PI 34 Frequently Asked Questions

The PDP Team

How does someone become a PDP team member and what is the role of the team?

Any professional educator or designated IHE representative wishing to become a PDP team member must participate in and successfully complete one of the DPI-sponsored PDP team training sessions offered around the state. A list of all scheduled sessions can be found at PDP Team Trainings. Information about the PI 34 on-line module and a self-assessment is also available at that site. Professional educators and IHE representatives who have completed PDP training and are eligible to serve on teams are listed at DPI-trained PDP Team Members. Additional resources relating to the PDP are included on the PDP Page.

• Initial Educator PDP Goal Approval and Verification Team Role - Initial educators select DPI-trained team members for goal approval and PDP verification. The initial educator's team shall include a peer, an administrator, and an IHE representative. For more information on the role of the team, see the Initial Educator Toolkit on the Initial Educator Page.
• Professional Educator PDP Verification Team Role - Professional educators select DPI-trained team members for PDP verification - goal approval is not required. The professional educator's team shall include three peers. For more information on the role of the team, see the toolkit on the PDP Page.

Initial educator PDP teams require an institution of higher education (IHE) representative as one of the members. Who qualifies as an IHE representative for an initial educator's PDP team?

The IHE member on an initial educator's PDP team must be designated by a Wisconsin IHE and must be trained through the DPI-approved PDP team training. Each Wisconsin campus has a contact person and a process for designating their members. More information can be found on the Educator Preparation Program Providers' Page.

How is a team member on an initial educator's team selected?

The initial educator selects team members in all applicable categories (peer, administrator, institute of higher education representative) unless there are parameters within the educator's negotiated contract that identify a different process. For more information about finding DPI-trained team members, see the PDP Page.

Can the administrator serving on an initial educator's review team be that person's principal or must the initial educator find another administrator?

PI 34 does not specify whether or not the supervising administrator can serve as the administrator on the initial educator PDP team. However, it is important that the PDP process for license advancement and the district process for evaluating job performance be recognized as two separate processes.

When do educators interact with the PDP team and for what purpose?

All educators seeking advancement from the initial educator stage or renewal of the Professional Educator License are responsible for convening a PDP team. Educators interact with the teams that they have convened as follows:

• Initial Educator PDP Teams - for approval of the PDP goals before implementing the plan and for verification of completion of the plan in year three, four, or five of the Initial Educator License. Additional information on the PDP and timelines can be found on the Initial Educator Page.
• Professional Educator PDP Teams - for verification of successful completion of the plan in the final year of the license. Additional information on the PDP and timelines can be found in the educator toolkit on the PDP Page.

How do educators "convene" a PDP team?

• Initial Educators Convening a PDP team: When an initial educator is ready to have a PDP team review and approve his/her PDP goal(s), the initial educator will select DPI-trained PDP team members and submit the PDP for goal approval (also see question above). The PDP team members complete their review of the goal and return the plan along with the Goal Approval Signature Form with any comments to the initial educator. The same process is used for initial educators after January 15th of the fifth or final year of the license cycle for verification of the successful completion of the educator's PDP.
• Professional Educators Convening a PDP team: The professional educator would convene his/her team after January 15th in the fifth year for verification of successful completion of the educator's PDP.

Both initial and professional educators may use a variety of means to convene the PDP team. Some educators may use PDP team members within their district and the team may meet "in person" to review the PDP. Others may select PDP team members who are located across the state and may elect to contact team members and then send them their plans. Also, some educators use electronic means to connect with PDP team members. All these means are valid ways to convene a PDP goal approval and/or verification team. For more information, see either the Initial Educator Toolkit or the PDP Educator Toolkit on the PDP Page.

Is it permissible for an initial educator to choose an administrator for his/her team who works outside the district?

A district is required to "designate" a DPI-trained administrator so s/he is available to serve as the administrator on the PDP team for an initial educator in that district. However, the initial educator may choose a DPI-trained administrator from outside the school district. The initial educator's choice would only be limited if the team membership is defined in the district's collective bargaining agreement; this would be an employment issue, rather than a licensing issue.

What happens if an educator's PDP is not verified by two of the three PDP team members?

An educator whose PDP is not verified by two of the three PDP team members should first explore whether there are changes that could be made in the documentation that was submitted that would allow a team to verify successful completion of the PDP. If this process is unsuccessful, PI.34 rule (PI 34.17(1)(c)) permits an educator to request a one-year non-renewable license if his/her PDP team does not verify that the educator has successfully completed their plan within the required five-year period - thus allowing more time to successfully complete the PDP or appeal the PDP team's decision to the state superintendent. This appeals process is outlined in PI 34.17(4)(d).

Is there compensation for PDP team members?

PI 34 does not address the issue of compensation. This is an individual team member or local school district decision.

Related Resources

PDP Page
PI 34 FAQ
Other FAQ Licensing Topics

For questions about this information, contact Mark A. Schwingle (608) 266-1633

Last updated on 6/30/2008 2:27:54 PM