CAT Tracks for June 20, 2004 CAIRO LPDC "ON VACATION"

Keep accumulating those CPDUs, CEUs, and/or college courses, but...

The Cairo LPDC has suspended operations through the end of July. Partially, this is due to the difficulty of arranging a quorum during the summer months due to various summer commitments...summer work, vacations, etc. However, the main reason for the "suspension" is that there is a bill in the General Assembly that would seriously alter the role played by the local LPDCs in the certification process...alter, as in abolish!

Nothing is official until the bill is passed, which should occur (or NOT occur) by the end of this month.

Don't get too excited...CPDUs, CEUs, and college courses for recertification will NOT go away - just the local LPDCs. You will still have to accumulate the equivalent of 120 CPDUs by the end of your 5-year cycle...including 20% in special education - i.e. 24 CPDUs or the prorated number given in the May 25th edition of CAT Tracks. (NOTE: The requirement in special education is 50% for special education teachers!)

What will replace the LPDCs if this bill passes? Nothing! Instead, you will return to "square one"...the Regional Office of Education. IF - and I cannot emphasize this enough - if the bill passes, you will likely submit a letter/form to the Regional Superintendent that "assures" that you have completed the recertification requirements...under penalty of perjury. (If required, you would have to produce "proof" of your claim.) You pay your bucks and you are recertified for another 5 years.

AGAIN...all of the above is speculation based upon a bill which can be amended and which can fail altogether. However...with this much possible change in the air...the Cairo LPDC has decided to suspend activities/meetings until further notice.