Hire Right: Avoid Certification and HQ Pitfalls

Caryl CohenNew York City Charter School Center

February 8, 2010

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I. CertificationII. Interstate ReciprocityIII. No Child Left Behind: Highly

Qualified RequirementsIV. FingerprintingV. Teaching Assistants

Index

So you found the best teacher in the world – should you go ahead and hire this person?

The best teacher in the world…

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For Federal, State and authorizer purposes, you need to make sure

100% of your teachers meet the Federal No Child Left Behind “Highly Qualified” criteria for their assignment

100% of your teachers are certified or fall under both the QUANTITY and EXPERIENCE certification exemption rules

100% of your teaching assistants are certified

This is serious! Failing to meet teacher certification / HQ rules can result in your school being placed on

probation.

The best teacher in the world…BUT

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I. CertificationI. Certification

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Certification basics

Certificate: classroom teacher, supervisory/administrative, pupil personnel services or teaching assistant

Title: Subject area and grade levels: Childhood Ed grades 1-6, Middle School Generalist grades 5-9, Math grades 7-12, Students with Disabilities Childhood Ed 1-6, etc.

Type: Initial, Conditional Initial, Professional, Permanent, Trans B, Internship, etc.

Valid: expiration date

Location:

Does NYS accept this out-of-state certificate for reciprocity?

Candidates with foreign credentials must apply directly to the SED for an evaluation. This process is demanding and takes a great deal of time.

SED’s policy: NYC Board of Education licenses are valid certificates for NYC charter schools

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Certification: title

Sample of grade levels: Birth – Grade 2, Pre-K – 6 (old certificates), 1-6, grades 5-9, grades 7-12, PreK -12, etc.

Subject: Childhood Education, Early Childhood Ed, Students with Disabilities Generalist, grades 5-9, Math, Biology, Physical Education, Art, Library Science, etc.

If the teacher’s ASSIGNMENT doesn’t match his/her title grade AND subject, the school needs to prove the teacher is HQ by using the applicable NCLB checklist.

Remember => 100% of core subject teachers must be HQ!

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Initial Certificate

Description: Entry-level certificate for classroom teachers, issued in specific subject/grade titles.

Validity: Valid for 5 years.

Leads to: Professional Certificate

Professional Certificate

Description: The advanced-level certificate for classroom teachers (issued in specific subject/grade titles).

Validity: Continuously valid with completion of required professional development hours on a five-year professional development cycle.

Provisional Certificate

Description: The entry-level certificate for classroom teachers. Discontinued as of February 2, 2004.

Validity: Valid for 5 years.

Leads to: Permanent Certificate

Permanent Certificate

Description: The advanced-level certificate for classroom teachers.

Validity: Valid for life, unless revoked for cause by the New York State Education Department.

Certification types

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Post February 2004

Certification: Types (cont’d)

Annotation

Description Certificate attached to a regular base certificate, recognizing that the holder has additional knowledge and/skills beyond the base certificate. Annotations are not required and are not-free standing.

Validity Valid as long as the base certificate remains valid.

Extension (subject)

DescriptionCertificate attached to a regular base certificate, authorizing the holder to teach an additional student population, grade, or subject not authorized by the base certificate. Extensions are not free-standing, they may be attached to multiple base certificates.

Validity Valid as long as the base certificate remains valid.

Conditional Initial

DescriptionThe certificate for classroom teachers issued to individuals holding a teaching certificate in the same or equivalent title from another state, but who have not yet met the NYS testing requirement. The certificate holder has up to two years to meet the testing requirements to qualify for an Initial certificate.

Validity Valid for two years.

Leads to Initial Certificate.

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Certification: Types (cont’d)

Level I Teaching Assistant Certificate

DescriptionEntry-level certificate for teacher assistants. (Permits the holder to provide direct instructional services to students under the general supervision of a licensed or certified teacher.)

ValidityValid for three years, with the possibility of renewal for three additional years to meet the experience requirement for the Level II teaching assistant certificate.

Leads to Level II Teaching Assistant Certificate

Level II Teaching Assistant Certificate

DescriptionSecond-level certificate for teaching assistants. (Permits the holder to provide direct instructional services to students under the general supervision of a licensed or certified teacher.)

Validity Valid for three years and not renewable. Leads to the Level III Teaching Assistant certificate.

Level III Teaching Assistant Certificate

DescriptionThird-level certificate for teaching assistants. (Permits the holder to provide direct instructional services to students under the general supervision of a licensed or certified teacher.)

ValidityContinuously valid with completion of the required professional development hours every five years. (The five-year professional development cycles begin on July 1 following the issuance date of the certificate.)

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Certification: Types (cont’d)

Pre-Professional Teaching Assistant Certificate

DescriptionAdvanced-level certificate for teaching assistants. (Permits the holder to provide direct instructional services to students under the general supervision of a licensed or certified teacher.)

ValidityValid for five years; may be renewed with matriculation in a teacher preparation program and completion of 30 semester hours of collegiate study.

Internship Certificate

Description

Certificate issued to a student in a registered or approved graduate teacher education program, permitting the holder to serve an internship in a public school. Issued at the request of the college or university, provided that the student has completed one-half of the program's semester hour requirement and has guaranteed employment in a school district.  This certificate is maintained electronically in the TEACH system, no actual paper certificate is generated.

Validity Valid for two years and not renewable.

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Certification: Types (cont’d)

Supplementary Certificate

Description

Certificate issued to already-certified classroom teachers to enable them to teach in a different subject area where a shortage exists. Candidates for the Supplementary certificate must meet certain semester hour and test prerequisites and have a commitment from the employing school for appropriate support while transitioning to the new subject area.  

ValidityValid for three years while completing requirements for the Initial certificate in the new subject area.

Leads to Initial Certificate.

Transitional B

Description

First-level teaching certificate issued to a school district to permit the employment of an individual who is enrolled in an alternative teacher Certification program. The Transitional B is tied to the school placement. Issued in classroom teaching titles. This certificate is maintained electronically in the TEACH system, no actual paper certificate is generated.

Validity Valid for 3 years while the individual is matriculated in an alternative program.

Leads to Initial certificate.

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Certification pathways

Approved teacher preparation program Individual evaluation

Cannot apply for Childhood Ed via individual evaluation for first NYS certificate

Individual evaluation for an additional classroom teaching certificate National Board Certification Interstate reciprocity

Conditional Initial – reciprocity without the NYS exams (2 years to take and pass them)

Full reciprocity includes NYS exams

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Uncertified teacher exemption for charter schools

Under Education Law 2854 (3) (a-1):

Quantity

− No school can have more than 5 teachers or 30% of the teaching staff uncertified, whichever number is lower

Experience: to take advantage of the exemption, a teacher must have either:

− 3 years prior teaching: At least 3prior years of elementary, middle or secondary classroom teaching experience;

− Tenure or tenure track college faculty; − 2 years TFA: At least two years prior satisfactory experience

through Teach for America; or− Exceptional experience: Possesses exceptional professional,

artistic, athletic or military experience

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Even uncertified teachers must still demonstrate HQ in Their NCLB core subject assignment!

NYC Charter School Center recommendations Easiest: hire classroom teachers who are already NY-state certified in a title /grade which matches their assignment

2nd easiest: hire a teacher who is certified in one subject/level to teach in another subject/level

WATCH OUT – you must make sure that the teacher is HQ for the assignment!

For teaching specialists, see the chart below:

SpecialtyNCLB HQ Subject?

Use Certified Exemption?

Art K-12 YesMaybe - Classic use of certification exemption; however must prove HQ

Music K-12 YesMaybe - Classic use of certification exemption; however must prove HQ

Gym – Physical Ed – K-12 No No – for reasons of liability, hire certified teachers

Library – School Media Specialist

No

Reading specialist YesCan be certified in anything but must be HQ for literacy if using Title 1 funds

Math specialist YesCan be certified in anything but must be HQ for math if using Title 1 funds

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II. Interstate ReciprocityII. Interstate Reciprocity

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Applicant Leads to... Requirements Validity

Has a comparable certificate from another state. A comparable certificate requires one of the following:

a. The completion of an approved teacher education program that is comparable to New York State requirements; or

b. Three years of satisfactory teaching experience, within the previous seven years, under an acceptable certificate.*

Conditional Initial Certificate

Bachelor’s Degree Valid Level II certificate in a comparable title Fingerprint Clearance

2 Years During the two years, must satisfy the examination requirements for a regular initial certificate. The initial certificate will be valid for five years from the effective date of the Conditional Initial certificate.

Does not have a certificate from another state, but completed an approved teacher education program in another state. The program must be comparable to a New York State teacher preparation program and lead to certification in the state in which the college or university resides.*

Initial Certificate

Bachelor’s Degree Completion of an Approved Program LAST ATSW CST (subject specific) Fingerprint Clearance

5 Years

Interstate reciprocity

*Applicants who completed an approved teacher preparation program at a New York State College or University, and possess a comparable certificate in another state, are required to have three years of teaching experience if they wish to receive a certificate through interstate reciprocity.

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Applying for interstate reciprocity

Teachers must apply for reciprocity on TEACH BEFORE they start employment apply for the Initial certificate via the “reciprocity pathway” pay the $100 application fee via MASTERCARD or VISA online complete the entire profile including all prior teaching experience

Teachers need to mail the following to SED: ALL ORIGINAL undergraduate and graduate transcripts Copy of their valid level 2 out-of-state certificate

Typically takes approximately four weeks for SED to complete their evaluations after receipt of ALL required documents.

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Interstate reciprocity

A large number of out-of-state teachers apply for and do not receive reciprocity!

Do not start off the school year with uncertified teachers because they have not done their due diligence with the SED!

Teachers are uncertified until TEACH indicates that they have been issued their Conditional Initial Certificate or Initial Certificate (full reciprocity) from the NYSED

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Common reciprocity problems

Alternative certification programs (such as TFA) – hit or miss!

Not enough years of teaching experience under the alternative certificate program Only two years prior teaching experience SED requires 3 years in that state under valid

certificates Two of the three years must be in the same subject

and level of the certificate

Teacher completed an approved out-of-state program but did not obtain an out-of-state certificate. Would need all NYS exams to apply for an Initial based on full reciprocity

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Certification – what schools do wrong

Hiring a teacher who

Is from out-of-state but is not eligible for NYS reciprocity

Has completed a NYC DOE Trans B program but never took the ATS-W and thus the college won’t recommend for certification

Has an expired certificate and is not eligible to apply for a time extension

Has an expired certificate and has applied for a time extension but is still missing the applicable Content Specialty test

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III.III. No Child Left No Child Left Behind: Highly Behind: Highly

Qualified RequirementsQualified Requirements

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NCLB highly qualified requirements

100% of teachers must be highly qualified for their assignments in an NCLB core subject

How does a school demonstrate that a teacher is highly qualified?

COMPLETE and RETAIN the NCLB Checklist!

Federal guidelines are that the school must keep HQ records on file for six years after the teacher is no longer employed in the school

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Can uncertified teachers be HQ?

Charter school uncertified teachers can be classified as HQ

if:

HQ using the NCLB checklist; AND

Teacher falls under the charter school uncertified

teacher exemption

DO NOT FORGET

One teacher over the allowable uncertified teacher

exemption

− Teacher cannot be HQ

− School is no longer 100% HQ

− School is out of compliance!!! 24

NCLB core academic subject areas

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English

Reading

Language arts

Mathematics

Science

History

Geography

Economics

Civics and government

Languages other than English (LOTE)

The arts: art, dance, music, theater (including public speaking), drama

Using the NCLB checklist

HQ is defined by:

THE LEVEL OF AN ASSIGNMENT IN A CORE SUBJECT

Elementary - Common branch subjects in grades K-6, “special classes” for students with disabilities in grades K-6 or the age equivalent: and “special classes” for students with disabilities of any grade or age who all qualify for the NYS Alternate Assessment (NYSAA); or

Middle/secondary - Classes in grades 7-12 in: core academic subjects; the arts, languages other than English and reading: and “special classes” in core academic subjects for students with disabilities in grades 7-12 or age equivalent unless all students in the “special class” qualify for the NYSAA 26

NEWNESS TO THE PROFESSION

New • Certified: Inside the first year following the effective date of

the teacher’s first ever (in-state or out-of-state) teaching certificate OR first year of employment in public school

• Uncertified: Inside the first year that he/she met the certification exemption

Not New• Certified: After the first year following the effective date of

the teacher’s first ever teaching certificate OR after the first year of full-time equivalent teaching in a public school

• Uncertified: After the first year following the date that he/she met the certification exemption 27

Using the NCLB checklist

Charter Center HQ recommendations

Fill out the checklist before you hire

In the beginning, make life easy for yourself. Hire teachers who are certified in the subject and level that matches their assignment i.e., hire birth – grade 2 to teach Kindergarten, not 1-6

Use the HOUSSE only as a last resort for teachers who are “not new” to the profession. Remember that you need to document 100 points on the rubric for the subject and level of the assignment.

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Documentation The burden of proof is on the school – not the teacher

A resume is NOT documentation

As of 2/1/10, the SED stopped printing expiring certificates. Online verification of an applicant’s certification status is now used in lieu of printed certificates for current and prospective employees. However, the schools should print out the verification from TEACH

Charter school leader/ops director should check the TEACH database to ensure that the certificate is still valid

Make sure that you review the BEDS surveys before submission to the SED and that your information matches each teacher’s HQ checklist

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IV. FingerprintingIV. Fingerprinting

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Fingerprinting

All employees must be fingerprinted and cleared for employment

Founders must go through their authorizer

Employees must register online via TEACH in order to receive the payment coupon

Look at the SED handout “Who Needs to be Fingerprinted” to make a determination. Please note that volunteers do not get fingerprinted with the SED

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Fingerprinting

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V. Teaching AssistantsV. Teaching Assistants

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Teaching assistants All applicants for the Teaching Assistant certificate (regardless of level) must:

apply and pay the $35 application fee on-line via TEACH mail necessary documents (copy of high school diploma/college

transcripts and certificates of completion for both workshops) pass the ATAS or LAST have fingerprint clearance

Level I – HS diploma, passing score on NYS ATAS or LAST. Valid for 3 years and possible 3 year renewal.

Level II – Same as Level I PLUS 6 credits of coursework towards an associate’s or bachelor’s degree, and 1 year of TA experience. Valid for 3 years and not renewable.

Level III – Same as Level I PLUS 18 credits of coursework towards an associate’s or bachelor’s degree, PLUS 1 year of TA experience and approved Professional Development (PD) activities. Continuously valid with completion of required PD every five years.

Pre-Professional Teaching Certificate – Requirements for Level I, one year of TA experience PLUS matriculated in a teacher ed program and completion of 18 credits towards this degree. Valid for 5 years and renewable.

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New information

The SED no longer prints certificates that expire. They will continue to print non-expiring certificates (Professional, Permanent, and Teaching Assistant III) which are mailed to address indicated by the applicant on TEACH.

To obtain information regarding an applicant’s education, work experience, certificates, fingerprint clearance, exam results, workshop, and more, please access the TEACH system at http://www.highered.nysed.gov/tcert/teach/.

There is now a Supplementary Bilingual Education extension certificate developed to address the acute shortage in general and special education.

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March 8 certification workshop

Teacher Certification Workshop

Date: Monday, March 8, 2010Time: 3:30-8:30 pmLocation: NYC Charter School Center,

111 Broadway, Suite 604, New York, NY

Sponsored by: NYC Charter School Center

Teachers must register via email to Caryl Cohen by close of business Thursday, March 4, 2010. Please note that these workshops are only available to current and prospective staff in NYC charter schools that have registered and paid the applicable fee for certification services for the 2009-10 school year.  All participants need to bring copies of all college transcripts for the workshop.  Kindly contact Caryl with any questions.

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Helpful linksClarification of the date newly-certified teachers can commence employmentwww.highered.nysed.gov/tcert/resteachers/memo060407.html

Frequently asked questionswww.highered.nysed.gov/tcert/faq.html

TEACH resources for school employers (includes Employer Fingerprinting Training Guide)www.highered.nysed.gov/tcert/teach/resourcesd.html

Guide to “Who Must Be Fingerprinted”www.highered.nysed.gov/tcert/ospra/fingerprintingcharts.html

Recent certification changes including the new supplementary bilingual extension certificateswww.highered.nysed.gov/tcert/news/recentchg.html

Information about teaching assistants – qualifications/requirements/, Level I,II,III or Pre Professional certificates, FAQwww.highered.nysed.gov/tcert/career/ta.html

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Helpful links

Online workshops in child abuse identification and violence preventionwww.laboratoryconsultationservices.com

List of everything you want to know about NYS certification and some things you probably don’t need to know

www.highered.nysed.gov/tcert/topics_az.htm

Information about the NYS teacher certification exams (includes test dates, registration information, prep guides, etc.)

www.nystce.nesinc.com

List of acceptable Level Certificates for Interstate Reciprocitywww.highered.nysed.gov/tcert/certificate/levelcert.html

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Caryl Cohen

Consultant, Teacher

Certification

111 Broadway, Suite 604

New York, New York 10006

Telephone: (212) 437-8326

Fax: (212) 227-2763

ccohen@nycCharterSchools.o

rg

www.nycCharterSchools.org

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