Pathways to Teacher Certification Summer 2015 Division of

Pathways to Teacher Certification Summer 2015 Division of Teacher and Leader Effectiveness and Division of Innovation

Purpose • This presentation includes the most common pathways to instructional (teacher) certification, which is required for teachers in all New Jersey public schools, including charter schools.

Preparation Pathways The type of initial certificate issued depends on the type of preparation the teacher candidate receives and/or where the candidate is employed. Type of Preparation Description of Preparation Type of Initial Certificate Issued CEAS Educator Preparation Program (formerly called “traditional-route”) Candidates complete an educator preparation program, including student teaching, at a regionally accredited college or university prior to being employed as teachers Certificate of Eligibility with Advanced Standing (CEAS) CE Educator Preparation Program (formerly called “alternate-route”) Candidates complete an educator preparation program, at a regionally accredited college or university or other approved entity, while employed as teachers Certificate of Eligibility (CE) Charter School Pathway Candidates trained by employing charter Charter School Certificate of school and may only obtain Eligibility (CSCE) employment in NJ charter schools

Rationale Refresher • Student outcomes, rather than input or process measures, should be the focus of charter schools. • A major goal of the Department is to allow increased flexibility for charter schools in exchange for greater accountability. ü Certification ü Streamline Tenure ü TEACHNJ • The Charter School Program Act of 1995 was established in order to: ü Develop a new form of accountability for schools ü Make the school the unit for educational improvement ü Create new professional opportunities for teachers 4

Pathway to Standard Certification Key: Green = As of June 2014 Blue = Recently proposed Eligibility to be hired Initial CSCE CE CEAS Hold bachelor’s or advanced degree Hold 3. 0 GPA (students who graduate after 9/01/16) Pass subject-matter test for endorsement sought Pass basic-skills requirement (as of 9/01/15) Temporary license to teach Provisional Accept offer of employment in a N. J. charter school Lifetime license to teach Standard Complete at least two years of successful teaching at a N. J. charter school Receive written recommendation for the standard charter school certificate from the charter school Verify program completion (350 hrs) Accept offer of employment Complete district mentoring program Be enrolled in district mentoring program Earn 2 evaluation ratings of Effective or Be enrolled in 2 -year CE-EPP (350 hrs) and, All the above and: Highly Effective in 3 consecutive years • Complete subject-specific courses for if appropriate, matriculate in college P-3 or within a 4 -year provisional time period endorsement sought bilingual program (those starting 2015 -16) Complete 50 hours pre-service (including Pass performance assessment (those clinical) at CE-EPP (those starting 2017 -18) All the above and: • Complete CEAS-EPP and student teaching Accept offer of employment Be enrolled in district mentoring program Complete district mentoring program Earn 2 evaluation ratings of Effective or Highly Effective in 3 consecutive years within a 4 -year provisional time period (those starting 2015 -16)

Number of Charter Teachers Working Under CSCEs Newly Employed 1 Charter School Teachers for Fall 2014 Key Takeaways • There approximately 3, 100 teachers employed in New Jersey charter schools • Most charter school teachers hold CEs, CEASs, or standard certificates • CSCE holders made up only 4. 7% of all newly employed teachers in charter schools in Fall 2014 1 “Newly employed” means the teacher is reported to have less than one year teaching experience upon being hired. 6

For More Information • To learn more about certification in New Jersey: – Visit the certification website: http: //www. state. nj. us/education/educators/license/ – Consult the New Jersey Administrative Code (N. J. A. C. 6 A: 9 B) – Contact the Certification Office at (609) 292 -2070 – Contact the Charter School Office at (609) 292 -5850 7

Appendix

Types of Certificates and Endorsements Each certificate is issued with a specific endorsement, which indicates what an individual is authorized to do. Instructional Example Endorsements: - English, Language Arts - Teacher of students with disabilities - Elementary education Appendix Administrative Example Endorsements: - Administrator - Principal - Supervisor Educational Services Example Endorsements: - School counselor - Library media specialist - School nurse

Certification Process CEAS, CE, and CSCE candidates must go through a 3 -step process to earn a standard certificate or standard charter school certificate Initial (CE, CEAS, or CSCE*) A license that allows a candidate to seek employment as a teacher (issued before candidate seeks employment as a teacher) Provisional Certification A temporary license to teach (issued once a candidate is hired as a teacher) *CSCE candidates my only obtain employment in N. J. charter schools CE/CEAS candidates may obtain employment in any N. J. public school Appendix Standard Certification A lifetime valid license to teach (may be issued after 1 year of teaching)