Georgia Professional Standards Commission

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Georgia Professional Standards Commission
Certification Re-Design Orientation
Highlights of Proposed Changes/Process December,
2003
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TOPICS

• PROPOSED CERTIFICATION CHANGES
• PROPOSED TIME LINE
• QUESTIONS?? / RESPONSES!!

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MULTI-PHASED PROJECT

• New Rules -- Better Certification System
• Re-designed Certification Web Site
• Automated Evaluation / Application Process

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?? REFORM DEBATE ??

• Certification Local -- State -- Federal Roles

• Preparation Content vs. Pedagogy
• Traditional vs.
  Alternative Route

• Preparation vs. Placement (Out-of-Field
  Assignments)

• Tests Teachers and Students

• Educator Supply and Demand
• Scientifically-Based Research

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STATE-WIDE STUDY GROUPS

• GASPA TASK FORCE Recruiting, Retention,
  Certification
• On-Line Applications

• TIERED CERTIFICATION SYSTEM

• PARAPROFESSIONAL Federal and State

• SPECIAL EDUCATION

• READING

• CAREER TECHNOLOGY (VOCATIONAL EDUCATION)

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READING TASK FORCE
Who Is Prepared to Teach Reading? Middle Grade
Language Arts? English 7-12? Contracted ABC
Reading Program?

• Revising Standards for Preparation Programs
• Recommendation for In-Field Reading
  Certificate (P-12) Reading Endorsement (Base
  cert grade level) Early Childhood (P-5)
  Middle Grades, Reading
  Concentration (4-8)

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NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND (NCLB)

• Federal Legislation January, 2002
• Also known as Elem Sec Ed Act (ESEA)
• Major Changes to Title I and Title II, etc.
• More Money, More Accountability
• Highly Qualified Teachers
• Paraprofessionals

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GEORGIA LEGISLATIVE ACTION
HB 515 / 516 SB 248
/ 249 HB 590, SB Amended Law Effective
July 1, 2003

• Changes to Certification Legislation
• Remove Special GA Requirements from Law
• Major Revisions to PSC Certification Rules

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LEGISLATIVE CHANGES

• ensure high-quality standards for all Georgia
  educators...
• facilitating the interstate mobility of
  out-of-state educators...
• requirements may include, but are not limited
  to...

Initial Applicants (New GA Prepared
Teachers) PRAXIS I, II, SpEd, Reading, Conduct,
Computer Comp Incoming Out-of-State
Veterans Computer Comp, Conduct, Recent
Experience Renewal Professional Learning,
Enhance Student Achievement In-Field Assignments
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OBJECTIVES

• Simplified, high-quality requirements/standards
• Clear, understandable terminology and process

• Balance accountability and local control
• Separate meaningful standards from barriers
  lower barriers -- raise standards

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OBJECTIVES

• Facilitate interstate mobility
  across state lines -- career
  switchers
• Continued professional learning
  student achievement --- school
  improvement

• Connect curriculum, preparation, certification,
  in-field
• Continued electronic automation to streamline,
  enhance delivery of information

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COMPONENTS NOT PROPOSED

• Tiered Certificate -- Differentiated Salaries
• State-wide, Standardized Mentoring
• Electronic FBI Fingerprint

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PROPOSED CERTIFICATE RE-ALIGNMENT
Non-Renewable Prof (N) Non-Renewable Prof (N)
Probationary (PA) (Valid for FIVE
YEARS, Provisional (B) Non-Renewable, May or
May Emergency (E) Not Be Highly
Qualified) Conditional (C)
ADD Technical Specialist (TS) -- Tech/Career
Ed Only Waiver (W)
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CATEGORIES (2) Renewable
Non-Renewable
TITLES
(7) Clear Renewable Non-Renewable Professional
(N) Performance-Based (PB) Intern (I)
International Exchange (X) Life (D)
Waiver (W)
TYPES (6)
Teaching (T), Service (S), Leadership
(L), Parapro (PARA), Technical Specialist
(TS), Permit (P)
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• SPECIAL GEORGIA REQUIREMENTS
• Content Assessment
• Special Education Course
• Teaching of Reading (and Writing)
  (Selected Fields)
• Recency of Study / Experience

• Standards of Conduct
• Computer Competency (6/30/06)

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OUT-OF-STATE EXPERIENCE EXEMPTS
SOME SPECIAL GA REQUIREMENTS

• MUST HOLD, OR HAVE HELD, PROFESSIONAL CERT
  COMPARABLE TO GEORGIA FIELDS

• MUST HAVE 3 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE WITHIN 5
  YEARS OF DATE OF GA APPLICATION

• EXEMPT ALL EXCEPT COMPUTER SKILL COMPETENCY
  AND STANDARDS OF CONDUCT

DETAILS IN JULY 10, 2003 MEMO WEBSITE
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5 DAYS IN CLASSROOM OR
PSC-APPROVED CLASS FOR SELECTED
ADMINISTRATORS
REQUIREMENT ELIMINATED EFFECTIVE JULY
1, 2003
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UNIVERSITY ACCREDITATION CURRENT
Regional Agencies Theological Agency Law School
Agency
Graduates of all other
schools Must complete 9 semester hours of
graduate work to validate degree to be eligible
for certification
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UNIVERSITY ACCREDITATION
PROPOSED
Expand from Regional 2
Agencies Council for Higher Education
Accreditation (CHEA) U.S. Department of
Education (USDOE) National, Regional,
Specialized/Professional
Graduates of all other
schools Must complete 9 semester hours of
graduate work to validate degree to be eligible
for certification
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2.5 GPA REQUIREMENT

• If you do NOT have a 2.5
  GPA
• Have a masters degree or higher
• Be accepted into a masters program
• Be accepted into an educator preparation program
  (non-TAPP)

No Requirement to take any courses in the
masters program only be accepted. Colleges can
provisionally accept someone with less than
2.5, take courses for GPA before starting program.
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2.5 GPA REQUIREMENT

• Grade inflation? Differences in instructor,
  college rigor?
• GPA earned 10 - 15 years ago?
• 2.3 Georgia Tech engineer vs. 2.6 ??

• Differences in Calculation
  Formulas
• Non-Forgiveness (F, C D avg.)
• Forgiveness (F, C C)
• Transfer work, accept hours and GPA OR accept
  hours only
• Same transcript ranges from
  2.2 to 2.7

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2.5 GPA REQUIREMENT PROPOSED

• Replace 2.5 GPA requirement with a more
  consistent standard

College Degree from Accredited Institution Basic
Skills Knowledge with PRAXIS I Content Knowledge
with PRAXIS II Employer Interview
Does NOT change GPA policy of Universities,
Board of Regents, NCATE, etc.
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ADD A TEACHING FIELD
TO A TEACHING
CERTIFICATE
Pass PRAXIS II in the new field OR Complete a
state-approved program
Can NOT add service or leadership to teaching
certificate through test-out option
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PROPOSED ADDITIONAL ROUTE
TO INITIAL
CERTIFICATE

• Bachelors degree or higher, accredited
  institution
• Pass Basic Skills -- Praxis I
• Pass Content -- Praxis II
• Pass Pedagogy -- Praxis Principles of Learning
  Teaching (PLT)
• Employment 5-year
  Non-Renewable Certificate
• Complete Special GA Requirements, 1-year
  supervised practicum
• Eligible for Clear Renewable
  Certificate

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PERMIT -- PROPOSED

• Native foreign language speakers
• Performing arts (music, dance, drama)
• Retired teachers
• Superintendent/Building Principal

• Initial 2 years 3-year extension(s)
• Praxis I, local development plan during initial
  2 years
• May add Endorsements (ESOL, gifted, etc.)
• With degree, Praxis I, content test, Special GA
  Requirements, 5 years experience, 1-year
  supervised practicum MAY convert to Clear
  Renewable

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EXISTING PERMIT --
EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP

• At discretion of employing school system, MAY
  hire superintendent from outside normal route.
• One year to complete local professional
  development plan and pass PRAXIS II
• Policy does NOT apply to any other leadership
  position

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PROPOSED PERMIT --
EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP

• At discretion of employing school system, MAY
  hire superintendent OR building principal from
  outside normal route.
• Must have masters degree or higher and 3 years
  of acceptable experience

• 2 years to pass PRAXIS I and PRAXIS II and
  complete a local professional development
  plan
• Extend for 3-year periods OR with 5 years
  experience, Special Georgia requirements,
  1-year supervised practicum, convert to Clear
  Renewable certificate

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CERTIFICATE RENEWAL PROPOSED
School Improvement -- Student Achievement
6 semester hours, OR 10
Professional Learning Units (PLUs), OR 10
Continuing Education Units (CEUs), OR
Equivalent Combination
AND
Criminal Record Check
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CERTIFICATE RENEWAL PROPOSED

• Public School Employee
• Professional Learning Plan coordinated with
  school (local, aligned
  with school improvement plan)
• Course work must be in
• Fields of Certificate(s) Held
• School/District Improvement Plan
• Annual Personnel Evaluation
• State/Federal Requirements

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CERTIFICATE RENEWAL PROPOSED

• Non-Public School Employee or Unemployed
• Course work must be in
• Fields of certificate(s) held
• State/Federal Requirements
• OR
• If enrolled in approved program or degree
  program, college verification of course
  work/program is acceptable

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CERTIFICATE RENEWAL PROPOSED
Expiration Dates remain June 30 Renewal Window
Jan 1 to Sep 30 of expiration year After Oct 1,
certificate is INACTIVE

• To Renew an INACTIVE certificate
• Requested by employing school system
• if all met, get clear renewable
• if missing, get 1-year waiver, then 4 year CR

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CERTIFICATE RENEWAL PROPOSED

• EXCEPTIONS TO 5 YEAR RENEWAL
• After Jun 30, 2006, 2 unsat performance
  appraisals
• 1-year Waiver, 4-year CR
• After Jun 30, 2006, missing Computer Skill
  Competency
• 1-year Non-Renewable, 4-year CR

PSC MAY conduct periodic on-site visits to review
local renewal documentation
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INTERNATIONAL EXCHANGE CERTIFICATE
PROPOSED

• Clarification, come to U.S. to teach not been
  here for several years and decide to teach
• Upon completion of 3 years in Georgia, if
  educator returns to home country for at least one
  year, eligible to return and, at the request of a
  Georgia school system, receive another 3-year
  certificate

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TECHNOLOGY / CAREER EDUCATION
Agricultural Education Business Education Family
and Consumer Sciences Education Healthcare
Science Technology Education Marketing
Education Technology Education Trade and
Industrial Education
Technical Specialist Certificate
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TECHNOLOGY / CAREER EDUCATION

• Technical Specialist Certificate
• Combination of occupational experience, industry
  licensing and assessments and formal study
• Level 1 to Level 7
• If Level 1, 3-year TS (30 sh education course
  work, computer skill competency, Praxis I THEN
  another 3-year TS to complete associates degree
  and all remaining Special GA Requirements
• If Level 2, one 3-year TS to satisfy associates
  degree, Praxis I, all Special GA Requirements

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TRADE AND INDUSTRIAL EDUCATION
Automotive Service Technology Aviation
Maintenance Broadcast Video Production
Collision Repair Construction
Commercial Art
Technology Cosmetology
Electronic Technology
Engineer Drawing Design Granite
Technology Graphic Communication
HVACR
Information Technology JROTC
Manufacturing
Eng Sciences Precision Machine
Technology Professional Foods
Public Safety
Sheet Metal
Telecommunications Welding
Technology
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HEALTHCARE SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION (HSTE)
HSTE -- Registered Nurse HSTE -- Radiologic
Technologist HSTE -- Laboratory Technologist HSTE
-- Dental Assistant HSTE -- Physical
Therapist HSTE -- Respiratory Therapist HSTE --
Emergency Medical Technician
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VOLUNTARY CERTIFICATE DELETION

• Window October 1 and last day of February
• Educator Request
• Employing System gets copy of new certificate
• Broadfield Science, Social Studies as block
• Middle Grades by Area of Concentration
• To restore must re-take and pass Content
  Assessment
• satisfy Special GA Requirements in
  place at time of application

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PROPOSED
RULE CHANGE TIME LINE

• Dec 11 Commission Vote to
  Initiate Rule-making
• Dec 15-Jan 15 30-day Public Review and
  Comment
• Jan 7, 2004 Public Hearing, Atlanta
• Jan 15-22 Consolidate Public Comments
• Jan 23 Comments to Commission members
• Feb 12 Commission Vote to Adopt/Modify
• Mar 15 Effective Date

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TRAINING / ORIENTATIONS

• Training Plan / Schedule Under Development
• Orientations Continuing as Scheduled
  Training
  Sessions (1-2 days) Begin Mar -- Apr ??
  Probable Delivery at RESAs

Dec 4 GASPA Conference Dec 8 College
Certification Officials Conference Jan 12
Augusta State -- PDK Jan 13 Georgia Southern
-- local school systems Jan 20 North Georgia
RESA Jan 27 South West Georgia RESA Feb 4
Metro RESA
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WHAT ARE YOUR QUESTIONS ?