PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

District Professional Development Fund Guidelines
Process for Requesting District Funds
Forms
Upcoming Professional Development Opportunities

Western District guidelines for allocation of district professional development funds:

• County-based educators and WNEP coordinators may request funding support for professional development through the district office.  (WNEP educators and other grant-funded staff typically have training funds available to them through their grant program budget.) 
• A maximum of $1,000 may be requested over a three year period, based on the state fiscal year (July 1 – June 30).  The current funding cycle will run from July 1, 2008 – June 30, 2011
• Maximum per request is $1,000
• Staff are encouraged to leverage resources in addition to district funds to support professional development, but it is not required in order to request district funds
• It is important to note that district professional development funds are limited and the budget will only be able to support a limited number of $1,000 requests in a year.  Please do your best to plan ahead and get your requests in to the district office as early as possible in the year.  Requests will be approved on a first-come, first-served basis.
• The process outlined below should be followed in order to insure access to these funds.
• Special circumstances that may not meet these guidelines may still be forwarded to the District Director for consideration on a case-by-case basis.
• Colleagues awarded district funding may be requested to present the learning from their professional development to the district at a meeting, WisLine or via the web.

Each request is considered individually, on it's own merit, and reimbursement requests should be for the actual anticipated amount to be requested.  This means that underestimating costs and then overspending the requested amount does not necessarily mean that the request for additional reimbursement will be honored.  Make your estimates for expenses as accurate as possible - check travel costs, lodging expenses, etc. prior to making the request.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT REIMBURSEMENT REQUESTS SHOULD BE SUBMITTED AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE TO ALLOW FOR PROCESSING TIME.  If a traveler submits a professional development opportunity request the week of the event, They should plan to cover all expenses on their own, and not assume that the request will be approved or reimbursed.  "Failure to plan on your part does not necessarily constitute an emergency on my part" is a valid statement on this issue.

The process to use is as follows:

1. You must complete the (PIAFR) Professional Improvement Application for Financial Reimbursement (1 page PDF file, 5 KB) form.  Make preliminary request to the Western District Director (let her know the dates, cost estimate, and professional development opportunity details) using the PIAFR form.  Be sure the traveler signs it!    Attach agenda or program description to make clear the intent of the Professional Development Opportunity.  If registration by the district office is requested be sure to indicate so and attach completed registration forms.
2. Get Department Head signature.  Make two copies of the form (and 1 copy of the attachments for your records).
3. Mail the original signed form, one copy and the attachments to Liz at the Western District Office.
4. The District Director approves or disapproves the request.
5. Liz sends back copy of PIAFR form with the approved reimbursement amount to the traveler.  If disapproved, the traveler may choose to go on his or her own time, and pay for it personally.
6. When the traveler returns, have them complete a Travel Expense Report (TER) with any covered expenses.  Original Receipts for lodging, registration, etc. must be attached.  Have traveler sign the TER
7. Get Department Head signature on the TER.  Make two copies of the form (and 1 copy of the attachments for your records).
8. Mail the original signed form, one copy and the attachments to Liz at the Western District Office.
9. The District Director will sign to approve the TER and sends it to Accounts Payable.
10. Reimbursement is sent to the traveler generally within 2-3 weeks, depending on the need for additional documentation.

• District Professional Improvement Application for Financial Reimbursement (1 page, 5 KB)
• Out-of-State Travel Request Form (1 page)
• Out-of-Country Travel Request form (1 page)
• Travel Expense Report (TER) revised November 2008. (1 page, 140 KB)
• Request for Tuition Reimbursement Form (1 page, KB)

Upcoming Professional Development Opportunities:

• North Central Urban Conference. May 4-7, 2009.
• New Orleans Cultural Immersion Experience. July 18-22, 2009.

LINKS:

• UW-Extension New Colleague Orientation