GaPSC Educator Preparation Division

GaPSC Educator Preparation Division David M. Hill May 7, 2009 Update

Agenda for this session PSC Update • Educational Leadership Prep Update • Non-Traditional Preparation (GaTAPP) • Math, Science Endorsement • PowerPoint will be posted on www.gapsc.com

Educational Leadership • Informal program reviews begin in June • Three purposes: 1) examine implementation at each institution; 2) examine implementation in the state as a whole; & determine what supports are needed. • School district & RESA partners & candidates involved

Educational Leadership • Reviews are informal & non-evaluative • Little preparation required • Exam of implementation: adherence to Guidelines & Partnership Agreement • Identification of best practices to be shared statewide

Educational Leadership • Taskforce this summer to review current educational leadership rules (prep & certification) to “clean-up” some issues • Has there been an impact on Ed.S. programs & hiring practices resulting from the “test in” allowance? • Adjustment of the definition of “leadership” and “leadership position” to create greater congruence between rules, law, and practice

Educational Leadership • Taskforce purposes (continued) • Address the “bridge” between school level and system level preparation • Remove any unnecessary wording • Adjust wording to account for out-of-state GaPSC approved leadership programs • Conversion of L to NL • Other concerns

505-3-.01- Impact on Ed. Leadership • Out-of-state Ed. Leadership programs may seek approval in GA if certain conditions are met: • NCATE Accredited • ELCC Accredited • Meet PSC Standards 7 & 8

505-3-.01- Impact on Ed. Leadership • Out-of-state Ed. Leadership programs may seek approval in GA if certain conditions are met • If these conditions are not met, can’t offer Ed.S. or doctorate that leads to initial certification in Ed. Leadership

Out of State Prep Programs in Teacher Education • At this time, Georgia does not regulate out of state institutions operating in Georgia to provide teacher education programs • Some of these programs are good programs, some are not. • Some are ethical & give appropriate info to people, others aren’t ethical & withhold or give misleading information

Out of State Prep Programs in Teacher Education • What teachers should watch for: • State-approved means nothing; PSC-approved would be meaningful, but none are PSC-approved • Does the program have an internship? • If the program does have an internship, is the burden of responsibility on the institution or the candidate? • Is the program capable of carrying out what it says it will do? • Does the program align with Georgia certificate structure? • Does the institution have a cert. official who knows GA?

Educational Leadership • Degree/Salary Issue (HB455) • DOE will address salary • PSC will propose definition of leadership • Date is July 2010; some people will not be finished with programs (esp. people in doctoral programs) by 2010

Educational Leadership • Performance-Based Principal Certificate Renewal • SR466 was not considered, but will be reintroduced next session – creation of a taskforce to design leadership development (certificate renewal) • Why? Impact on students, attracting teachers, retaining teachers, connection to high-performing schools

Educational Leadership • SR 466 has twofold purpose: 1) provide higher quality development for leaders and 2) recognize and reward high quality leaders • SR 466 creates a design team to develop this Performance-Based Principal Certificate Renewal • Design Team will include state gov’t. representation, GLISI, GAEL, GSSA, Ga Partnership, local superintendent, local principal, university representation, TOY, and private sector representation

Educational Leadership • What we need to consider in creation of this renewal program • Knowledge & skills to improve teaching & learning • Performance within the school’s learning community • Recognize & reward performance • Focus on improving all schools, especially low-performing schools

Teacher Leader Endorsement • Taskforce this summer will review & revise this endorsement rule • Development of teacher leader standards • Consider issue related to links/overlap with other endorsements & programs such as TSS, National Board Certification, Master Teacher • Consider relationship to Educational Leadership Programs • Examine national trends in teacher leader development

Educational Leadership Questions?

GaTAPP • Fundamental redesign of PSC rules for alternative preparation & certification • All routes are collapsed under one prep rule – 505-3-.05 • Aim is to simplify, create consistency, & to provide better prep & support for non-traditional candidates

GaTAPP • New Name – Ga Teacher Academy for Prep & Pedagogy (GaTAPP) • New Structure – umbrella for all non-traditional routes to certification • Comprehensive Path • Adjunct Teacher Path (License only) • ADAC Path • Core Academic Prep Path • Clinical Practice Path • OYSP Path

GaTAPP • New Organization • Non-Traditional • Flexible timeframe for completion • Job-embedded with coaching • Non-Credit/Non-Degree • Individualized around identified candidate needs

GaTAPP • Purpose of Rule (505-3-.05) Revision • Clarify & make sense of alternative/non-traditional certification for aspiring educators • Clearly delineate the distinction between traditional/non-traditional preparation • Offer to aspiring educators similar preparation opportunities across the state

Coaching Endorsement • New endorsement rule effective May 15, 2009 • Institutions & other units encouraged to create programs • Educational Leadership and GaTAPP rules require coaching; others to come

Coaching Endorsement • Alliance of Education Agency Heads Goal 2 includes teacher induction as a strategy to improve our schools. • Trained coaches will be an important component when this strategy is fully developed

GaTAPP Questions?

Math,Science Endorsements HB280 and theK-5 Math and Science Endorsements • Overview • Implications for Changes • Conversion from “old” to “new” endorsements • Program Approval • Task Force

Overview of HB 280 • Secondary Math/Sci. teachers begin at step = to 6 years exp. • After 5 years can continue to advance if meets/exceeds student achievement criteria • Who will determine criteria?

Overview of HB 280 • Math/Sci. Endorsements for kindergarten & elementary teachers • Clearly addresses teachers who teach in traditional grade structure, K-5. • After 5 years can continue to advance if meets/exceeds student achievement criteria • Who will determine criteria?

Overview of HB 280 • Post-baccalaureate, non-degree • Independent of an initial prep program • Specifies min. # of courses represented by content & pedagogy courses • Authentic residency • Standards-based programs

Changes • Doesn’t align with current PSC certificate structure • Must be post-baccalaureate • Can’t be part of a degree program • May need to strengthen field experiences

Conversion • Questions Raised • Are teachers who currently hold a math or science endorsement eligible? • What happens to people who are currently enrolled in endorsement programs – will they be eligible? • Is there an equitable way to convert old endorsements to the new endorsements? • What would such a conversion “look like?”

Program Approval • Questions Raised • What if the endorsement already meets the expectations of the law? • What if some changes need to be made to meet these expectations? • What if we don’t currently have the endorsements, but want to add them?

Task Force • PSC will convene a task force in the near future to address the math & science endorsements. • Once the task force has done its work, rules for these endorsements will be drafted & submitted to the Commission • Only after the Commission acts can approved units submit programs for approval

Math and Science Endorsements Questions?

Educator Preparation If You Need Additional Information David M. Hill, Ph.D. Director, Educator Preparation Division david.hill@gapsc.com

GaPSC Educator Preparation Division