Understanding Current Certification Procedures Georgia Professional Standards Commission

Understanding Current Certification Procedures Georgia Professional Standards Commission

Agenda Pre-Service Update Application Submission Educational Leadership Ethics for Educational Leadership Upgrade

Pre-Service Update Ethics 140 Holding 341 Issued 6, 405

The Express. Lane Pre-Service option is only available when the candidate: • has been entered into TPMS • has created a My. PSC account and claimed the program • has a cumulative GPA of 2. 5 or higher • has complete GACE Educator Ethics-Program Entry (unless enrolled prior to 7/1/14) The Pre-Service certificate is not required for those who already hold an Induction or Professional certificate. The Pre-Service certificate is required for those holding a Certificate of Eligibility or a Paraprofessional license.

Upon submission of the Pre-Service Application, a Ga. PSC evaluator will: • Review the application form • Verify the candidates Lawful Presence • Verify completion of the GACE Educator Ethics-Program Entry assessment • Verify that the GACE PAA has been passed or exempted The case will be placed on hold if documentation is missing. Otherwise, the case status is changed to “GCIC Review” and will await the background check. If any of the personal affirmation questions are answered “yes”, the case is transferred to Ethics upon completion of the verifications above. The status will change to “GCIC-Holding” until the investigation is complete.

Application Submission (upon program completion) Online Application Your Choice Express. Lane

Application Submission • Effective 1/1/16, paper and electronic program completion forms will not be accepted from Georgia EPPs* • Verification of program completion must be entered into TPMS (Traditional Program Management System) or NTRS (Non-Traditional Reporting System). *Unless given prior approval by the Ga. PSC based on special circumstances

Educational Leadership Building Level (Current) Field 706 • Principal • Asst. Principal System Level Field 707 • • Superintendent Program/Curriculum Directors

Educational Leadership (new structure) Building Level System Level Supervises Other Leaders (Tier II) Principal Superintendent Does Not Supervise Other Leaders (Tier 1) Assistant Principal Program/Curriculum Directors

Educational Leadership (new structure) Tier I Standard • OOS program completers at the master’s level with less than three years of leadership experience • Tier I Georgia program completers Tier I Field 700

Tier II Standard and Performance. Based Educational Leadership (new structure) • OOS program completers at the master’s level with less than three years of leadership experience • Tier I Georgia program completers Tier II Field 710

Educational Leadership Non-Renewable Tier I Standard Requires a bachelor’s degree and Ethics for Educational Leadership Assessment – Program Entry. *Leadership by reciprocity will be issued and individuals must complete any outstanding SGRs prior to renewal. Tier II Performance-Based Requires Tier I certificate or a master’s degree and Ethics for Educational Leadership Assessment – Program Entry

Implementation On January 15, 2016: Professional certificates in Educational Leadership -- Field 704 Standard Professional certificates in Educational Leadership – Tier II PB Professional certificates in Educational Leadership Building-Level – Field 706 PB Professional certificates in Educational Leadership – Tier II PB Professional certificates in Educational Leadership System-Level – Field 707 PB Professional certificates in Educational Leadership – Tier II

Ethics for Educational Leadership Program Entry (370) • Required for all candidates admitted to a Ga. PSC approved Educational Leadership program on or after July 1, 2016 • Must complete, not pass • If completing this requirement for Tier I, the applicant will not have to complete it again for Tier II

Ethics for Educational Leadership Program Exit (380) • Required for all candidates completing a Ga. PSCapproved Educational Leadership program on or after July 1, 2016. • Must attempt prior to program completion and must pass to earn certification in the field. • If completing this requirement for Tier I, the applicant does not have to pass it again for Tier II.

Upgrade Appeals Total # of Upgrades issued since 7/1/12 Denied Upgrades (~25% of denials are Education Leadership degrees) 49 18, 755 Denied Appeals 288 32

Upgrade Reminders • Educators should use the Upgrade Advisor! • The Upgrade Degree Approval form is for requesting review of an advanced degree program that is not already listed in the upgrade advisor • New programs (both acceptable and unacceptable) are entered into the advisor regularly • Educators continue to be confused as to why they need the conversion mechanism and believe passing the test should be sufficient • Educators who hold degrees in Curriculum & Instruction, Instructional Technology or Teacher Leadership and want to add the field need to complete a state-approved program or the conversion mechanism

Upgrades and Non. Renewable certificates issued without test until 6/30/16. Curriculum & Instructional Technology

Teacher Leadership Timeline TL Programs Completed between Spring 2014 and Summer 2016 TL Programs Completed after Summer 2016 Must Attempt TL GACE Assessment Must Pass the TL GACE Assessment Upgrade issued along with 2 -year NS certificate Upgrade issued along with 1 -year NS certificate

Teacher Leadership Assessment Administration Window Submission Window Deadline Score Report Available (Approx. ) Fall 2015 31 -Dec-15 15 -Feb-16 Spring 2016 30 -Apr-16 15 -Jun-16 Fall 2016 31 -Dec-16 15 -Feb-17 Spring 2017 30 -Apr-17 15 -Jun-17 Fall 2017 31 -Dec-17 15 -Feb-18 Spring 2018 30 -Apr-18 15 -Jun-18

Contacting Us Educators: • Metro Atlanta area and outside Georgia: 404 -232 -2500 Outside metro Atlanta area, within Georgia: 800 -869 -7775 • General email inquiries: mail@gapsc. com • Upgrade and Ed. Leadership inquiries: certupgrade@gapsc. com LUAs, EPPs, RESAs: • Metro Atlanta calling area: 404 -334 -6462 • Outside metro Atlanta area: 800 -390 -6698 • Certification inquiries: certhelp@gapsc. com *Please do not give this email address to educators and refrain from including the educator in any email inquiries submitted.