Rule Orientation 505 -2 — 41 Educator Certificate

Rule Orientation 505 -2 -. 41 Educator Certificate Upgrades Effective Dec 15, 2010

Session Overview • Background Why Change? What Changes? • New Requirements • Timeline Grandfathering • …. Still to Come

Media Coverage

Background • Certificate “level” is based on highest degree earned (4, 5, 6, or 7) • Higher certificate level = salary increase • GA is 3 rd highest in USA for advanced degree compensation ($5 K - $6 K per degree) • GA is near bottom in USA for advanced degree standards and rigor

Background • In AY 2008 -09, Georgia paid $68 M in salary increases for “Unused Leadership Degrees” • Resulted in 2009 and 2010 Legislative Action (HB 455 -HB 923), phased-in elimination of leadership degree salary upgrades for those not employed in a leadership position GEORGIA PAID $880 M IN SALARY INCREASES FOR ALL ADVANCED DEGREE LEVELS (5 -6 -7)

Research MARCH 2007 October 2007

Why Change? • Quality control? • What is our return on this investment? • Goals for advanced degrees: – Higher levels of knowledge & skills – Gains in student learning – Positive contributions to school improvement initiatives

Why Change? We must create a stronger connection between: • advanced degrees, • work in schools, • student achievement, and • salary increases

What Changes? • 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 Ga. PSC field of certification (1) currently held by the educator (In Field), or (2) must result in a new Ga. PSC field of certification (New Field)

What Changes? All institutions and advanced degrees leading to GA upgrades must meet the same levels of quality as Ga. PSC approved institutions and programs – NCATE / TEAC / Carnegie Classification – Program quality

What Changes? FROM: Pay for Any Degree Institution USDOE-CHEA Accredited 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

Option 1: In-Field Requirements 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 Ga. PSC-approved, or Carnegie Classification of RU/VH or RU/H RU/VH – Research Univ/Very High Research Activity If Out-of-State NCATE, or TEAC, or Carnegie Classification of RU/VH or RU/H

Option 2: New Field Requirements Advanced Degrees MUST BE: • Master’s or higher education degree in a Ga. PSC 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 Ga. PSC or the appropriate state-equivalent agency In-state (GA) institutions must have a Ga. PSCapproved professional education unit

Option 2: New Field Requirements Out-of-state institutions MUST BE: – State-Approved by that State (or Ga. PSC), and – NCATE, or – TEAC, or – Carnegie Classification of RU/VH or RU/H.

Timeline & Grandfathering • 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

Grandfathering Dates • Master’s degree programs: – Enrolled by 7/15/11 – Completed by 12/15/14 • Specialist degree programs: – Enrolled by 7/15/11 – Completed by 12/15/15 • Doctoral degree programs: – Enrolled by 7/15/11 – Completed by 12/15/16 Enrolled = admitted and actively participating in coursework

…Still to Come • Three new Service Certificate fields: – Curriculum and Instruction (P-12) – Instructional Technology (P-12) – Teacher Leadership (P-12) • Standards and Rules • IHE Program Development & Approval • GACE Content Assessments

…Still to Come (3 Certs) Because programs currently exist in these 3 fields, the Ga. PSC is extending the grandfathering dates for program enrollment and completion in these three fields beyond the July 15, 2011, date. CURRENT GUIDANCE: • All candidates must be enrolled by 1/15/2013; • Complete Master’s or Specialist degree program by July 15, 2015, • Complete Doctoral coursework by July 15, 2015 and Dissertation requirements by July 15, 2017(? )

…Still to Come (3 Certs) Dissertationl Completion May Be Extended Beyond July 15, 2015

…Still to Come (Resources) • Ga. PSC Website: Rules Guidelines (HB 455 / Upgrade / Leadership Powerpoints Training Modules (Slides/Video/Narration) FAQs / Sample Scenarios

HB 455 GUIDELINES

Let’s Work Through It Together 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 college, school or education department approved by the Virginia Department of Education? Yes, Liberty Univ is state-approved Is the out-of-state institution NCATE, TEAC or Carnegie RU/H or RU? VH? Yes, Liberty Univ is NCATE Accredited

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 and add the field before being eligible for the upgrade.

…Still to Come (Resources) • Memos to Super/HR/Deans/RESA Dir • PSC Pulse Newsletter • Media Releases • Presentations College Cert Officials GASPA Winter GAEL + Affiliates RESAs My. PSC Account Email

Comments / Suggestions Questions? See the Certificate Upgrade Guidelines at www. gapsc. com