505-2-.41 Educator Certificate Upgrades UPDATED AS OF: Feb 1, 2011 Rule Orientation 505-2-.41 Educator Certificate Upgrades UPDATED AS OF: Feb 1, 2011

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

Background Certificate “level” is based on highest degree earned (4, 5, 6, or 7) Higher certificate level = salary increase GA is 3rd highest in USA for advanced degree compensation ($5K - $6K per degree) GA is near bottom in USA for advanced degree standards and rigor General requirements for recognizing certificate levels of education are: (i) Level One - (Selected Technology/Career Education fields only) completion of a high school diploma or the GED equivalent. (ii) Level Two - (Selected Technology/Career Education fields only) completion of an associate's degree or one of the following options: (I) 54 semester hours of acceptable college credit; 505-2-.02 Page 5 (II) a two-year program consisting of a minimum of 2,000 clock hours through a regionally accredited postsecondary vocational/technical school in the field in which certification is requested; (III) a minimum of 27 semester hours of acceptable college credit or university credit and a minimum of 1,000 clock hours through an accredited vocational/technical school in the field in which certification is requested. (iii) Level Four - completion of a bachelor's degree or the commission's determined degree equivalent. (iv) Level Five - completion of a master's degree or the commission's determined degree equivalent. (v) Level Six - completion of an education specialist's degree or the commission's determined degree equivalent as found on the PSC website at http://www.gapsc.com/Certification/Documents/cert_lvls_degrees.asp; OR completion of a minimum of 36 semester hours of coursework required for a level seven doctoral degree and successful completion of the oral and/or written comprehensive examinations or the institution’s determined equivalent. (vi) Level Seven - completion of a Ph.D. or Ed.D. degree or the commission's determined degree equivalent.

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 GaPSC field of certification (1) currently held by the educator (In Field), or (2) must result in a new GaPSC field of certification (New Field)

What Changes? All institutions and advanced degrees leading to GA upgrades must meet the same levels of quality as GaPSC 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 GaPSC-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

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

Option 2: New Field Requirements Out-of-state institutions MUST BE: State-Approved by that State (or GaPSC), 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 (next slide) Enrolled means admitted to a program and actively participating in coursework.

Grandfathering Dates Master’s degree programs: Enrolled by 7/15/11 Completed by 12/15/14 Specialist degree programs: Completed by 12/15/15 Doctoral degree programs: 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 GaPSC 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 degree program by July 15, 2017 SEE TRANSITION PLAN for new certificate fields at http://www.gapsc.com/Policies_guidelines/documents/Transition_Plan_New_Fields.pdf

…Still to Come (3 Certs)

…Still to Come (Resources) GaPSC Website: Rules Guidelines (HB455 / Upgrade / Leadership) Powerpoints Links FAQs / Sample Scenarios

Questions Questions? See the Certificate Upgrade Guidelines at www.gapsc.com Send Email Inquiries to certupgrade@gapsc.com