Professional Development Point (PDP). The Department shall measure professional development activities as follows: 1 clock hour is equivalent to one PDP. 1 semester hour is equivalent to 15 PDPs. One Department-approved continuing professional development credit is equivalent to 15 PDPs. One continuing education unit is equivalent to ten PDPs. Educators applying to renew an Initial Professional, Professional, or Advanced Professional License shall complete a minimum of 90 PDPs that shall include: Content or pedagogy related to an area on the educator’s license; English as a Second Language, Sheltered English, or Bilingual Education; Strategies for teaching students with disabilities, or differentiated instruction for students with diverse learning needs; and Culturally Responsive Teaching or diverse student identities in education. Additional Requirements for Specific Licensure Areas. Blind/Visually Impaired. Teachers who hold a license in the area of the Blind/Visually Impaired shall present a minimum of 15 PDPs in braille maintenance. School Counselor. An educator who is licensed as a School Counselor shall present 1 semester hour of coursework from an institution of higher education, one Department-approved continuing professional development credit; or an equivalent number of continuing education units that address the following: Depression; Trauma; Violence; Youth suicide; Substance abuse; and The identification of professional resources and best practices for distributing resources to parents or guardians to help students in crisis. Administrator. If an educator is employed in a local school system, State-operated school, or nonpublic school approved under COMAR 13A.09.10 and assigned in an administrator or supervisor position, the educator shall submit PDPs which include: Strategies for increasing teacher retention; and Strategies for developing and facilitating teacher leadership. Special Provision. Beginning on July 1, 2025, all teachers employed in a Maryland local school system, State-operated school, or nonpublic school approved under COMAR 13A.09.10 in a position that requires a license in early childhood education, elementary education, special education, or English to Speakers of Other Languages shall demonstrate proficiency in the knowledge and practices of scientific reading instruction, to include phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension, as follows: Demonstration of proficiency may be satisfied by submitting one of the following: A passing score on a reading instruction test approved by the State Board of Education; Completion of coursework or professional learning approved by the Department; Submission of attestation of proficiency through observation completed by a Department-recognized assessor; or Completion of training provided by the Department in the science of reading for the purpose of fulfilling the requirements of renewal. A license holder required to demonstrate proficiency in the knowledge and practices of scientific reading instruction shall present the requirements in §D(1) of this regulation when renewing a license, as follows: The license holder may submit verification of enrollment in §D(1)(b) or (d) of this regulation to satisfy the terms of renewal. The license holder shall present documentation demonstrating completion of §D(1)(b) or (d) of this regulation by the subsequent renewal. A license holder is considered proficient in the knowledge and practices of scientific reading instruction when the requirements of this section have been submitted. The Department shall ensure this license indicates that a license holder is proficient in the knowledge and practices of scientific reading instruction. Professional development points may be accrued by the completion of one of more of the following: College credit earned or taught at an accredited institution of higher education. Continuing professional development (CPD) credits, earned or taught, approved by the Department. Continuing education units (CEUs) from an accredited International Association for Continuing Education and Training provider or approved by another Maryland State agency for purposes of licensure. Professional conference. A professional conference is a workshop, institute, or seminar of 4 or more hours that contributes to ongoing, sustained, and high-quality professional development. Curriculum Development. Curriculum development is a group activity in which the license holder contributes to the improvement of the curriculum of a school, a school division, or an educational institution. This includes the alignment of curriculum frameworks, instructional materials, and assessments to provide a system with clear expectations of what is to be taught and learned. For each curriculum developed, the Department shall award the educator up to 30 PDPs. Publication of a Book or Article. The license holder shall ensure that the book or article contributes to the education profession or to the body of knowledge of the license holder’s teaching area or instructional position. The educator shall ensure that an article is published in a recognized professional journal. The educator shall ensure that books are published for purchase. For each book published, the Department shall award the educator up to 75 PDPs. For each article published, the Department shall award the educator up to 10 PDPs. Mentorship. Mentoring is the process by which an experienced professional who has received mentorship training helps one or more individuals to improve their performance. Assistance may involve role modeling, direct instruction, demonstration, observation with feedback, developing of plans, and consultation to promote instructional excellence and increased student achievement. Mentoring may include the supervision of a field experience of a pre-service student teacher or an intern in an approved teacher preparation program, as well as mentoring as part of the induction process for a beginning teacher. Micro-Credentials. Micro-credentials are a digital form of certification indicating demonstrated competency/mastery in a specific skill or set of skills. Educators identify a competency they want to develop, submit evidence that they have mastered the competency, and receive a digital badge once the evidence is approved. Micro-credentials can be earned by non-profit and for-profit entities approved by the local school system, State-operated school, nonpublic school, or the Department. For each micro-credential earned, the Department shall award the educator up to 10 PDPs. Professional Development Activity. The Department shall accept professional development activities approved by the Department, Maryland local school system, State Agency, a Maryland approved nonpublic school, or another state department of education. The license holder shall ensure that each activity is a minimum of 1 contact hour. An educator who earns a National Board Certificate from the National Board of Professional Teaching Standards may present that certificate when subsequently renewing a Maryland Educator License as a substitute for §B of this regulation.