Certification and Employment Requirements

Christina Linder, Director

Certification and Professional Standards

cplinder@sde.idaho.gov

Federal Employment Requirements: HQT and Equitable Distribution

• Elementary Teachers – Highly Qualified by proof of elementary core mastery

• Middle School Teachers - Highly Qualified content teacher by proof of content mastery for middle grades

• High School Teachers - Highly Qualified content teacher for by proof of content mastery as part of an endorsement

• Focus on Equitable Distribution – No HQT exceptions for Title I Schools- Track building and district gaps through ISEE for all schools

Federal Employment Requirements:HQT Paths

• Verifiable major (minimum 30 credits) in content area *

• Masters in content area *

• NBPTS certification in content area *

• Praxis II content test successfully passed

• Verifiable HOUSSE rubric completed prior to June 30,2008As of June 30, 2008, HOUSSE was no longer available EXCEPT in certain

cases pertaining to special ed or rural districts – case by case basis only

*Does not include Elementary Core Content

Federal Employment Requirements: Highly Effective Beyond HQT

• Highest priority of the federal administration and reauthorization

• Waiver Section 3 – Measuring and reporting “Highly Effective”

• Teacher evaluation and Individual Professional Growth Plans

• Includes student growth measures

• District flexibility within the state’s framework

• Requirement for rater reliability

HighlyQualified: http://www.sde.idaho.gov/site/teacher_certification/HQT

Educator Effectiveness: http://www.sde.idaho.gov/site/teachersLeaders

State Employment Requirements:Idaho Statute Title 33 Chapter 12 - Teachers

 33-1201. Certificate required. Every person who is employed to serve in

any elementary or secondary school in the capacity of teacher,

supervisor, administrator, education specialist, school nurse or school

librarian shall be required to have and to hold a certificate issued under

authority of the state board of education, valid for the service being

rendered; except that the state board of education may authorize

endorsement for use in Idaho, for not more than five (5) years, certificates

valid in other states when the qualifications therefor are not lower than

those required for an Idaho certificate.

33-1210. Information on past job performance. Before hiring an applicant, a school district shall request the applicant to sign a statement authorizing the applicant's current and past employers

-to release to the hiring school district all information relating to the job performance and/or job related conduct,

-to release copies of all documents in the previous employer's personnel files

-Not later than twenty (20) business days after receiving a request a school district within Idaho shall provide the information requested

-A hiring district shall request from the office of the superintendent of public instruction verification of certification status, any past or pending violations of the professional code of ethics

-A school district shall not hire an applicant who does not sign the statement

State Employment Requirements:Idaho Statute Title 33 Chapter 12 - Teachers

Professional Standards: Idaho Code of Ethics

Christina LinderCertification and Professional Standards Director

State of Idaho Chief Certification Officercplinder@sde.idaho.gov

Andrew SnookDeputy Attorney General

State of Idaho

ETHICS VIOLATIONS

• Who may file a complaint?

• What defines an ethical violation?

• Who is responsible for reporting?

• How is it done?

WHO MAY FILE A COMPLAINT?

• An individual with a substantial interest in the

matter;

• A board of trustees; or,

• The Idaho Chief Certification Officer.

Note: A student in an Idaho public school may not file.

Idaho Statute Title 33 Chapter 12 - Teachers

33-1208A. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS AND IMMUNITY. The board of trustees of a school district, through its designee, shall, within ten(10) days of the date the employment is severed, report to the chief officer of teacher certification the circumstances and the name of any educator who is dismissed, resigns or is otherwise severed from employment for reasons that could constitute grounds for revocation, suspension or denial of a certificate.

Any person providing a report under the provisions of this section shall have immunity from any liability, civil or criminal, that may otherwise be incurred or imposed…

CODE OF ETHICS FOR IDAHO PROFESSIONAL EDUCATORS

IDAHO ADMINISTRATIVE CODE 08.02.02.07610. Principle IX. A professional educator reports breaches of the Code of Ethics for Idaho Professional Educators and submits reports as required by Idaho Code. Unethical conduct includes, but is not limited to:

a. Failure to comply with Section 33-1208A, Idaho Code, (reporting requirements and immunity); (3-20-04)

b. Failure to comply with Section 16-1605, Idaho Code, (reporting of child abuse, abandonment or neglect); (4-11-06)

c. Failure to comply with Section 33-512B, Idaho Code, (Suicidal tendencies and duty to warn); and (4-11-06)

d. Having knowledge of a violation of the Code of Ethics for Idaho Professional Educators and failing to report the violation to an appropriate education official. (3-20-04)

Making a Formal Complaint

Complaint Package Received

• How to File and Ethics Complaint

• Dispute Resolution Strategies

• Complaint Screening Guidelines

Decision (IDAHO CODE SECTIONS 33-1208 through 33-1209)

• Dismiss for lack of grounds or appropriate district action

• Open a case for investigation

LESSONS LEARNED…..

• Interstate reporting can be slow

• PSC action against certificates may be dependent upon district action

• Have a district policy in place in the event of falsification or violation – Do NOT wait for the PSC to take action!

Certification and Standards- Key District Contacts

• Andrea Capdeville – General Certification Information acapdeville@sde.idaho.gov

• Shannon Haas – BCI and Ethicsshhaas@sde.idaho.gov

• Cina Lackey –Alternate Authorizations, ISEE Assignment Information clacky@sde.idaho.gov

• Annette Schwab – BCI, Ethics, ISEE Assignments• asschwab@sde.idaho.gov

• Teresa Burgess – HQT and Title IIA tburgess@sde.idaho.gov

COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS?