rule orientation 505-2-.41 educator certificate upgrades updated as of: feb 8, 2011

Rule Orientation

505-2-.41 Educator Certificate Upgrades

UPDATED AS OF: Feb 8, 2011

• Background Why Change?

What Changes?

• New Requirements

• Timeline Grandfathering

• ….Still to Come

Session Overview

• Certificate “level” is based on highest degree earned (4, 5, 6, or 7)

• Higher certificate level = salary increase

Background

• GA is 3rd highest in USA for advanced degree compensation ($5K - $6K per degree)

• GA is near bottom in USA for advanced degree standards and rigor

• advanced degrees,

• work in schools,

• student achievement, and

• salary increases

Why Change?

We must create a stronger connection between:

• Establishing those connections

• Narrowing the options for upgrading

• Creating quality control measures

– New eligibility criteria for institutions

– New eligibility criteria for advanced degrees

What Changes?

Narrowing the options ...

Advanced degrees that upgrade must be in a GaPSC field of certification

(1) currently held by the educator (In Field), or

(2) must result in a new GaPSC field of certification (New Field)

What Changes?

All institutions and advanced degrees leading to GA upgrades must meet the same levels of quality as GaPSC approved institutions and programs

– NCATE / TEAC / Carnegie Classification

– Program quality

What Changes?

FROM: Pay for Any Degree

Institution USDOE-CHEA Accredited

What Changes?

TO: Phased-In System w/Grandfathering Focus Degrees (In-Field / New Field) Ensure High Quality Institutions (NCATE / TEAC / Carnegie Classification)

Better ROI for Student Achievement

Advanced Degree MUST BE:

• Master’s or higher education degree in the educator’s certification field, OR

• Master’s or higher degree in the educator’s content/subject area

– Examples:

• In-field for Early Childhood = M.Ed. in Early Childhood

• In-field for Secondary Math = M.Ed. in Secondary Ed./Mathematics OR M.S. in Mathematics

• In-field for Educational Leadership = Ed.D. in Educational Leadership OR Ph.D. in Educational Leadership

Option 1: In-Field Requirements

Institution MUST BE:

If In-State GaPSC-approved, or Carnegie Classification of RU/VH or RU/H

RU/VH – Research Univ/Very High Research Activity

Option 1: In-Field Requirements

If Out-of-State

NCATE, or TEAC, or Carnegie Classification of RU/VH or RU/H

Provider Quick Reference Tool

Advanced Degrees MUST BE:

• Master’s or higher education degree in a GaPSC field of certification

• A state-approved program that leads to initial certification

– Examples:

• A new field for Early Childhood = M.Ed. in Special Ed.

• A new field for Secondary Math = M.Ed. in Science Ed.

• A new field for School Counselor = Ed.D. in School Psychology

Option 2: New Field Requirements

Additional Requirements:

In order to earn the upgrade, the educator must also...

– pass the GACE content assessments

– meet all certification requirements

– formally add the new field to their certificate

Option 2: New Field Requirements

Programs and Institutions MUST BE:

– State-approved by GaPSC or the appropriate state-equivalent agency

In-state (GA) institutions must have a GaPSC-approved professional education unit

Option 2: New Field Requirements

Out-of-state institutions MUST BE:

– State-Approved by that State (or GaPSC), and

– NCATE, or

– TEAC, or

– Carnegie Classification of RU/VH or RU/H.

Option 2: New Field Requirements

• Rule adopted in November, effective 12/15/10

• All certificate levels in place on 12/15/10 will remain intact

• Grandfathering Period: 12/15/10 – 7/15/11

• Grandfathered = Upgrade by “old” rules

• Grandfathering Requirements:

– Enrolled by date AND

– Completed by date (next slide)

Timeline & Grandfathering

• Master’s degree programs:

– Enrolled by 7/15/11

– Completed by 12/15/14

• Specialist degree programs:

– Enrolled by 7/15/11

– Completed by 12/15/14

• Doctoral degree programs:

– Enrolled by 7/15/11

– Completed by 12/15/16

Enrolled = admitted and actively participating in coursework

Grandfathering Dates

• Three new Service Certificate fields:

– Curriculum and Instruction (P-12)

– Instructional Technology (P-12)

– Teacher Leadership (P-12)

…Still to Come

• Standards and Rules

• IHE Program Development & Approval

• GACE Content Assessments

Because programs currently exist in these 3 fields, the GaPSC is extending the grandfathering dates for program enrollment and completion in these three fields beyond the July 15, 2011, date.

…Still to Come (3 Certs)

CURRENT GUIDANCE:• All candidates must be enrolled by 1/15/2013;• Complete Master’s or Specialist degree program by

Sep 1, 2015, • Complete Doctoral degree program by Sep 1, 2017

SEE TRANSITION PLAN for new certificate fields at http://www.gapsc.com/Policies_guidelines/documents/Transition_Plan_New_Fields.pdf

…Still to Come (3 Certs)

…Still to Come (Resources)

• GaPSC Website:

Rules Guidelines (HB455 / Upgrade / Leadership Powerpoints Links FAQs / Sample Scenarios

RESOURCE TOOLS

Questions

See the Certificate Upgrade Guidelines at www.gapsc.com Send Email Inquiries to

certupgrade@gapsc.com

Questions?