Professional Development School (PDS) Consortium
Approved October 1st, 2004
Article I- Name
The name of the organization shall be the Buffalo State Professional Development School (PDS) Consortium
Article II- MISSION STATEMENT
The Professional Development School (PDS) Partnership between the Department of Elementary Education and Reading at Buffalo State College and participating schools is a collaborative effort. The partnership is dedicated to college faculty, school administrators, and practicing teachers exploring effective practices to (1) cooperatively supervise preservice teachers and provide closer connections to classroom practice; (2) promote professional development for inservice teachers; (3) improve student learning; and (4) research the problems of educational practice.
Article III- MEMBERS
Members of the Professional Development School (PDS) Consortium are those elementary schools (or an alliance of schools in the same district) where the school(s) and Buffalo State College personnel work in partnership to facilitate high levels of learning by all children enrolled in the school(s). Members shall also include those colleges which are jointly registered with Buffalo State College.
Article IV-Roles, Responsibilities, Qualifications, Terms and Method of Selection
1. The Director or Co-Directors
2. PDS Consortium
3. Liaison Committee
4. PDS Advisory Council
1. The Director or Co-Directors of the PDS shall:
a. Be appointed by the Chair of The Department of Elementary Education and Reading
b. Furnish leadership for the PDS Consortium
c. Act as a liaison between the department and the consortium
d. Coordinate meetings in conjunction with the PDS Advisory Council
e. The term of office for the Director or Co-Directors of the PDS shall be continued based on the recommendation of the Chair of the Elementary Education and Reading Department2. PDS Consortium
a. The PDS Consortium is defined as a group of designated representatives (liaisons) from several PDS schools that meet at regularly scheduled times to discuss issues related to the PDS program, establish policy, foster specific PDS initiatives, provide an essential communication link with Buffalo State College and jointly registered colleges, and raise and/or allocate available funds for various initiatives.
b. Membership of the PDS Consortium includes the Chair of the Elementary Education and Reading Department from Buffalo State College (or designated person with decision making power from the college) and three designated liaisons from each PDS. These include the Principal (or designated person with decision making power), (2) the Liaison Committee Coordinator (or designated person with decision making power), and (3) the BSC college faculty member (or designated person with decision making power). Further, all Buffalo State faculty including Student Teacher supervisors, adjuncts, student members, and jointly registered faculty from other colleges are also welcome participants of the PDS Consortium.3. Liaison Committee
a. Liaison Committee is defined as a group of designated representatives from a PDS whose purpose is to assist in the coordination of activities relative to teacher education and school renewal. The liaison committee is assigned responsibility for disseminating the concerns, decisions and/or actions of the Advisory Council and of their specific PDS staff within their own school; assists in the identification of teacher education resource persons in the school or district; participates in scheduling JPs in the school; and contributes to the development of PDS goals. A Liaison Committee consists of the Principal (or designee), the Liaison Committee Coordinator, additional cooperating teachers as determined by the school, and the college faculty member(s) involved with the school.4. PDS Advisory Council
Membership of Advisory Council
a. PDS Advisory Council is defined as the working group of partners from BSC and the PDS schools, as well as one student member. At present 8 BSC faculty members, 8 PDS School members, 1 BSC student , and a representative from our jointly registered college comprise the advisory council.
b.The BSC faculty members will be nominated and voted into their position by their colleagues of the Elementary Education and Reading Department.
c.The PDS School members will be nominated and voted into position by the PDS Consortium constituents.
d. The BSC student will be nominated and voted into their position by the PDS Consortium. Interested students will be given an application and must participate in an interview prior to the vote. The interview will take place with the Advisory Council.Term of Appointment
1. The BSC faculty and PDS advisory appointees will have a term of three years.
2. Student representative will serve a one year.
3. Term of appointment for the representative from the jointly registered college will be determined by that college.
Article V-Terms of PDS Agreement
1. As per PDS agreement, partners will adhere to signed agreements which highlight attendance at meetings and other responsibilities as noted in agreement.
2. Those partners who receive mini grants from the Center for Excellence in Urban and Rural Education (CEURE) must present their projects at the PDS Annual Retreat or forfeit their eligibility to obtain mini grants from CEURE thereafter.
