You want to develop an effective professional development plan. You want to make sure your plan includes key components.

Question: What are the components of a professional development plan?

Answer: Well, I think a professional development plan should answer questions like:

1. What does your organization believe about professional development?
2. What does your organization want to focus its professional development on?
3. What’s happening this year for professional development? What’s happening in the next few years?
4. What opportunities will you provide your staff for professional development?
5. How can your staff get funding?
6. How can your staff apply for professional development?

So, I think key components of a professional development plan include:

1. A set of beliefs.
2. A stated focus.
3. A calendar that identifies what the professional development emphases will be each year for the next 3 years.
4. A list of professional development opportunities provided by your organization (for example, internal/external training, publications, memberships, and coaching).
5. Funding guidelines that explain how much funding is available, what the funding may be used for, and how decisions about funding are made.
6. An application procedure.

Pursue excellence. Develop a professional development plan that includes key components.


*This blog entry is part of a 6-part series:

1. What do you want to focus your organization’s professional development on?
2. What are the components of a professional development plan?
3. What do you believe about professional development?
4. How can you enhance your organization's professional development program?
5. How can you increase the impact of professional development?
6. What are your organization's professional development needs?