Professional Development for Staff
Fall River Public Schools is committed to providing high-quality professional development opportunities for all staff. These offerings are available throughout the school year, including during the summer months.
Professional Development Points (PDPs)
PDPs are issued by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) and are required for renewing a professional-level educator license. They are used solely for licensure renewal and not for salary advancement.
In-service Credits
Fall River Public Schools may award in-service credit for district-approved courses that meet the standards of graduate-level coursework. When a course is equivalent to a graduate course, participants receive the same number of in-service credits—provided all coursework requirements are completed. For non-graduate-level courses, in-service credit is calculated at 15 contact hours per credit.
In-service credits, along with other criteria, may be applied vertically and horizontally on the salary schedule. However, in-service credits issued by Fall River Public Schools are not transferable to other districts.
Graduate Credits
Graduate credits are earned through coursework taken at an accredited college or university beyond your degree. Some district-offered courses provide the option to earn graduate credit, usually for an additional cost paid by the participant. Both graduate and in-service credits may be applied toward a salary lane change.
Unlike in-service credits, graduate credits are typically transferable to other school districts.