Early release/waiver days will be considered only after the required minimum of 30 hours of professional development has been met. A request for early release/waiver days should include the following: assurance statement that the 30-hour minimum professional development requirement has been met; a short statement of need for professional development early release/waiver days; a complete description of the content of the professional development planned for the early release/waiver days, and alignment of that content with the Professional Development Rules and Regulations; and a calendar of dates for professional development early release/waiver days. The early release/waiver days request should be sent to Dr. Gayle Potter, Associate Director of Curriculum and Instruction no later than August 1 preceding the start of the school year. After approving the professional development content of the early release/waiver days request, the application will be sent to the Coordinator of the Standards Assurance Unit for calendar approval and for notification of the applicant school.