1. Update Session with GaPSC
Spring 2012 Update from the Educator Preparation and Certification Division

2. Agenda Rule Changes – David Partnerships & Clinical Practice - David
Master Teacher - David
Regional Service Teams - David
Assessment - David
Title IIA - David
Certification Update – Kelli
Technology Update - Chuck

3. Rule Changes

4. Rules Rule changes/upcoming rule work
Recent rule changes – All rules are periodically updated to align to national standards & to address new issues that impact a field: counseling/science/ESOL
Possible future rules
Pre-service & Induction certificates
Add a field rule
Alt prep leadership
Advisement endorsement
VI prep work

5. Partnerships & Clinical Practice: Preparing Our Future Teachers

6. Partnerships & Clinical Practice
Leadership Partnerships
Co-construction of the preparation program
School system determination of its leadership pool
Other Partnerships
Field experiences
Student teaching
Move toward more clinical practice

7. Partnerships What they “look like,” what they should “look like”
What role districts and RESAs have
What is the value-added for partnerships?

8. Leadership Rules Update
Partnership Development Needs More Work
Expectations for universities are clear and movement toward full implementation is progressing
School systems and RESAs seem less clear & seem tentative about their roles
How can we jump start engagement of school systems/RESAs with universities in designing leadership preparation?
Leadership Rules Update

9. Leadership Rules Update
Clinical Practice
Disturbing trend
How clinical practice can benefit schools
What are some viable models?
What are some big red flags?
Leadership Rules Update

10. Master Teacher

11. Master Teacher What is the purpose of Master Teacher Certification?
To recognize classroom teachers who are demonstrating excellence as evidenced in student achievement and progress

12. Master Teacher Who is eligible to apply?
All full-time Georgia public school teachers
in grades K-12
Applications accepted in three formats:
CRCT (grades 4-8), non-CRCT, and Instructional Coach
What are the minimum criteria?
Clear renewable certificate for at least 3 full years
prior to applying
Meets or exceeds professional responsibilities
Application approved by school system

13. Master Teacher What are some benefits to teachers and systems?
Master Teachers are a source of strong teacher leadership with the potential to assist other teachers, schools and systems to meet improvement goals.
Professional learning offered annually to Master Teachers can be re-delivered at the local level.
Master Teacher designation is valid for 7 years and serves to renew educator certificate.

14. Master Teacher How does a teacher apply?
Applications open in September – materials are accessed online at
Deadlines for system approval and submission:
December 15 for CRCT Grades 4-8
January 31 for Non-CRCT and Instructional Coach
To schedule an information session this fall or for more information, contact:
Ginny Elliott
Winifred Nweke

15. Regional Service Teams

16. Regional Service Teams
Purpose: Create a support system whereby GaPSC staff work with particular regions & become familiar faces & voices to educators in those regions – a “Go to” group that can provide quick, accurate service
Team composition: Cert, Title IIA, Recruitment, Program Approval

17. Assessment

18. Assessment RFP work and timeline for supplier selection – April & May
Goal is to have all GACE testing computer-based in about two years
Development of assessment in the three new fields (Teacher Leadership, Curriculum & Instruction, & Instructional Technology)

19. Assessment What you can expect
Seamless transition if vendor is different
Quickly resume development of CBT program
Current program is baseline; new contract will call for many enhancements to an already good program

20. New Cert Fields Why these particular fields?
Good fit with Georgia educators
Closely linked to national/international trends in education
Focus on differentiated staffing/collaborative leadership
Focus on increased use of effective technologies in schools & classrooms
Focus on what will make a real difference in schools: teaching & learning

21. New Certificate Field: Teacher Leadership
Who might be interested in this certificate field?
Classroom teachers
Teachers in formal teacher leader roles (grade level chair, dept. chair)
Teachers in informal leader roles (professional learning, PLC leaders)
Teachers who may want to move their careers in the direction of administration or professional learning
Leadership Rules Update

22. New Certificate Field: Instructional Technology
Who might be interested in this certificate field?
Classroom teachers
Teachers in formal or informal teacher leader roles
Media specialists; local school technology coordinators
Teachers who may want to move their careers in the direction of professional learning or system C&I roles
Leadership Rules Update

23. New Certificate Field: Curriculum & Instruction
Who might be interested in this certificate field?
Classroom teachers
Teachers in formal or informal teacher leader roles
School & system leaders
Teachers who may want to move their careers in the direction of educational leadership, professional learning or school & system C&I roles
Leadership Rules Update

24. New Certificate Fields
All three new certificate fields are service fields resulting in S certificates (like counseling & media)
Certification will require successful program completion and a passing GACE score
These certificates will not be available for awhile
University program development process in 2012
Programs can begin operation summer 2013
GACE assessments must be developed (not ready until at least late spring 2014)
Leadership Rules Update

25. New Certificate Fields
Question: Will an educator who completes a program in one of these three new certificate fields be eligible for a certificate upgrade? YES
Question: Will an educator who completes a program in one of these three new certificate fields be eligible for certification if they complete their program before the new program is approved & before the GACE is developed? NO
Is this fair to educators? MAYBE NOT, so we will develop a “bridge” to assist educators

26. New Certificate Fields
What a “bridge” might look like for these new certificate fields:
A cut-off date will be established so that educators earning degrees after this date are eligible for taking steps to become certified (C&I rule uses 10 years)
These steps might include having the program provider review the candidate’s previous work against the new program standards
If all standards are covered, the provider recommends
For any standards not covered in the candidate’s program, the candidate completes additional coursework, assignments, etc.
GACE assessment required for either scenario
Leadership Rules Update

27. Assessment Open Records and Teacher Testing
Recent actions suggest media will continue to press for access & access must be granted
National trend (Los Angeles & NY state) is toward reporting educator performance – eventually every educator may have a “batting average” available for all to see

28. Title IIA

29. Title IIA FY12 USDOE cut GA about 22%
Don’t yet know whether there will be any FY13 cuts by USDOE
GADOE is the Title IIA agent; GaPSC contracts with GADOE to run the program
Function of GaPSC is technical assistance & monitoring
Once ESEA is reauthorized, we don’t know what IIA will look like – trend may be toward grants rather than flow-through

30. Title IIA
Importance of Equity Plans – assuring that all students have access to the best teachers
Equity Plans are posted electronically & systems have opportunity to view plans of other systems – due date: June 11, 2012

31. Title IIA
Risk Assessment – GaPSC required to assess the potential for systems to have IIA implementation problems
Assessment rating based on many factors including: new superintendent, new IIA director, failure to meet deadlines, and others
Rating below a set point results in additional monitoring

32. Simplifying Certification
Technology changes: My PSC & others
Aligned HiQ and Non-renewable Certificate expiration
Training provided: Cert 201 – Dates
Richmond County April 19th
Forsyth County April 24th

33. Questions?

34. Contact Information
David M. Hill, Ph.D.
Division Director, Educator Preparation & Certification
GaPSC