Providers are those individuals, agencies, or organizations that serve the district by providing long term, ongoing support of the district professional development plan. An approved provider is:
- an individual or organization that already has accreditation or approval by the Department of Education; OR,
- an individual or organization that has submitted an application for approval process to a local district and has been recognized as an approved provider by the local district.
Individuals, agencies, and organizations that are invited or employed by the district to deliver content training are not required to be approved, but should be held to local district expectations of quality.
Area Education Agencies, Local Education Agencies, and Iowa Institutions of Higher Education are already accredited or approved through state accreditation procedures and personnel representing these agencies are considered approved to serve as professional development providers.
Other public and private entities and professional association that provide long-term ongoing technical assistance to the local district must follow procedures for becoming approved. The potential provider must submit a written application to the school district. The local district administration reviews the application and determines whether that individual or organization has the capacity to support their district's career development planning process. Once the district determines the applicant meets their expectations, the individual is listed on the district career development plan as their approved provider.