Chapter 4 establishes that each school entity shall submit to the Secretary for approval a professional education plan every 3 years. A school entity shall make its professional education plan available for public inspection and comment for a minimum of 28 days prior to approval of the plan by the school entity's governing board and submission of the plan to the Secretary. For additional information, please visit the PDE Act 48 website. Chapter 49 further requires that professional education plans must address training in meeting the needs of diverse learners (defined as students with limited English language proficiency or students with disabilities), improving language and literacy acquisition, and closing the achievement gap among students. The plan must describe how professional development activities will improve language and literacy acquisition for all students, including the provision of training in structured literacy for professional employees who hold instructional certificates in Early Childhood, Elementary/Middle, Special Education PK—12, English as a second language and Reading Specialists.
Public comment will begin on Wednesday, June 10, 2026 and will end on Thursday, July 9, 2026. Final approval by the WASD Board of School Directors is expected to take place on Tuesday, July 14, 2026.