Teacher Licensure Reminders for New Teachers New Teacher Induction Anita W. Alpenfels, Ed.D. Executive Officer for Human Resources

A PRIMER LICENSURECONTRACTEXPERIENCE Must be licensed in all areas you teach “Beginning Teachers” and “New Teachers” may not be the same thing Initial License (formerly SP1) holder may be a Beginning Teacher OR experienced teacher from out-of-state One-Year Renewable Contracts No more granting of Career Status (Tenure) -Number of observations contingent on whether the teacher has - Less than three years in the school district, or - More than three years in the school district, or - Has career status Determines Pay Level Pay stub will always be a year behind, because the scale begins at “0” Experience on the license may be different than “years of service” for purposes of State Service, i.e., retirement purposes

A PRIMER LICENSURECONTRACTEXPERIENCE 1 year = 6 months of paid days (whether actually on the job or using paid leave) 1 year = 120 days on the job May not include any paid leave days 1 year = 6 months of paid days (whether actually on the job or using paid leave)

NC LICENSURE It is the responsibility of the individual license holder to know and satisfy requirements for NC licensure. The licensure explanations in this presentation are general overviews and do not take the place of NC State Board of Education Policy or NC General Statutes. Individuals are encouraged to contact the NC Department of Public Instruction’s (NCDPI) Licensure Section or his/her HR licensure contact for questions regarding his/her specific licensure requirements.

The On-Line NC Licensure System The on-line system went live on August 1, 2015: For information about North Carolina Licensure: ps ps

The On-Line NC Licensure System Educators are able to: –Apply for Initial (Non-Alternative) License –View/Edit License Application –View Application Status –Print License –Add License Areas by Program Completion, Test(s) or 24 Semester Hours –Add Experience –Add National Board Certification –Correct Education Record

The On-Line NC Licensure System Educators are able to (continued): –Request a Copy of Files/Test Scores –Research Experience –Change Name on License –Update Contact Information –Update Work Authorization –Make Payments

The On-Line NC Licensure System Human Resources is able to : –Process Automated Applications –Apply for Initial Alternative Licenses (Lateral, CTE, Provisional) –Add and Clear Alternative License Areas –Automatically convert an Initial License (SP1) to a Continuing License (SP2). –Validate an Expired Continuing (SP2) License –Renew Continuing (SP2) Licenses –Request Graduate Pay

LICENSE TYPES An Initial License is issued to out-of-state license holders with less than three years experience and NC education program graduates. A Lateral Entry or Provisional license (only in non-core content areas) may be issued if the teacher is not eligible for an Initial License. A Continuing License is issued to out-of- state license holders with three or more years experience who have passed the required testing.

INITIAL LICENSE (formerly Standard Professional 1 or SP1 License The Initial License is valid for three (3) years at which point it must be converted to a Continuing (formerly SP2) License. Initial License holders are not required to earn a certain number of Continuing Education Units (CEUs or “renewal credits”), but they must participate in any professional development required of them.

CONVERTING an Initial License to a Continuing License Out-of-state licensed teachers and NC education program graduates must –Attempt the North Carolina State Board of Education (NCSBE) required test(s) within the first year of teaching –Pass the NCSBE-required test(s) before or during the second year of teaching.

TESTING REQUIREMENTS If required to complete testing requirements, you should not wait to register for the last available test date. Tests are administered at major universities with approved teacher education programs. You must provide a copy of test scores to Human Resources; they will not be sent to us automatically.

TESTING REQUIREMENTS Per employment contract, teacher shall provide written documentation to HR by April 15 each year, or as requested, outlining the teacher’s progress toward completion of licensure requirements. Contract is enforceable only if yearly requirements are met.

CONVERTING an Initial License to a Continuing License Human Resources begins reviewing documentation in Mid-April to determine if the teacher is eligible to have his/her license converted. The Department of Public Instruction (DPI) provides an automated process for Human Resources to use to convert licenses at the end of each school year. A new five-year cycle is issued when the Initial License is converted to a Continuing License.

DATING OF LICENSES Effective Date July 1 unless there is a mid-year completion of requirements –Other factors may occasionally create a slightly longer/shorter cycle (e.g., mid-year graduation) Test date will be used for effective date when testing requirements are met Expiration Date – ALWAYS June 30 Once Continuing License, generally a 5-year renewal cycle

LICENSE RENEWAL - currently Five-year license renewal requires 8.0 continuing education units (CEUs) relevant to area of licensure (80 contact hours = 8.0 CEUs). All Teachers and Support Staff Assigned to Pre-K through 8 th Grade 3 Content 3 Literacy 2 General* All Others 3 Content 5 General* *subject to change based on North Carolina State Board of Education Policy

LICENSE RENEWAL, cont. License renewal requirements are different for individuals who have let their licenses expire, i.e., 15 renewal credits in the most recent five years or 15 renewal credits within the next three years, i.e., a “validated” license.

LICENSE RENEWAL, cont. For administrators: –Three (3) renewal credits that align with the expectations of the North Carolina School Executive Standards 2, 4, and 5, focused on the school executive’s role as instructional, human resources, and managerial leader –Five (5) general credits (not to include years of experience) at the discretion of the LEA, if employed

LICENSE RENEWAL, cont. When participating in workshops sponsored by Moore County Schools, your signature must be on the class sign-in sheet to receive license renewal credits. Please ensure that your name is legible and you provide your employee number on sign-in sheets so credits will be posted to the correct person.

LICENSE RENEWAL, cont. You may check your CEU history on the MCS website, Click on Staff>Human Resources> Resources for Current Employees. – The “CEU” link is also where you may find your “UID” for the On-Line Teacher Evaluation System. NOTE: The posting of district-sponsored CEU’s requires documentation from the presenter to Human Resources.

LICENSE RENEWAL, cont. Non-district-sponsored workshops or classes – Must be approved in advance, i.e., prior to registration, by the principal, and – Must be documented with an official certificate of completion or official transcript and submitted to the Curriculum and Instruction Department to receive consideration for license renewal credits

ADDING TO LICENSURE Adding Teaching Experience Credit Be sure to file all teaching experience from other states on Form E. All forms should be filed with the initial application to avoid additional fees. Instructional TA experience can be added at the following rates: – One year = one year after earned bachelor’s –Two years = one year before earned bachelor’s There is a $55.00 fee to add any experience after the initial application.

ADDING TO LICENSURE Adding Non-Teaching Work Experience Non-Teaching Work Experience is defined as professional work experience in public or private sectors that is directly related to an individual’s area of licensure and work assignment. – There are many restrictions, and every person’s background is different. Contact your licensure contact in Human Resources if you believe you may have relevant non-teaching work experience.

ADDING TO LICENSURE Adding Non-Teaching Work Experience, cont. DPI makes the final determination if the experience can be “counted.”

PAY ACCURACY Reminder: Check your pay stub to make sure you are being paid at the correct level so that, if needed, it can be corrected at DPI before April 15 to make it effective within the correct school year. Corrections may not be made for previous fiscal years. Teacher pay scales are/will be available on the “Human Resources” page at

ADDING MASTER’S LEVEL LICENSURE Licensed public school personnel are paid on the salary schedule applicable to their assignment at the highest license level held. This policy applies to all areas, including administration, student services and teaching.

ADDING MASTER’S LEVEL LICENSURE Before enrolling in a master’s program, be sure to ask two questions: 1. Is the institution regionally accredited? 2. Does the program lead to licensure in that state? Neither Human Resources nor DPI may authorize “prior approval.”

GRADUATE DEGREES The Licensure Section will continue adding the graduate degree level designation on the Educator’s license if the following criteria are met 1.A state-approved education program that leads to licensure has been completed and verified with the required Form V, degree-dated transcripts and the completed application has been submitted to the NCDPI Licensure Section AND

GRADUATE DEGREES, cont. 2.The college or university is regionally accredited. Note: The graduate degree designation will be on the license. However, the individual will only be eligible to be paid on the graduate salary schedule if at least one of the graduate degree courses was completed prior to August 1, 2013.

APPROVAL FOR GRADUATE PAY Graduate pay approvals will be considered if one of the following criteria is met: 1.An individual was paid on the graduate salary schedule prior to July 1, 2014 OR 2.At least one of the graduate degree courses was completed prior to August 1, 2013 AND

APPROVAL FOR GRADUATE PAY The master’s or higher degree is in an education or subject area directly related to an existing area of licensure and current teaching assignment or instructional support responsibility, and The educator’s assignment for the majority (50% or more) of the school day is in the area for which the master’s or higher degree applies, and

APPROVAL FOR GRADUATE PAY There is a $55.00 processing fee to request graduate pay. *Change in location or assignment may impact graduate pay approval.

ADDING LICENSURE AREAS Once a teacher has a clear Initial or Continuing License, he/she may add an area of licensure (teaching area only, not administration, guidance, media, etc.) simply by taking and earning a passing score on the Praxis™ II/Pearson test(s) for that area or by documenting 24 semester hours in the area. There is a $55.00 fee to add a license area by test or semester hours.

LATERAL ENTRY License is issued for three (3) years, the maximum time allowed to complete coursework requirements. Lateral Entry teachers must complete the three-year Beginning Teacher Support program.

LATERAL ENTRY Our school district monitors the completion of six (6) semester hours of coursework each year from the plan of study as well as the completion of testing requirements. – Per employment contract, teacher shall provide written documentation to HR by April 15 each year, or as requested, outlining the teacher’s progress toward completion of licensure requirements. –Contract is enforceable only if yearly requirements are met.

LATERAL ENTRY All coursework must be completed within the three years the license is valid. The NCSBE-required test(s) must be attempted within the first year and passed before or during the second year of teaching. Do not wait until the last minute to take any required tests. In the unlikely event you don’t pass, your continued employment may be at risk.

COURSE REIMBURSEMENT Once Moore County Schools receives its allocation for federal funds, the school district may have resources for limited tuition/testing reimbursement. –Requests may be submitted three times during the school year. –Information is available from the “Professional Development” link on the “Curriculum” page of

COURSE REIMBURSEMENT –Paperwork submitted for course/testing reimbursement is separate from that submitted for licensure, i.e., if you submit a transcript for reimbursement (official transcripts are not required for this purpose), you must submit another official transcript for licensure requirements because they go to two different offices.

BEGINNING TEACHERS (BTs) By law, beginning teachers who take on “extra duties” (such as coaching) MUST make the request for such duty in writing to the principal, with a copy of the written request sent to Human Resources for the individual’s personnel file. –G.S. 115C-47

BEGINNING TEACHERS (BTs) Mentoring and other Beginning Teacher questions should be forwarded to the Curriculum and Instruction Department. Licensure questions should be forwarded to your licensure contact in Human Resources: –Elementary: Cassie Strong –Secondary: Alexia (“Lexi”) Bostic

BEST PRACTICES As a professional, the keeping of your professional documents is critical, i.e., don’t rely on others to keep up with copies of your evaluations/ observations, etc. – It would be wise that you keep a paper file of your on-line documents, as you will be unable to access these once you leave employment with Moore County Schools.