The “new” CEU guidelines were adopted by the Connecticut
State Board of Education on September 1, 1999 and are part of the
larger document, Connecticut’s Commitment to Excellence in
Teaching. The intent behind the “new” CEU guidelines
is to ensure that educators are provided with high quality, rigorous
professional development experiences linked to advancing student learning.
In pursuit of this goal, the process of designing and implementing
activities and programs for CEU credit must now include an application
of learning component, which SERC refers to as a “post-activity
application of learning”. The following Frequently Asked Questions
seek to address the changes from past CEU practice that effect both
SERC as a CEU provider and participants in SERC programs and activities.
How are CEUs calculated?
Beginning in September of the 2000-01 school year, CEU credits
will be awarded to reflect a combination of the actual time spent
in the learning process (instructional contact hours) and the application
of learning (post-activity). This combination ensures that the stated
learning objective(s) of the activity are achieved.
If I am unable to complete the requirement of full participation,
will I still be able to receive CEUs?
Successful completion of learning objective(s) in a one-day or
multiple-day activity implies full participation.
· 100% participation is required for an activity of five
(5) hours or less, and partial credit cannot be awarded.
· A minimum of 80% participation is required if an activity
is six (6) hours or more, and extenuating circumstances exist that
prevent full participation in the activity, e.g., illness or an
emergency situation. A written CEU Exemption Request from time and
content missed must be submitted to SERC within five (5) days of
the conclusion of the activity. CEUs may then be awarded for only
the actual time of participation.
If I participate in the full activity but do not submit post-activity
evidence of application of learning, will I be eligible for CEUs?
CEUs cannot be awarded without fulfillment, including documentation
submitted to SERC, of the required post activity application assignment/activity.
The purpose of this requirement is to provide participants with
an opportunity to investigate, experiment, reflect, consult, or
evaluate practices that promote student learning.
If I participate in the full activity but cannot complete the
post-activity application assignment/activity because I lack access
to a school-based setting, will I be eligible for CEUs?
SERC may consider modification of the post-activity application
assignment/activity if practice in a school-based setting is not
possible. Arrangements must be made with the SERC Consultant responsible
for the activity.
Do I lose my eligibility to receive CEUs if I fail to submit a
post-activity evidence of application assignment/ activity to SERC
by the specified due date?
SERC understands that occasionally an illness or emergency will
prevent a participant from submitting the post-activity application
assignment/activity by the specified due date. Documentation received
after the specified due date should be accompanied by a written
request for an exemption.
How can I determine if CEUs earned for an activity will meet specific
certification requirements for literacy, bilingual education, or
intermediate administration/supervision?
Look for the CEU instructional code found on your
CEU Certificate of Completion and compare with the following listing
of topics/codes for specific certification requirements: Literacy
(Codes 301 & 302); Bilingual (Codes 303 &304); and Intermediate
Administration/Supervision (Code 305).
When can I expect to receive my CEU Certificate of Completion
from SERC?
It is SERC’s responsibility as a CEU provider to issue CEU
Certificates within ninety (90) days from the due date for the post-activity
application assignment/activity. The SERC Application for CEUs form
must accompany submitted materials. Please remember to save a personal
copy as submitted materials cannot be returned.
Note: For information regarding the Connecticut Guidelines
for the Issuance of Continuing Education Units Required For Certification,
visit http://www.state.ct.us/sde/dtl/cert/ceutoc.htm.
