Certification Requirements and Educator Ethics: Employment vs. Certification Christina Linder, Director Certification and Professional Standards Cina Lackey, Coordinator

Overview Certification Requirements and Reporting Federal Highly Qualified Teacher (HQT) status is required for core content assignments Assignment Credential Manual - How to identify endorsements and highly qualified requirements for core content assignments and non-core content assignments Credential-HQT report - Key components to assist in accurate reporting and ensure funding. –Ensure funding - What to do if a person does not hold the proper certificate and/or endorsement for the assignment –Ensure funding - What to do if a person is not highly qualified for a core content assignment Ethics Violations and Reporting Statute and Rules for Reporting The Role of the Professional Standards Commission

Certification Basics

State Employment Requirements: Idaho Statute Title 33 Chapter 12 - Certification Certificate required. Every person who is employed to serve in any elementary or secondary school in the capacity of teacher, supervisor, administrator, education specialist, school nurse or school librarian shall be required to have and to hold a certificate issued under authority of the state board of education, valid for the service being rendered; except that the state board of education may authorize endorsement for use in Idaho, for not more than five (5) years, certificates valid in other states when the qualifications therefor are not lower than those required for an Idaho certificate. A Long-term substitute is a person who has taken over an assignment for a teacher of record, who stays in the same classroom, teaching the same assignment for 10 consecutive days or more. The long-term substitute should only be used when necessary for emergency situation.

Information on past job performance. Before hiring an applicant, a school district shall request the applicant to sign a statement authorizing the applicant's current and past employers -to release to the hiring school district all information relating to the job performance and/or job related conduct, -to release copies of all documents in the previous employer's files -Not later than twenty (20) business days after receiving a request a school district within Idaho shall provide the information requested -A hiring district shall request from the office of the superintendent of public instruction verification of certification status, any past or pending violations of the professional code of ethics -A school district shall not hire an applicant who does not sign the statement State Employment Requirements: Idaho Statute Title 33 Chapter 12 - Performance History

State Employment Requirements: Idaho Statute Title 33 Chapter Fingerprinting (15). To require that all certificated and non-certificated employees hired on or after July 1, 2008, and other individuals who are required by the provisions of section , Idaho Code, to undergo a criminal history check shall submit a completed ten (10) finger fingerprint card or scan to the department of education no later than five (5) days following the first day of employment or unsupervised contact with students in a K-12 setting, whichever is sooner.

Federal Employment Requirements: HQT and Equitable Distribution Elementary Teachers – Highly Qualified by proof of elementary core mastery Middle School Teachers - Highly Qualified in core content by proof of content mastery for middle grades High School Teachers - Highly Qualified in core content for by proof of content mastery as part of an endorsement Focus on Equitable Distribution – No HQT exceptions for Title I Schools- Track building and district gaps through ISEE for all schools

Federal Employment Requirements: HQT Paths Verifiable major (minimum 30 credits) in content area * Masters in content area * NBPTS certification in content area * Praxis II content test successfully passed Verifiable HOUSSE rubric completed prior to June 30, 2008 As of June 30, 2008, HOUSSE was no longer available EXCEPT in certain cases pertaining to special ed or rural districts – case by case basis only *Does not include Elementary Core Content

Federal Employment Requirements: Highly Effective Beyond HQT Waiver Section 3 – Measuring and reporting “Highly Effective” Requirement for rater reliability Teacher evaluation required; Individual Professional Learning Plans encouraged Includes student growth and multiple performance measures District flexibility within the state’s framework Highly Qualified: Educator Effectiveness:

ISEE Staff Reporting Certification and HQT Verification

Certification or “Certified” Supervision: No Exceptions Paraprofessionals (Parapros) Should never be used as the teacher of record They are not to be used as physical education teachers, music teachers, school librarians, study skills teachers… Use the Non-Certified codes for parapros that are assisting the teacher of record. PLATO PLATO is a form of curriculum and must be facilitated by a teacher of record who is appropriately certificated/endorsed for the assignment, and therefore should not be taught by a parapro.

Assignment Credential Manual Assignment Credential Manual Aligns - Assignment > Endorsement > HQT NOTE: Additional Documents will be posted at this link, including: The step by step instructions for running the Credential-HQT report The PTE Manual Use the Professional Technical Education (PTE) Assignment Credential Manual for all PTE funded assignments – The PTE manual will also be posted under this section on the ISEE website. (PTE contact information provided at the end of this PowerPoint.) Changes to the ISEE Manuals Assignment Credential Manual

Ensure Funding Certification/HQT required Withheld funding is based on percentage assignment FTE for any assignment for which the teacher of record is not appropriately certificated and/or endorsed or highly qualified. Use the Assignment Credential Manual to determine the alignment between the assignment, the required endorsement and to determine if it is a core content area that requires highly qualified status. A district/charter can apply for an alternate authorization to secure funding for those assignments being taught by someone that does not currently hold the proper credential for the assignment being taught.

Ensure Funding Certification/HQT required (Continued) Alternative Authorizations will ensure funding when a person does not hold the proper certificate and/or endorsement for the assignment. Provisional Authorization This is a one-year emergency use only. It can only be used once per person, per assignment. It is not an alternate route to certification. (Not applicable to core content being taught in a Title I funded position.) Alternative Authorization – Content Specialist This authorization is valid for three years and allows an individual to be the teacher of record for an assignment while they are meeting the certificate/endorsement requirements. Preliminary requirements exist in order to qualify for the authorization. The AA-Content Specialist can also be used for those doing student teaching. Alternative Authorization – Teacher to New Certification/Endorsement* This route allows an Idaho certificated individual to be the teacher of record for an assignment while they are meeting the certificate/endorsement requirements for the new certificate/endorsement. All application packets are available at: * THERE IS NO WAY IN IDAHO TO ADD AN ENDORSEMENT THROUGH PRAXIS II TESTING ALONE!

Ensuring Funding for HQT Issues The “Plan for Achieving Highly Qualified Status” will ensure funding when the teacher holds the proper endorsement, but must achieve highly qualified status for teaching in a core content area. Elementary Education (regular education and special education) English/Language Arts, Math, Science, Foreign Language Political Science/Government, History, Geography, Economics, Visual and Performing Arts (Music, Drama, Arts – excludes Dance) The “Plan for Achieving Highly Qualified Status” and additional information including the methods of achieving highly qualified status can be obtained on the following website: An authorization is not necessary when a person holds the proper endorsement, but must achieve highly qualified status only. Elementary Core Content cannot be demonstrated by: Graduate or Undergraduate degree major (30 credits) in content area or NBPTS certification

Report Access and Review 1)For access to the ISEE portal please contact 2)For step-by-step instructions on how to run the Credential-HQT report and additional technical assistance documents, go to the ISEE Manuals section at: 3)Make sure to load and use the most current ISEE assignment option set, regardless of the system being used (e.g., PowerSchool). Inactive assignment codes not found in the most current manual/option set will not be funded. The current option set for ISEE reporting is available at: 4)Make sure you are entering and uploading the ISEE Staff Assignment spreadsheet using current, accurate, legal names and correct dates of birth for all individuals listed.

Report Access and Review (Continued) 5)It is imperative to check to see if the individual already has an EDUID before creating a new one. 6)Run your Credential-HQT report after every upload to ensure all individuals hold the proper certificate/endorsement for the assignment being taught and the person is highly qualified for any core content assignment. 7)It is important to code assignment periods consistently from one upload to the next. 8)Make sure to use end dates if you need to exit an assignment or person. 9)Make sure the grade indicated corresponds to the acceptable grades for the assignment code being used.

Professional Standards: Idaho Code of Ethics

Ethics Violation Overview Who may file a complaint? What defines an ethical violation? Who is responsible for reporting? How is it done?

Who May File a Complaint ? An individual with a substantial interest in the matter; A board of trustees; or, The Idaho Chief Certification Officer. Note: A student in an Idaho public school may not file.

Idaho Statute Title 33 Chapter 12 - Teachers A. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS AND IMMUNITY. The board of trustees of a school district, through its designee, shall, within ten(10) days of the date the employment is severed, report to the chief officer of teacher certification the circumstances and the name of any educator who is dismissed, resigns or is otherwise severed from employment for reasons that could constitute grounds for revocation, suspension or denial of a certificate. Any person providing a report under the provisions of this section shall have immunity from any liability, civil or criminal, that may otherwise be incurred or imposed…

Code of Ethics – Requirement to Report IDAHO ADMINISTRATIVE CODE Principle IX. A professional educator reports breaches of the Code of Ethics for Idaho Professional Educators and submits reports as required by Idaho Code. Unethical conduct includes, but is not limited to: a. Failure to comply with Section A, Idaho Code, (reporting requirements and immunity); ( ) b. Failure to comply with Section , Idaho Code, (reporting of child abuse, abandonment or neglect); ( ) c. Failure to comply with Section B, Idaho Code, (Suicidal tendencies and duty to warn); and ( ) d. Having knowledge of a violation of the Code of Ethics for Idaho Professional Educators and failing to report the violation to an appropriate education official. ( )

Making a Formal Complaint Complaint Package Received How to File and Ethics Complaint Dispute Resolution Strategies Complaint Screening Guidelines Decision (IDAHO CODE SECTIONS through ) Dismiss for lack of grounds or appropriate district action Open a case for investigation

LESSONS LEARNED….. Interstate reporting can be slow PSC action against certificates may be dependent upon district action BUT employment decisions must not be confused with certification decisions Have a district policy in place in the event of falsification or violation – Do NOT wait for the PSC to take action! Have a district policy in place regarding social media

Certification and Standards- Key District Contacts Andrea Capdeville – General Certification Information Shannon Haas – BCI and Ethics Cina Lackey –Alternate Authorizations, ISEE Assignment Information Annette Schwab – BCI, Ethics, ISEE Assignments Teresa Burgess – HQT and Title IIA

COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS?