Intent to Pursue Interim Certification Authority Under the Alabama Accountability Act Dr. Barbara Cooper May 16, 2013

Request to Allow Huntsville City Schools to Certify New Teachers on an Interim Basis Current Situation: Ongoing need to hire teachers throughout the year Alabama certification is currently only effective July 1 of each year. Effective date of certification is currently July 1. December graduates Statewide, Alternative Certificates issued once a year with a deadline of Oct 1 Certificates are retroactive to July 1. Teachers are not Highly Qualified (HQ) until state issues the certificate. Alabama Prospective Teacher Testing Program (APTTP) Test is offered in-state and on five test dates. Once during the summer. Difficult to recruit teachers from out of state, especially during prime spring and summer hiring season. Current Situation: Huntsville City Schools (HCS) has an ongoing need to hire teachers throughout the year; however, Alabama certification is currently only effective July 1 of each year. Effective date of certification is currently July 1. Teachers who graduate in December of the previous year cannot gain certification until the following school year. Statewide, Alternative Certificates issued once a year with a deadline of Oct 1 Certificates are retroactive to July 1. Teachers are not Highly Qualified (HQ) until state issues the certificate. Alabama Prospective Teacher Testing Program (APTTP) Test is only offered in-state and on five test dates. APTTP is only offered once during the summer. Current approach makes it difficult to recruit teachers from out of state, especially during prime spring and summer hiring season.

Request to Allow Huntsville City Schools to Certify New Teachers on an Interim Basis Result of certificates only being issued once a year: Difficult to place teachers from out-of-state or who graduate after October into HQ positions. Under the provision of the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act, this situation is particularly problematic with regard to staffing vacancies in Title 1 Schools. Result of certificates only being issued once a year: Difficult to place teachers from out-of-state or who graduate after October into HQ positions. Under the provision of the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act, this situation is particularly problematic with regard to staffing vacancies in Title 1 Schools.

Request to Allow Huntsville City Schools to Certify New Teachers on an Interim Basis HCS Resolution: Requesting a waiver under the Alabama Accountability Act to allow HCS to award interim certification prior to the issuance of the professional educator certificate. Teachers must have otherwise completed Alabama certification requirements. Requesting authority to grant interim certificate reciprocity to teachers who are certified in other states provided that Alabama offers comparable certification. Teachers must obtain Alabama certification within the next complete certification cycle. Teachers will meet HQ requirements during the interim period. HCS Resolution: HCS will request a waiver under the Alabama Accountability Act to allow HCS to award interim certification prior to the issuance of the professional educator certificate. Teachers must have otherwise completed Alabama certification requirements. Additionally, HCS will request authority to grant interim certificate reciprocity to teachers who are certified in other states provided that Alabama offers comparable certification. Teachers will still be required to obtain Alabama certification within the next complete certification cycle. They will be deemed to have met HQ requirements during the interim period.

Request to Allow Huntsville City Schools to Certify New Teachers on an Interim Basis Impact: New teachers, and teachers who are new to Alabama, will be able to obtain certification in a timely manner throughout the school year. Huntsville City Schools will be able to recruit from a wider talent pool throughout the school year. Students will have access to certified teachers, rather than long-term-substitutes, when a teaching vacancy occurs during the school year. Parents will know their students’ teachers are Highly Qualified, notwithstanding when a teaching vacancy occurs during the school year. Impact: New teachers, and teachers who are new to Alabama, will be able to obtain certification in a timely manner throughout the school year. Huntsville City Schools will be able to recruit from a wider talent pool throughout the school year. Students will have access to certified teachers, rather than long-term-substitutes, when a teaching vacancy occurs during the school year. Parents will know their students’ teachers are Highly Qualified, notwithstanding when a teaching vacancy occurs during the school year.

Request to Allow Huntsville City Schools to Certify New Teachers on an Interim Basis Impact (continued): Allows immediate employment of teachers who may only be awaiting the issuance of their Alabama state certificate Ensures NCLB requirements for HQ teachers are met in a timely manner Minimizes class disruption when teachers retire or resign after the school year begins Ensures students are provided the best learning opportunity with teachers who have otherwise completed all of their certification requirements Beneficial when HCS seeks to fill hard-to-staff positions, such as math or science positions, during the school year Impact (continued): Allows immediate employment of teachers who may only be awaiting the issuance of their Alabama state certificate Ensures NCLB requirements for HQ teachers are met in a timely manner Minimizes class disruption when teachers retire or resign after the school year begins Ensures students are provided the best learning opportunity with teachers who have otherwise completed all of their certification requirements Beneficial when HCS seeks to fill hard-to-staff positions, such as math or science positions, during the school year

Request for Waiver to Allow Alternate Hiring Requirements for Administrators Current Situation: Currently, highly effective leaders from outside of Alabama cannot be hired into an administrative position unless they have: At least 3 years of full-time administrative experience OR Have attained advanced degree in education from Alabama college or university HCS Resolution: Waiver would allow HCS to employ highly effective leaders from outside of Alabama Must have attained at least a Master Degree in Educational Leadership, Educational Administration, or Educational Supervision from an institution of higher learning in another state Must have a proven record of administrative leadership, but does not require advanced degree in education from an Alabama college or university    Impact: Broadens pool of talent from which HCS can draw new school leaders Acknowledges proven leadership backgrounds of those who may not have yet to complete three years in an administrative position.