Professional development & mentoring
AR Handbook – 51
Purpose of Professional
Development – New Jersey
Administrative Code
Required professional development
for certificated educators in New
Jersey is governed by regulations
adopted by the State Board of Education
and found at NJAC 9C.
The stated purpose of professional
development in the code is “Educator
development occurs along a
continuum of rigorous pre-professional
preparation, certification, and
professional development to prepare
educators.” Accordingly, ARs should
use the following information to
ensure that members are given the
necessary opportunities and support
to help them in their professional
development appropriate to their
needs at each point in their career.
This means that early career members
will have different needs when
compared to their more experienced
colleagues. District and school
professional development plans
(required in the regulations) should
reflect appropriate differentiation of
professional learning experiences for
all educators.
Components of Professional
Development
The administrative code includes
a clearly articulated description
of what constitutes the appropriate
components of professional
development consistent with the
state’s requirements. Some of these
descriptors are consistent with the
resolution adopted by the NJEA Delegate
Assembly that identifies NJEA’s
“Definition” of professional development
(below):
• Professional development shall
align with the Professional
Standards for Teachers and
the Professional Standards for
School Leaders in NJAC 6A:9-3,
the standards for professional
learning in NJAC 6A:9C-3.3,
student learning and educator
development needs, and
school, district, and/or state
improvement goals.
• Professional development
shall encompass a broad
range of professional learning
that contributes to improved
practice, including, but not
limited to:
• Participation in the
work of established
collaborative teams of
teachers, school leaders,
and other administrative,
instructional, and