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This page describes how educators earn credit from attending professional development at Denver Public Schools, colleges and universities, and other third parties.
Types of credit you can earn from attending professional development include:
Contact hours, DPS inservice, and college or university hours may be applied towards the renewal of a teaching license; whereas, only DPS inservice and college or university hours can be applied towards salary increments.
The type of credit you receive for attending professional development varies based on individuals courses. For example, some courses may offer contact hours and inservice hours, while some courses may only offer contact hours. In addition, if a course offers inservice or college or university hours, there is a credit application process and fee required for attending.
It is important to understand the types of credit being offered for a course and how to apply for the credit you want before you attend a course.
The following are credit options for taking professional development courses. All courses can give contact hour credit. In addition, a teacher may choose either DPS inservice education credit or college/university credit, not both. Credit must be requested at the time of the course.
Type of Credit |
Ongoing Professional Development and Training Experience Contact hours |
DPS Inservice Education Credit 15 contact hours = 1 semester credit |
College/University Semester Credit with:
15 contact hours = 1 semester credit |
Cost |
Free |
$25 |
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Procedure |
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At the time of the class,
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At the time of the class,
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Documentation |
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Note: ProComp will only buy out unused credit in the first two opt-in windows—the second window closes March 31, 2006. The only type of credit accepted for buy-out is the same type used for salary increment. Please refer questions about ProComp to the ProComp Hotline at 720-423-3900 or http://www.denverprocomp.org/.
When you receive a certificate for completing a course, in most cases, you can apply the course as contact hours. However, to earn inservice credit or college or university credit, a course must explicitly offer that kind of credit. Only courses offered by Denver Public Schools that have an official staff development number (SD#) can be applied towards inservice credit. An SD# indicates that the course has been rigorously reviewed and approved. Furthermore, if college or university credit is offered for a course, it means the class is offered through an accredited university or college. A transcript must be obtained for the class to be used for salary increment.
For example, you may want to take a course from Denver Public Schools that will allow you to increment your salary. Before taking that course for salary increments, you must ensure inservice credit or college or university hours are offered for the course. If both are offered, you will have to fill out an application, pay the appropriate fees, and choose between inservice credit or college or university hours. In this case, the difference is that college or university hours will display on an official college transcript from the college, whereas inservice credit will not. Usually, the type of credit offered by a course is advertised with the course flyer or other information. If you are not sure what type of credit is offered for a particular course, contact the course instructor. All requests for credit must be made at the time of the course.
The Colorado Department of Education (CDE) renews teaching licenses. CDE requires that you fill out an application and include verification of your hours. The table below summarizes the type of credit and hours required for license renewal. Go to the CDE Educator Licensing page and download the application to renew your professional license or request an application from the Educator Licensing Department of the Colorado Department of Education (CDE) at 303-866-6628, Colorado Department of Education, State Office Building, 201 East Colfax Avenue, Room 105, Denver, CO 80203-1799.
Required Hours for
License Renewal |
Six (6) semester hours of credit from a college/university -or- Six (6) semester hours of district inservice credit -or- Ninety (90) contact hours of professional development |
How salary increments are earned and calculated differs depending on if you opt into ProComp or not.
For DPS educators who do not opt into ProComp, refer to the Human Resources Salary Schedule.
Download the Employee Information Change Form on the Human Resources Web site at http://hrforms.dpsk12.org/doc/Changeform.doc. Complete the section, Salary—Request for Salary Advance (Licensed Employees).
Note: Official transcripts must be quarter or semester credit hours issued from an accredited college or university.
Contact hour credit does not qualify for salary increment.
Employee Information Change Forms must be submitted to the Human Resources Service Center before January 15 and June 15 of each year. If you have questions, contact the Human Resources Hotline at 720-423-3900.
The Curriculum and Instruction Department/Professional Development, 720-423-3913, maintains a database of all approved DPS inservice education courses. A six-digit professional development number (e.g., SD 01-0000) identifies the approved course. Please refer to this number when inquiring.
The table below summarizes the type of credit and hours required for salary increment. You apply for salary increments through Human Resources. You must fill out an Employee Information Change Form to request salary advancement. The form is on the Web at http://hrforms.dpsk12.org/doc/Pace_Changes_Stipends/Changeform.doc.
For DPS educators who opt into ProComp, please see the ProComp Web site. The process for earning and applying salary increments is being developed, and information is forthcoming.
If you have technical questions about this Web site, contact Joel' Bradley-Hess at
joel_bradley-hess@dpsk12.org or 720-423-3723.
Page last updated:
Wednesday, March 01, 2006
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