rule orientation 505-2-.41 educator certificate upgrades updated as of: may 1, 2011

Rule Orientation

505-2-.41 Educator Certificate Upgrades

UPDATED AS OF: May 1, 2011

• Background Why Change?

What Changes?

• New Requirements Assistance Tools

• 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

• Redefine certs/levels eligible for upgrade

• In AY 2008-09, Georgia paid $68M in salary increases for “Unused Leadership Degrees”

• Resulted in 2009 and 2010 Legislative Action (HB455-HB923), phased-in elimination of leadership degree salary upgrades for those not employed in a leadership position

Background

GEORGIA PAID $880M IN SALARY INCREASES FOR ALL

ADVANCED DEGREE LEVELS (5-6-7)

Research

October 2007MARCH 2007

• advanced degrees,

• work in schools,

• student achievement, and

• salary increases

Why Change?

We must create a stronger connection between:

1.) Narrow the degree 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?

2.) Raise the bar for providers ...

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?

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

www.gapsc.com

RESOURCE TOOLS

RESOURCE TOOLS

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

Sample Scenario

A Georgia educator holds a Clear Renewable Level 4 certificate in French (P-12). The educator is interested in completing a master’s degree program in French education at Argosy University.

Is the degree an In-Field or New Field Option?Yes, it is In-Field

Is the institution NCATE, TEAC, or Carnegie RU/VH -- H? No

Is the institution in-state or out-of-state? Argosy – out-of-state

Will this degree result in an upgrade?

Florida & others

No

Sample Scenario

The same Georgia educator (Clear Renewable Level 4 French certificate) decides to look into a Master’s degree from Georgia State University in “Modern and Classical Languages—French Literature and Culture”.

Is the in-state institution approved by GaPSC?Yes

Is this degree an In-Field or New Field Option?

Will this degree result in an upgrade?

Is the institution in-state or out-of-state?

Yes, it is In-Field

In-state

Yes

(Also Carnegie RU/VH)

Question?

If I add a new field…

do I have to be working in that field in order to receive an upgrade and salary increase?

NO

Sample Scenario

A Georgia educator holds a Clear Renewable Level 4 certificate in Early Childhood Education (P-5). The educator is interested in attending Liberty University (Lynchburg, VA) to complete an MAT program in Secondary Education.

Is the degree an In-Field or New Field Option?

Yes, it is a New Field

Is the out-of-state institution NCATE, or TEAC, or Carnegie RU/H or RU/VH?

Yes, Liberty Univ is NCATE Accredited

Is the provider/degree program approved by the Virginia Department of Education?

Yes, Liberty Univ/MAT is state-approved

Yes…but wait

Many institutions offer degrees in fields such as “Secondary Education”. In order to add a new field with a degree in Secondary Education, the transcript and recommendation form must list an area of specialization in a field recognized by Georgia. For example: Liberty University has a Degree in “Secondary Education with a specialization in Science”.

The educator must also pass the GACE assessments for the specific Secondary field of specialization, meet all other certification requirements and add the field before being eligible for the upgrade.

Questions

See the Certificate Upgrade Guidelines at www.gapsc.com Send email inquiries to

certupgrade@gapsc.com

Questions?