(a) As used in this section, "professional development" means a set of coordinated planned learning activities for teachers, administrators, and nonlicensed school employees that:

(1) Is required by statute or by the Department of Education; or

(2) Meets the following criteria:

(A) Is part of the minimum number of professional development hours required by law or by the department;

(B) Improves the knowledge, skills, and effectiveness of teachers;

(C) Improves the knowledge and skills of administrators and paraprofessionals concerning effective instructional strategies, methods, and skills;

(D) Leads to improved student academic achievement; and

(E) Is research-based and standards-based.

(b) The purpose of professional development is to improve teaching and learning in order to facilitate individual, school-wide, and system-wide improvements designed to ensure that all students demonstrate proficiency on state academic standards.

(c)

(1) Annually, each school district shall prepare a professional development plan.

(2)

(A) Teachers, administrators, and classified school employees shall be involved in the design, implementation, and evaluation of their respective professional development offerings under the plan.

(B) The evaluation results shall be given to each group of employees in the school district and used to improve professional development offerings.

(d) The professional development offerings may include approved conferences, workshops, institutes, individual learning, mentoring, peer-coaching, study groups, National Board for Professional Teaching Standards certification, distance learning, micro-credentialing approved by the department, internships, and college or university course work.

(e) The professional development under this section:

(1) Shall comply with the Department of Education Rules Governing Professional Development; and

(2) May provide educators with knowledge and skills needed to teach:

(A) Students with disabilities, including without limitation autism; and

(B) Culturally and linguistically diverse students.

(f) A teacher shall complete any missed hours of professional development through professional development that is:

(1) Substantially similar to the professional development missed and approved by the person responsible for the teacher's summative evaluation under the Teacher Excellence and Support System, § 6-17-2801 et seq.; and

(2) Delivered by any method, online or otherwise, approved by the Department of Education under the State Board of Education rules.

(g) Accreditation for or approval of professional development for public school teachers and administrators is governed by the rules of the state board.