity and quantity of PD is provided, the PDC cannot limit PD points.  

Using PD points for district salary movement or other local matters 

• Oversight entity: Local school boards and other entities as the school board requires. 
• Districts control how their licensed staff is compensated and set internal policies for if and how PD points may be used to advance on the salary schedule. KSDE does not provide guidance nor is it involved in any way in the use of PD points to advance on the salary schedule. KSDE’s only use for PD points is to verify educators meet license renewal requirements.   

For more information about this topic, please email professionallearning@ksde.org.