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

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

3. 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;
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(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 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.

4. Why Change? We must create a stronger connection between:
advanced degrees,
work in schools,
student achievement, and
salary increases

5. 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

6. 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)

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

14. Provider Quick Reference Tool

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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

18. 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.

19. 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.

20. 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

21. …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

22. …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

23. …Still to Come (3 Certs)

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

25. Questions
Questions?
See the Certificate Upgrade Guidelines at Send Inquiries to