(1) Organizations wishing to offer professional development activities for the award of renewal units may apply for annual provider status to the Superintendent of Public Instruction. The organization must receive approval prior to awarding renewal units. Status as an annual provider must be renewed July 1 of each year.

(2) Organizations which may be approved for status as a provider of professional development for renewal unit credit, upon submission and approval of an application for status as a provider of professional development renewal unit credit, may include:

(a) regionally accredited college and university programs offering activities for units other than college credit;

(b) public school districts or schools accredited by the Board of Public Education not part of a public school district which is an OPI-approved renewal unit provider;

(c) government agencies (federal, state, tribal, county, city); and

(d) other organizations providing professional development appropriate for educators in Montana's accredited K-12 schools.

(3) Approved providers of professional development for the award of renewal units must agree to:

(a) provide activities deemed appropriate for educator license renewal in compliance with ARM 10.55.714 and 10.57.215;

(b) prepare and issue completed renewal unit registration forms to eligible participants. This form shall be provided by the Superintendent of Public Instruction and this form, or an approved facsimile, must be utilized for all renewal unit awards;

(c) report the activities undertaken as professional development for renewal unit awards to the Superintendent of Public Instruction. Annual provider status shall be continued upon complete reporting of all activities for the period of July 1 through June 30 of each year;

(d) submit to an audit of records conducted by the Superintendent of Public Instruction. Records which must be maintained by the provider include:

(i) the activity title and brief description;

(ii) date(s) and location(s) of the program; and

(iii) program schedule and number of participants; and

(e) maintain records of all professional development activities for which renewal unit awards are made for one year following the date of completion of the annual reporting requirement.

(4) The Superintendent of Public Instruction shall annually provide a report to the Board of Public Education, which shall include, at a minimum, a list of providers.