Welcome to the PDA-ESE online professional development modules! We're excited that you've chosen to take advantage of this quality professional development opportunity and hope you find the information to be beneficial as you work to enhance your ability to best meet the needs of ALL students.
This online program that began with a partnership between the Florida Department of Education Bureau of Exceptional Education and Student Services and the Bureau of Educator Certification has been available to Florida educators since Fall, 2003. The number of new modules continues to expand and the content in all of the modules is regularly refined and updated by state module contact writers. Participants can be assured that they are accessing the most current information.
The PDA-ESE online program was developed to provide comprehensive, high quality and accessible professional development for educators who want to improve their skills in working with ALL students. The modules, free to Florida educators, are available statewide on a rotating basis and are facilitated by the 19 FDLRS centers.
Module characteristics include:
- Online content and a variety of learning activities for self-paced study
- Current internet resources
- Ongoing communication with expert local facilitator
- Group meetings with colleagues and local expert facilitators
- Classroom-related assessment tasks
- Consistent, user-friendly format and organization for all modules
- Technology support
The seven original modules are aligned with Florida’s Exceptional Student Education K-12 Certification Competencies and are designed to support educators in increasing their knowledge and skills for teaching students with identified disabilities as well as other students who are experiencing challenges with behavior and/or academics. These modules may also assist educators with successful completion of the ESE K-12 certification exam, revised July 2009. In addition, some of these modules may be used to satisfy out-of-field credit for teachers who have not yet passed the ESE K-12 certification exam but are working in Exceptional Education teaching positions. Six of the seven modules are worth 60 inservice points and one is worth 30 inservice points.
The Differentiating Reading Instruction for Students: Making It Explicit module in differentiating reading instruction and increase their expertise for teaching students experiencing reading difficulties, especially those with significant and persistent difficulties. This module is worth 60 inservice points and is approved by the Just Read, Florida! office to satisfy the requirements for Competency 4 and 5 of the Reading Endorsement.
The PDA-ESE program expanded in 2009-2010 to include additional modules which are also designed to assist educators in becoming more proficient in working with ALL students. These modules vary in topic and length.
Module Title |
Content based on: |
Inservice points |
Foundations of Exceptional Education |
ESE K-12 certification competencies |
60 Also available independent study, no inservice credit |
Assessment and Evaluation |
ESE K-12 certification competencies |
60 |
Instructional Practices |
ESE K-12 certification competencies |
60 |
Positive Behavior Support |
ESE K-12 certification competencies |
60 |
Transition |
ESE K-12 certification competencies |
60 |
Language Development and Communication Skills |
ESE K-12 certification competencies |
60 |
Interpersonal Interactions |
ESE K-12 certification competencies |
30 |
Differentiating Reading Instruction for Students: Making It Explicit |
FL reading endorsement |
60 Satisfies competency 4 and 5 |
A Introduction to Differentiating Instruction: Responding to All Learners |
FL initiatives on differentiation |
12 |
Differentiating Science Instruction |
FL initiatives on differentiation, |
30 |
Differentiating Math Instruction |
FL initiatives on differentiation |
30 |
Assessment in the Differentiated Classroom |
FL initiatives on differentiation |
12 |
This Adobe Acrobat PDF file (2.2Mb) provides an overview of Professional Development Alternatives for Exceptional Student Educators (PDA-ESE). It is also designed for use by PDA-ESE staff for local or regional presentations. You will need to have Adobe Reader installed on your computer to be able to open the file. Click on the following link to explore answers to some of the most Frequently Asked PDA-ESE Questions.
Who Are Our Partners?
The PDA-ESE Project was originally funded through a U.S. Department of Education Teacher Quality Enhancement Grant under Title II of the Higher Education Act. This project was designed through a collaborative effort of the Division of Professional Educators, Bureau of Educator Certification, and the Bureau of Exceptional Education and Student Services (BEESS). BEESS continues to provide support funding for local delivery of the PDA-ESE modules. PDA-ESE is currently coordinated by the Florida Diagnostic and Learning Resources System (FDLRS) Human Resources Development (HRD) Administration Project, a discretionary project of the Florida Department of Education, which is administered through the North East Florida Educational Consortium (NEFEC). Project partnerships include the Florida Department of Education, Florida Diagnostic and Learning Resources System Associate Centers, and the Florida Center for Interactive Media at Florida State University.
Pursuant to the copyright revision act of 1976, the content of the Professional Development Alternatives for Exceptional Student Educators (PDA-ESE) project, including modules and website, and any revisions/amendments made thereto, shall be owned solely and exclusively by the Florida Department of Education.