(a)
(1)The State Department of Education shall issue a request for proposals to contract for the development of standards for professional development for educators and instructional leaders.
(2)
The standards shall present a vision of ongoing, high quality professional development, give special attention to high need schools and school districts, and build on existing work on quality professional development, including the Designs for Learning system.
(3)
The contractor shall also review and give consideration to other existing professional development programs.
(4)
The standards shall serve as guidelines for providers of professional development activities and may be used to facilitate the coordination among existing professional development programs.
(b)
By January 1, 2003, the entity with which the department contracts shall submit the standards to the Superintendent of Public Instruction for approval after which the superintendent shall submit the standards to the State Board of Education for approval.