HEADCOUNT TEACHER FUNDS

Headcount teachers are teachers who have a contract in place as of October 21 (and not on leave).

PRO-D FUNDS

  1. Headcount teachers may apply to the STA Pro-D Collective Fund up to a maximum of $600 per teacher every school year, in addition to a maximum of $150 in Pro-D books. These funds are approved on a first-come, first-served basis.
  2. Headcount teachers who avail themselves to a professional development workshop or classroom observation on an instructional day will be granted up to a 1.0 FTE TTOC credit per Pro-D school year. 
  3. Funds must be applied for and pre-approved by the STA Pro-D Committee by the end of May and paid out by the end of June. Pre-approved Pro-D activities beginning in June will be reimbursed in August, drawing from the member’s funds from the previous school year. An activity that takes place after June 30 will be part of the member’s Pro-D allocation for the following year. Expenses for summer and fall Pro-D will not be reimbursed until November.
  4. Funds must be applied for within the fiscal year in which the activity or purchase took place.
  5. All unused Collective Funds shall remain in the STA Collective Fund Account.
  6. Events attended in July or August may be approved in the following September, but funding is not guaranteed.

Standard Pro-D

  • Workshops or conferences noted below make up the majority of Pro-D opportunities in the province and are considered standard events. These events do not require pre-approval from our Pro-D committee, as long as they are located in BC. 
  • BCTF
  • Provincial Specialist Association
  • Local Specialist Association
  • Local Pro-D Committee
  • Other Pro-D Events approved and promoted directly on the STA Homepage
  • Classroom Observations (located in the CRD)
  • Post-Secondary credit/non-credit coursework up to a limit of $250 per school year,from the annual collective fund allotment.
  • All members attending events on instructional days complete an LOA form https://sooketeachers.org/pro-d-expense-claim/ a minimum of 10 business days in advance. It is STA policy that all teachers be replaced, including non-enrolling positions.

Alternative Pro-D

  • There are a variety of professional learning opportunities offered by specialist groups, businesses, universities or other parties that could be acceptable use of Pro-D funds, as alternative events. 
  • Before applying for funding for an alternative event, members are encouraged to consider the factors the Pro-D Committee must assess to determine whether or not to approve the funding claim: STA Pro-D Policy, the BCTF Pro-D Lens and Canada Revenue Agency. (see sections 3.3, 3.4, and Appendix B)
  • Pre-Approval applications must be received at least 15 days prior to the event, but one month’s lead time is strongly recommended.
  • Pre-approval must demonstrate relevance to the applicant’s teaching practice now or in the future.
  • Each member must submit their own individual application.
  • Alternative Pro-D claims can include classroom observations outside of the CRD.
  • Alternative Pro-D claims can include conferences or workshops held outside of BC, provided that they:
    • are a significant workshop or conference,
    • are currently unavailable in BC (including similar offerings),
    • present costs that are deemed reasonable by the Pro-D committee, and
    • do not have students in care for any portion of the event
  • Special consideration can be granted for any event or activity.
  • All members attending events on instructional days must complete an LOA form https://sooketeachers.org/pro-d-expense-claim/ a minimum of 10 business days in advance. It is STA policy that all teachers be replaced, including non-enrolling positions.

What Expenses Can be Claimed for Pro-D Events:

Standard Pro-D event
alternative pro-d event
tuition reimbursement
pro-d book ordering
classroom observation