Update Session with GaPSC

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. 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. 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. 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. • Master Teacher

14. How does a teacher apply? Applications open in September – materials are accessed online at www.gamasterteachers.org 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 ginny.elliott@gapsc.com Winifred Nweke winifred.nweke@gapsc.com • Master Teacher

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 david.hill@gapsc.com 404-232-2640