Certification and Professional Learning
Rule Changes: Impact on Special
Educators in Georgia
Georgia Council for Administrators
of Special Education
Fall Conference, November 2014
Session Overview
• Demonstrate how the puzzle pieces of
school improvement are being put
together to improve teaching and
learning in Georgia
• Identify resources available to help
navigate complex changes in
certification and professional learning.
Session Overview
• Provide an overview of the tiered certification
system
• Review recommendations from the GaPSC
Professional Learning Task Force regarding
changes to professional learning and
certificate renewal, and
• Discuss connections among various state
reforms recently put in place
• Identify helpful resources
Tiered Certification Overview
From a flat profession to a four-tier
system for teacher certification
Does Tiered Certification Add
Value?
• What is the value-added for teachers and for
the profession?
• What is the value-added for students,
parents, taxpayers?
• What in this new system increases rigor?
• During preparation & entry?
• During service?
• Does the system simplify certification?
• How might tiered certification interact with the
salary structure?
Challenges Created by Tiered
Certification
• Which educators are impacted by the
system?
• Which are not?
• Are there any unforeseen challenges
related to tiered certification?
• Example: As currently structured, only a
teacher of record can attain advanced level
certification (advanced professional or lead
professional)
Why Tiered Certification?
• Focuses on performance rather than just
hanging around
• Eliminates the “flat” profession by creating
tiers & the chance for professional growth
while remaining in the classroom
• Supports what research tells us about
effective schools – learning communities
support student achievement
Why Tiered Certification?
• Tiered certification is built around
motivation theory
• Being given meaningful work
• Being recognized in a meaningful way
• Working in a collaborative environment
Four-Tier System
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Pre-Service level
Induction level
Professional level
Advanced level includes Advanced
Professional AND Lead Professional
• Four tiers w/ advanced tier having two
pathways
Pre-Service Certificate
• Advantages
• Consistent method for criminal history
checks
• Brings candidates under Code of
Ethics
• Focuses attention on preparation of
“learner ready” teachers
• See HO for more information
Induction Certification
• Advantages
• Recognizes novice teachers need to grow
in a safe environment supported by
teacher leaders, administrators, & others
• Creates a statewide system for quality
induction
• Links to the teacher induction guidance
document developed by a DOE/PSC – led
task force. Induction programs have been
piloted by RTTT districts
• See HO for more information
Professional Certificate
• Teachers demonstrate effectiveness to
qualify for the professional certificate
(formerly clear renewable)
• Two types – performance-based &
standard
• Validity period for five years; only
renewed if performance continues to
meet or exceed performance standards
Professional Certificate
• Demonstrate performance (TKES) for
performance-based; standard will be
evaluated, but not under TKES
• Successful remediation if necessary
• Currently working to define “successful”
• Professional learning requirements
must be met
• See HO for more information
Advanced/Lead Professional
• The fourth certification tier has two
different pathways
• Each pathway has a very specific
purpose, one to recognize outstanding
performance, the other to identify
teachers capable of leading
improvement of teaching & learning
Advanced Professional
Certificate
• An expert teacher who has
demonstrated exemplary performance
for a specified number of years during
the five year validity period
• See HO for more information
Lead Professional Certificate
• An expert teacher who has
demonstrated exemplary performance
for a specified number of years during
5-yr validity period
• A teacher who desires to lead other
professional in improving teaching and
learning
• See HO for more information
Tiered Certification Phase-in
• Currently issued certificates: Induction
and Standard Professional
• Certificates that will be issued beginning
July 2015: Pre-Service and Lead
Professional
• No implementation date yet for
Advanced Professional
• Advisory panel appointed and active
beginning January 2015
TKES/LKES Phase-in
• Teacher & Leader Evaluation
• One-year delay in full implementation –
for certificate renewal purposes, this
year only the observational data will be
used; we will not use student
performance data this year
• Next year? At this time we don’t know
• Remember educator evaluations
determine whether or not the educator is
eligible for certificate renewal
Tiered Certification
Questions?
Professional Learning Changes
Yea, but I loved collecting PLUs!
Changes in Professional Learning
• Background
• House Study Committee on Professional
Learning – after moratorium on PLUs, what
then?
• Task Force – 40 members responsible for
developing a new system not dependent
on PLUs
• Task Force recently completed its work
• New rules are being written now
PL Task Force Recommendation
• Link professional learning & certificate
renewal & educator performance
• TKES/LKES data plus additional evidence
to support PL that addresses areas where
growth is needed
• Other measures for those not covered
under the state evaluation system
PL Task Force Recommendation
• Stop using PLUs as evidence of
professional learning
• PLUs are used to count seat time –
professional learning research does not
support a focus on seat time
• Rather than PLUs, shift the focus to
professional judgments made by the
educator, colleagues, and the
supervisor
PL Task Force Recommendation
• Primary location of professional learning
will move from workshops to jobembedded learning
• Job-embedded speaks to working on
the work
• Professional learning communities
become the vehicle for professional
learning
PL Task Force/Staff
Recommendations
• Learning goals for all educators
• Formal Professional Learning Plans (PLPs)
for some educators
• All Induction level teachers
• Educators placed in position for which they are not
fully certified at Professional level
• Absent from profession for 5 years & returns
• In a new position or from out of state
• Needs Development, Ineffective, Unsat rating
PL Task Force Recommendation
• Professional learning goals will be
collaboratively developed
• PLP will be collaboratively developed
• Role of individual educator
• Role of colleagues
• Role of supervisor
PL Task Force Recommendation
• Principals & superintendents will attest
that professional learning is a
continuous improvement process for all
educators in the building
PL Task Force Recommendation
• In addition to assurance through
attestation
• Title IIA monitoring
• TKES/LKES evaluation system
• 50% of teacher evaluation based on student
performance
• 70% of leader evaluation based on student
performance
• Professional ethics suggests we should put
the child first
PL Task Force Work
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Rule Development
Adoption of professional learning standards
Guidelines Development
Development of Training Materials
Change on this scale presents many
challenges
• Issues of capacity
• Changing the school/district culture
• Developing adult learning skills
• Rule initiation by Commission, Jan. 2015
PL Changes
Questions?
Connections Among Georgia
Education Reforms
• Tiered certification, professional learning,
state evaluation system, changes in
educational leadership – all four of these
changes interact and impact the others
• Tiered certification is the organizer;
professional learning & evaluation determined
renewal; & leadership determines if
implementation is effective
Resources
• Available now
• GaPSC guidelines on tiered certification
• GaPSC guidelines on certificate upgrades
• GaDOE guidelines on Induction
• Available in the future
• GaPSC guidelines on professional learning
• GaPSC web resources on professional
learning
Contact Information
David M. Hill, Ph.D., Division Director,
Educator Preparation & Certification
[email protected]
404-232-2640
www.gapsc.com