(a) All public school officials and professional personnel certificated by the Professional Standards Commission shall be provided the opportunity to continue their development throughout their professional careers. The primary purpose of the staff development sponsored or offered by local boards of education and the Department of Education shall be the implementation of this policy. Two additional purposes of such staff development programs shall be to adopt into general practice the findings of scientifically designed research which has been widely replicated, particularly as it relates to teacher and school effectiveness, and to address professional needs and deficiencies identified during the process of objective performance evaluations.

(b)

(1) The State Board of Education shall adopt a training program for members of local boards of education by July 1, 2011. The State Board of Education may periodically adopt revisions to such training program as it deems necessary.

(2) Within three months of adoption by the State Board of Education of a training program pursuant to paragraph (1) of this subsection, each local board of education shall adopt a training program for members of such boards that includes, at a minimum, such training program and requirements established by the State Board of Education pursuant to paragraph (1) of this subsection. Each local board of education shall incorporate any revisions adopted by the State Board of Education to the training program pursuant to paragraph (1) of this subsection within three months of adoption of such revisions.

(3) All local boards of education are authorized to pay such board members for attendance at a required training program the same per diem as authorized by local or general law for attendance at regular meetings, as well as reimbursement of actual expenses for travel, lodging, meals, and registration fees for such training, either before or after such board members assume office.