Welcome! GaPSC Updates
GASPA Conference
November 20, 2013
What HR Needs to Know: Tiered
Certification & Ed Leadership
GASPA Conference
November 20, 2013
Provide an overview of
– the proposed tiered certification system
emphasizing those parts that most directly
impact Human Resources staff in school
districts and
– proposed changes to Educational Leadership
rules
Presentation Objective
• Georgia – one of only 10 states using a
single tier system
• 21 states use a two-tier system – include
initial & professional (clear renewable)
• Other states use systems with three or
more tiers
• A sound concept that focuses on raising
standards & empowering teachers
Tiered Certification Around the U.S.
• Brings education candidates under the
Georgia Code of Ethics
• Addresses the need to focus attention and
resources on early career teachers
• Assures advancement is based on
teaching effectiveness, rather than just
hanging on
• Creates a pathway for teachers to
advance in the profession while remaining
in the classroom
Why Move to a Tiered Cert System?
Four Cert Tiers in the Georgia System
Induction
Pre-Service
• Professional certificate – July 1, 2014
• Pre-Service certificate as early as August
2014 & as late as spring 2015
• Induction certificate – July 1, 2015
• Lead Professional certificate – July 1,
2015
• Advanced Professional certificate - TBD
Implementation Timeline
• EPP requests the certificate for candidates
(can’t participate in field & clinical
experiences without holding the pre-
service certificate);
• Admission to candidacy is point at which
certificate is issued;
• Have a successful state/federal
background check; and
• Take the GaPSC ethics assessment
(passing score not required)
Pre-Service – What You Need to Know
• Validity period is five years, but
– Expires upon program completion &
recommendation;
– Invalidated if individual withdraws or is
removed from program;
– May be extended upon request of EPP;
– Certificate is non-transferable;
– Withdrawal/dismissal/graduation results in
end of certificate validity
Pre-Service – What You Need to Know
• Early career teacher focus
• Valid for three years; non-renewable, but
can be issued a second time (after
remediation support)
• If entry is with Induction level GACE score,
must retake or demo high performance
• Enter profession with edTPA road map –
15 rubric scores across five dimensions
• Opportunity to differentiate induction
Induction – What You Need to Know
• Five-year validity period – performance-
based or standard
• Professional learning requirements must be
met
• Performance is demonstrated in one field;
all fields on certificate are renewed
• Can’t be renewed if two unremediated
needs development, unacceptable, or
unsatisfactory
Professional – What You Need to Know
• Performance-based certificate
• Important Requirement: must hold
certification in Teacher Leadership
(degree or certificate only program) OR
certain advanced degrees with an
endorsement in Coaching, Teacher
Leadership, or Teacher Support Specialist
(TSS)
• If endorsement, must pass teacher leader
GACE
Lead Professional
• Performance-based certificate
• Must hold advanced degree in teaching
field, curriculum & instruction, or
instructional technology OR National
Board Certification
• Renewal: if performance is below required
number of exemplary ratings, then renews
at Professional level (same is true for Lead
Professional)
Advanced Professional
• Beyond Induction, all validity periods are
five years; if job responsibilities change,
the certificate doesn’t until renewal
• Lead Professional & Induction certificates
must be implemented together; may have
to phase in requirements for Lead
Professional so support system is in place
for early career teachers
Additional Information
Questions about Tiered
Certification?
• Task force at work began during summer
to revise leadership rules
• Initial plan was to make relatively minor
revisions related to program entry
• Plan now to make major revisions to the
cert and prep rules
• Current proposal is to create an entry level
leadership tier & an advanced leadership
tier
Educational Leadership
• Level 5 – M.Ed. or certificate only program
• Prepares candidate for leadership
positions
– Below level of principal or superintendent
– District positions that don’t supervise
principals
• Preparation focus is on instructional
leadership
Educational Leadership – Entry Tier
• Level 6 or 7 – Ed.S., doctorate, or
certificate only program
• Prepares candidate for leadership position
– Principal or superintendent
– District positions that supervise principals
• Preparation focus is on development of
executive leadership skills
• Preparation is mostly performances in
school or district work
Ed Leadership – Advanced Tier
• Entry Tier
– Performances make-up about 1/3 of program
– End of program assessment is similar to current
GACE
• Advanced Tier
– Performances make-up about 75% of program
– End of program assessment is a performance
assessment (Missouri has recently developed
this instrument)
Educational Leadership
Questions?
Educational Leadership
David M. Hill, Ph.D.
Director, Educator Preparation &
Certification
Georgia Professional Standards
Commission
Contact Information