Required School Director Training
Your trusted and approved source
The Pennsylvania Department of Education has named PSBA an approved provider of required school director training. Your association has more than 125 years of statewide expertise in school law, policy, finance and ethical governance, so you can be sure you’re receiving the highest quality learning, relevant to your role. To learn when you or your board will be required to complete training hours, please refer to PDE’s FAQs here
Act 55 and Act 18
Training requirements specific to you:
• Newly elected and appointed school board directors –
• Successful completion of five training hours.
• Reelected school board directors –
• Successful completion of three training hours
Newly Elected School Directors
New School Director Training is designed to meet the PA state training requirements for all newly elected school directors seated on their board in December 2021.
This training offers an overview of school governance and the role of the school board, an introduction to school finance and board policy, as well as an overview of legal implications of the Sunshine Act conflicts of interest and ethics. Per legislation passed by the PA General Assembly in 2019, a full hour is devoted to introducing trauma-informed education and its implications on school systems. Attendees will receive relevant resources for later reference. Time will be provided for questions, discussion and networking with other school directors in your region.
Please note that board secretaries can register members of the school board for this program.
Online courses accessible via myPSBA are complimentary for all members. View instructions on how to access required training and print your certificate.
PSBA is ready to help you meet your training requirements by offering 24/7 access to online content via myPSBA.org, once you are elected and seated as a board member. By clicking on “My Transcript,” you should see the following courses waiting for you — their icons indicate them as required training with the black circle and RQD.
- Academic Testing and Requirements
- Special Education
- Overview of Public School Labor Relations
- Evaluating Your Superintendent
- Act 93
- Board’s Role in Finance and Budgeting
- Local Taxation and Act 1
- Policy and Administrative Regulations
- Transportation
- Facilities Planning
- Introduction to Governance Plans and Documents
- Legal Landscape of Public Education
- Sunshine Act and Executive Session
- Conflicts of Interest and Ethics Act
- Trauma-Informed Courses 1-4
Reelected School Directors
Advanced School Director training is designed to meet the PA state training requirements for all school directors reelected in November and seated on their board in December 2021.
The program includes the latest in policy and legal updates, a session on advanced school finance and the ongoing implementation of trauma-informed education per legislation passed by the PA General Assembly in 2019. Attendees will receive relevant resources to understand and navigate implications to public school district from case law, state and federal legislation, as well as guidance from government agencies. Time will be provided for questions, discussion and networking with other school directors in your region.
Please note that board secretaries can register members of the school board for this program.
Online courses accessible via myPSBA are complimentary for all members. View instructions on how to access required training and print your certificate.
PSBA is ready to help you meet your training requirements by offering 24/7 access to online content via myPSBA.org. By clicking on “My Transcript,” you should see the following courses waiting for you — their icons indicate them as required training with the white circle and RQD.
The topics identified for Advanced School Director required training are the following:
- Trauma-Informed
- Advanced School Finance
- Advanced Policy and Legal Updates
Looking for more information?
If you were newly elected or reelected in November 2021 and seated on your school board in December 2021, per law, you have until December 2022 to complete your training requirements.
Arm yourself with all the facts. Click here for a more in-depth look at the requirements pertaining to your role as an elected school board director.
Those who attend in-person trainings will receive a hard copy of their certificate at the conclusion of the event. Digital copies will be generated through myPSBA and located on your transcript within a few weeks of all training styles – in-person, virtual or self-guided online courses. Certificates should be placed on file with your district for record keeping. For guidance on printing your certificate, please refer to this document.
To get started, go to the Online Learning page to access online courses or to register for the in-person option during New School Director Training.
If you are midterm and do not have a training requirement, you still have access to all our required training courses as voluntary professional development. You could pursue earning a badge or certificate of board governance. When you are reelected, new courses will be provided for you to meet your training requirement at that time.
Contact PSBA Education and Training at edandtraining@psba.org.
For a printable version of this Required School Director Training information, click here.