CERTIFICATION 2009 2010 GASPA HIGHLIGHTS Certification Fact Recent

CERTIFICATION 2009 -2010 GASPA

HIGHLIGHTS Certification Fact Recent Certification Changes My PSC Account Paperless Certification Leadership/H. B. 455 Other Things Worth Mentioning

CERTIFICATION DIVISION Jane Huntley, Director Kelli Young, Program Manager EVALUATORS 11 Staff Positions SCANNERS + 3 Staff Positions INFORMATION SPECIALISTS (Primary Telephone Contact) 9 Staff Positions (404) 232 -2500, Press 1, then Press 1 1 -800 -869 -7775 (outside Metro area) TEACHER RECOGNITION – Master Teacher & NBPTS Ginny Elliott, Program Director 2 Staff Positions www. gapsc. com www. gapsc. org

CERTIFICATION FACTS FY 2009 • • • Certified Educators in Georgia Total Certificates Maintained Certificates Issued Documents Scanned Certification Phone Calls

PSC Phone Calls: 101, 614 • • • July 1, 2008 August September October November December January February March April May June 30, 2009 12, 206 8, 643 8, 346 7, 849 5, 132 5, 915 8, 720 7, 467 9, 050 7, 848 9, 370 11, 068

CERTIFICATION CHANGES IN 2009 - 2010 • • • LEADERSHIP/H. B. 455 505 -2 -02 CLASSIFICATION RULE MATH&SCIENCE ENDORSEMENTS PAPERLESS CERTIFICATION MY PSC ACCOUNT

NEW GEORGIA PERFORMANCE-BASED LEADERSHIP CERTIFICATES Superintendent (PL-6/7) PL PL NPL Building Leader (PL-6/7) System Leader (PL-6/7) Employment in an Educational Leadership Position Pre-Service Leadership Candidate (NL-5+) PL NL

OLD “L” CERTIFICATE Holders of Clear Renewable L-5, L-6 or L-7 certificates issued prior to SEPTEMBER 30, 2009: GRANDFATHERED - KEEP “L” CERTIFICATE • Certificate will NOT be Performance-Based. • Renew with standard requirements. • Continue to be eligible to be hired/serve as leaders. • If L-5, do not have to move to L-6 or 7. • May elect to add PB Designators, not required.

INCOMING OUT-OF STATE LEADERSHIP CERTIFICATE HOLDER NO CHANGE FROM CURRENT PROCEDURES Move employment to Georgia with out-of-state “L” certificate and their content test: * Meet Sp GA Req - get Clear Renewable “L” (Not PB). * Without Sp GA Req - get 1 -year NL to meet. * May elect to add Performance-Based Designators optional not required. NOTE: In this case, the PSC does accept out-of-state “L” Content Test if taken to receive out-of-state certificate.

EMPLOYED IN GEORGIA, COMPLETE OUT-OF-STATE LEADERSHIP PROGRAM Until Sep 30, 2009 - No change from current procedures After Sep 30, 2009** - Redefine reciprocity (Leadership only): • Get an upgrade of existing Georgia certificates. If meet Special GA Requirement (including GACE) get Pre-Service NL cert. • If do not meet Sp GA Requirement get no certificate until met. • Upon Leadership employment, enter a Performance - Based L-6 or 7 Program. **NOTE: In this case, the PSC does NOT accept out-of-state “L” Content Test.

Leadership Notice q For this transition phase from the “old” Leadership to the Performance Based Program PSC released the following notice 10/30/09. • Old Leadership program completion deadline must have been by September 30, 2009 and that completion date must be reflected on the Approved Program Recommendation Form (available on the Ga. PSC website).

Notice Continued……. The following Special Georgia Requirements, are being separated from the college/university “program requirements”: (1) the “Special Education Course”; (2) the “Computer Skill Competency Course”; (3) the Leadership “Content Assessment”. Individuals who completed all other Program requirements prior to September 30, 2009 may be recommended by the program provider as having completed the program.

Educators completing a state-approved leadership program (in Georgia or out-of-state) by 9/30/09 is for: • Educators who completed the state-approved program AND all of the Sp. Ga Requirements, upon receipt of a complete application packet the Ga. PSC will issue a Clear Renewable “L” Certificate. • Georgia employed educators who completed a stateapproved program but are missing one or more of the Sp. Ga. Requirements, the employing system may request a one-year Non-Renewable certificate (NL 704). The validity date will begin with the date of employment indicated on the Employer Assurance form and all Sp. Ga. Requirements must be completed during that time frame.

Notice Continued…. . • For educators not currently employed in Georgia who completed a state-approved program but are missing one or more of the Special Georgia Requirements, the Ga. PSC will issue a letter of eligibility which outlines the missing requirements.

Notice Continued…. Application processing procedures for educators holding out-of-state leadership certificates seeking initial Georgia certification through reciprocity include: • Leadership applicants under reciprocity holding out-of-state leadership certificates who apply for initial Georgia certification and meet all Special Georgia Requirements will be issued a Clear Renewable “L” Leadership certificate at the appropriate degree level (L-5, 6 or 7).

Notice Continued…. . • Leadership applicants under reciprocity who do not satisfy all Special Georgia Requirements will, at the request of the employing school system, be issued a one-year non-renewable leadership certificate (NL 704) during which time the Special Georgia Requirements must be met. • Leadership applicants under reciprocity who have not satisfied all Special Georgia Requirements and are not employed but hold an out-of-state certificate will be issued a letter of eligibility which outlines the missing requirements.

505 -2 -. 02 CLASSIFICATION – CATEGORY, TITLE, TYPE, FIELD, LEVEL Effective January 15, 2010 It is proposed that the Classification rule be amended to include the HB 455 requirements that affect Educational Leadership certification and salary compensation. Based on O. C. G. A. 20 -2 -200, HB 455 and the Ga. PSC/Ga. DOE HB 455 Guidelines document, educators completing a leadership degree that meets Georgia leadership certification requirements are subject to the following regarding placement on the salary schedule:

Rule 505 -2 -02 • An educator who earns a leadership degree, as defined in the HB 455 Guidelines document, from a PSC approved program on or after July 1, 2010, must be in a leadership position to be placed on the salary schedule for compensation. • Any educator who has earned a leadership degree on or before June 30, 2010, will be paid/continue to be paid at the highest degree level held.

Rule 505 -2 -02 • “Earned” is a completed degree, as indicated on the official higher education institution transcript. • Leadership degrees earned by 6/ 30/2010 will be grandfathered if they meet Georgia leadership cert requirements. • If an educator holds a leadership degree that is grandfathered, and after 6/30/2010, earns another leadership degree, after 6/ 30/2010, it will not be grandfathered.

Rule 505 -2 -02 • The grandfathering provision for leadership degrees applies to both out-of-state and in-state educators. • Effective July 1, 2010, the Ga. PSC will provide the name of any educator earning a degree impacted by HB 455 to the LEA. • The LEA, working within the parameters of the definition of a leadership position will determine which educators will or will not receive salary upgrades relative to the completion of an advanced degree in leadership.

LEADERSHIP SALARY: H. B. 455 • What is the definition of a leadership degree for the purpose of implementing HB 455? Any degree that leads to an L or PL certificate in Georgia.

505 -2 -. 155 K-5 MATHEMATICS ENDORSEMENT Effective January 15, 2010 • New rule replaces rule 505 -2 -. 155 EARLY CHILDHOOD MATHEMATICS ENDORSEMENT. • Same number but a new title and all new content • Meets the intent of HB 280 to strengthen the preparation of educators teaching mathematics in grades K-5 • Makes stipends available for qualified teachers • To be eligible for the K-5 MATHEMATICS ENDORSEMENT the applicant must complete a Georgia Professional Standards Commission (Ga. PSC) approved K-5 MATHEMATICS ENDORSEMENT PROGRAM and be recommended by the provider.

K-5 Mathematics Endorsement Continued…… To be eligible to enroll in the endorsement program all candidates must have a minimum of one year of teaching experience and hold a level 4 or higher Clear Renewable certificate in one or more of following fields: EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION (P-5); MIDDLE GRADES MATHEMATICS (4 -8); SPECIAL EDUCATION GENERAL CURRICULUM/EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION (P-5). Educators holding certificates in Special Education combined with a core academic content concentration in mathematics are also eligible to enroll: such as GENERAL CURRICULUM (P-12); ADAPTED CURRICULUM (P-12); BEHAVIOR DISORDERS (P-12); LEARNING DISABILITIES (P-12); DEAF EDUCATION (P-12); PHYSICAL AND HEALTH DISABILITIES (P-12); VISUAL IMPAIRMENT (P-12); and GIFTED EDUCATION (P-12).

Endorsement Continued…. The previously P-5 EARLY CHILDHOOD MATHEMATICS ENDORSEMENT shall continue to be listed on the certificate of educators issued prior to June 30, The P-5 endorsement does not qualify for a salary stipend, as required by HB 280. Certified educators holding the K-5 MATHEMATICS ENDORSEMENT and teaching at least one mathematics course in grades K through 5 will be eligible for a salary stipend, contingent on appropriation by the General Assembly, beginning July 1, 2010. The endorsement will apply only to the grade levels of the base teaching certificate within the K-5 range.

505 -2 -. 156 K-5 SCIENCE ENDORSEMENT New rule replaces rule 505 -2 -. 156 EARLY CHILDHOOD SCIENCE ENDORSEMENT • Same number but a new title and all new content • Meets the intent of HB 280 to strengthen the preparation of educators teaching K-5 science • Makes stipends available for qualified teachers §The eligibility and compensation requirements are the same for the math and science K-5 Endorsement.

PAPERLESS CERTIFICATION § Effective January 2, 2010 § Stop hardcopy certificates and certification correspondence to educators § Educator receives electronic notifications and secure website access § Educator has 24 / 7 / 365 access to certificate and correspondence § Expanded communications between PSC & educators

PAPERLESS CERTIFICATION My. PSC Account § Secure login account § Educators create and maintain their account § Accessible from the PSC website

PAPERLESS CERTIFICATION Who should have a My. PSC Account? § Currently certified / licensed educators § Anyone who has applied for a certificate § Anyone who has taken a GACE assessment

PAPERLESS CERTIFICATION Critical piece of information PSC Account Number = Certificate ID Your six-digit certification number is your Ga. PSC Account Number. This number is printed on your certificate and on correspondence from Ga. PSC.

Paperless Certification • As part of the account creation process, it is critical you provide a valid email address. Since correspondence will be via email, you will: • need to use a reliable email address—one that you check often. • enter a second email address during the registration process for a backup. (If your email address changes, update your My. PSC Account with the new address. )

PAPERLESS CERTIFICATION From the system office perspective: § No changes with our current electronic processes (Express. Lane, ACRES, etc. ) § Portal capability for HR staff to view certificate and appropriate related correspondence and documents

Upgrade Proposal The Ga. PSC seeks to implement changes in certification and educator preparation policies that will: • More directly connect educators’ certificate levels to the certificate(s) they hold. • Encourage educators to complete advanced preparation programs more closely aligned with their certification and educational roles to maximize the impact on their performance and hence student learning, or have a direct impact on school and district improvement initiatives. • Encourage local school district administrators to take a more active role in promoting and encouraging advanced preparation of educators in fields explicitly related to their roles in schools and/or school or district improvement initiatives. • Encourage Georgia private and public institutions of higher education to develop partnerships with local school districts and offer advanced preparation programs that will address the needs of P-12 schools in improving teaching and learning. • Conserve state resources currently expended on educators who earn advanced degrees in fields unrelated to their work in schools.

Upgrade Proposal Educators will be able to earn a certificate level upgrade by completing one of the following: • Advanced degree program in their field (s) of certification (in-field) • Advanced degree program in a PSC-accepted field that is closely related to their field (s) of certification (related field) • Advanced degree program in a new field of certification (adding a field) All in-state programs must be PSC approved programs. All out-of-state programs must be approved by the home state and NCATE or a PSC-accepted equivalent accrediting agency. Related-field programs must have the appropriate state approval and the institution must be accredited by a PSCaccepted accrediting agency. If a related field program is offered by an in-state college/department of education, it must be approved by the PSC. Educators seeking a certificate level upgrade through the completion of a related field program that is not PSCapproved, (offered by either an in-state or an out-of-state institution), will be encouraged to complete a verification process before enrolling in the program to ensure that the program of study meets PSC criteria. Educators seeking certificate level upgrades through the addition of a new field in conjunction with completion of an advanced degree program must meet all Georgia certification requirements and add the certification field in order to qualify for a certificate level upgrade. New field programs must be approved by the PSC. All existing certificate upgrades will remain intact and will not be impacted by proposed policy changes. Educators enrolled in an advanced preparation program by January 1, 2010, and completing a program by September 1, 2012, will be allowed to upgrade their certificates under current Ga. PSC Rules excluding degrees governed by HB 455.

OTHER THINGS WORTH MENTIONING

IMPORTANT ITEMS • Vienna International Exchange (VIE) Program with DOE and PSC is VOID!

WHAT ARE YOUR QUESTIONS ?

CONTACT INFORMATION • Information Specialists – 404 -232 -2500 OR 1 -800 -869 -7775 (outside Metro), then press # 1 upon cue, then # 1 again • Email - K. Young@gapsc. com • OR -Jane Huntley@gapsc. com • Express. Lane Support or Sign-On Authorization– Support@gapsc. com