THE STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT / THE UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK / ALBANY, NY 12234

 

TO:	The Honorable the Members of the Board of Regents
FROM:	Johanna Duncan-Poitier
COMMITTEE:	Higher Education and Professional Practice
TITLE OF ITEM:	Proposed Amendment to the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education Relating to the Creation of a Supplementary Certificate in the Classroom Teaching Service and Relocation of the Requirements for Teachers of Adult, Community and Continuing Education
DATE OF SUBMISSION:	June 3, 2004
PROPOSED HANDLING:	Discussion
RATIONALE FOR ITEM:	To Implement Policy
STRATEGIC GOAL:	Goal 3
AUTHORIZATION(S):

 

SUMMARY:

 

          Attached for discussion is a proposed repeal of section 80-2.11 and addition of sections 80-5.18 and 80-5.19 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education, relating to the creation of a supplementary certificate in the classroom teaching service and relocation of the requirements for teachers of adult, community and continuing education.  Supporting materials for the proposed amendment are available upon request from the Secretary to the Board of Regents.

 

The purpose of the proposed amendment is to establish a new teaching certificate, the supplementary certificate, to enable a teacher certified in one classroom teaching title, upon meeting prescribed requirements, to provide instruction in a different title in the classroom teaching service for which there is a demonstrated shortage of certified teachers; and to relocate existing requirements for teachers of adult, community and continuing education to another section of Commissioner's regulations.

         

The proposed amendment is needed to facilitate the State’s ability to address persistent shortages of certified teachers in certain subject matter areas, including but not limited to mathematics, the sciences, bilingual education, and special education, and in certain geographic areas of the State. Despite intensive recruitment efforts and the creation of numerous alternative pathways for teacher certification, the shortages remain.  The amendment will enable certified classroom teachers in areas of oversupply to provide instruction in a different title in the classroom teaching service for up to three years, while the teacher completes the balance of course work requirements necessary to qualify for a new certificate in a shortage area. This option is proposed to sunset on September 1, 2009. The amendment is also needed to relocate the existing requirements for teachers of adult, community and continuing education to a more appropriate Subpart of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education that deals with specialized credentials.

 

The draft proposal includes significant feedback and suggestions from deans and directors of teacher education programs at colleges and universities, members of the Professional Standards and Practices Board (PSPB), school district superintendents, teachers, New York City Department of Education leadership, and other partners around the State.  Specific suggestions were made concerning semester hours of coursework required, pedagogy requirements for teachers of students with special needs, course grades, and the need to ensure that candidates are enrolled in school while pursuing the supplementary certificate.

 

A Notice of Proposed Rule Making will be published in the State Register on June 16, 2004.  It is recommended that formal action on the proposal be taken at the September 2004 meeting of the Board of Regents.

 

 

 

Attachment

AMENDMENT TO THE REGULATIONS OF THE COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION

          Pursuant to sections 207, 305, 3001, 3004, 3006, 3009, and 3010 of the Education Law.

1.  Section 80-2.11 or the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education is repealed, effective September 30, 2004.

2.  Section 80-5.18 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education is added, effective September 30, 2004, as follows:

80-5.18 Supplementary certificate.

(a) Purpose.  The purpose of the supplementary certificate is to authorize a teacher who is currently certified in a title in the classroom teaching service to teach in a different title in the classroom teaching service for which there is a demonstrated shortage of certified teachers, while the teacher is engaged in collegiate study to complete requirements necessary to qualify for the new certificate.

(b) Limitations.  The supplementary certificate shall be valid for three years from its effective date and shall not be renewable. The supplementary certificate shall be limited to employment with an employing entity.

(c) Requirements.  To be eligible for a supplementary certificate, a candidate shall meet the requirements in each of the following paragraphs:

(1) Application.  The candidate shall apply for the supplementary certificate by September 1, 2009, and upon application qualify for the certificate, in a certificate title in the classroom teacher service for which there is a demonstrated shortage of certified teachers as determined by the department.

(2) Certification.  The candidate shall hold a valid provisional, initial, permanent, or professional certificate in a title in the classroom teaching service identified in Subparts 80-2 or 80-3 of this Part. 

(3) The candidate shall agree to be enrolled in collegiate study leading to an initial or professional certificate in the certificate title sought, beginning no later than with the first semester following employment under the supplementary certificate.

(4) Education. 

(i) The candidate shall hold the minimum degree required for an initial certificate in the certificate title sought. 

(ii) The candidate shall have completed coursework as prescribed in this subparagraph.  The candidate shall have achieved at least a C or its equivalent in any undergraduate level course and at least a B- or its equivalent in any graduate level course submitted to meet the coursework requirements of this subparagraph. 

(a) For candidates seeking a certificate, other than one of the certificates for the instruction of students with disabilities, a certificate for the instruction of the deaf and hard of hearing, a certificate for the instruction of the blind or visually impaired, a certificate for the instruction of literacy, or a certificate for teaching English to speakers of other languages, the candidate shall have completed twelve semester hours of study in the content core required for the initial certificate in the certificate title sought, as prescribed in section 80-3.7 of this Part. 

(b) For candidates seeking one of the certificates for the instruction of students with disabilities, the candidate shall have completed nine semester hours of study in the instruction of students with disabilities, as prescribed in the pedagogical core required for the initial certificate in the certificate title sought, set forth in section 80-3.7 of this Part. 

(c) For candidates seeking a certificate for the instruction of students who are deaf and hard of hearing, the candidate shall have completed nine semester hours in the instruction of the deaf and hard of hearing, as prescribed in the pedagogical core for the initial certificate in this certificate title, set forth in section 80-3.7 of this Part. 

(d) For candidates seeking a certificate for the instruction of the blind or visually impaired, the candidate shall have completed nine semester hours in the instruction of the blind or visually impaired as prescribed in the pedagogical core for the initial certificate in this certificate title, set forth in section 80-3.7 of this Part.

(e) For candidates seeking one of the certificates for the instruction of literacy, the candidate shall have completed nine semester hours of study in literacy education, as prescribed in the pedagogical core required for the initial certificate in the certificate title sought, set forth in section 80-3.7 of this Part.      

(f) For candidates seeking a certificate for teaching English to speakers of other languages, the candidate shall have completed six semester hours of coursework in methods of second language teaching in the elementary and secondary grades and six semester hours in teaching literacy skills, as prescribed in the pedagogical core for the initial certificate in this certificate title, set forth in section 80-3.7 of this Part.

(5) The candidate shall submit a statement by the Chancellor, in the case of employment with the City School District of the City of New York; or by the superintendent, in the case of other employing boards; or by the chief school officer, in the case of employment with another entity required by law to employ certified teachers certifying:

(i) the employing entity wants to employ the candidate in a teaching position for which the candidate would need the supplementary certificate to qualify; and

(ii) the employing entity will make it a condition of employment under the supplementary certificate that the candidate will be enrolled in collegiate study leading to an initial or professional certificate in the certificate title sought, beginning no later than with the first semester following employment under the supplementary certificate.

(6) Examination.  The candidate shall submit evidence of having achieved a satisfactory level of performance on the Content Specialty Test in the area of the certificate title sought, if available.

          3.  Section 80-5.19 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education is added, effective September 30, 2004, as follows:

          80-5.19 Teachers of adult, community and continuing education.

(a)  A person teaching an avocational subject shall have three years of preparation and/or experience in the subject which the individual is employed to teach.  When no such prepared and/or experienced person is available after extensive recruitment, an individual with less preparation and/or experience may be employed upon a finding by the chief school officer that such individual has sufficient preparation and/or experience to teach the subject.

(b) A person teaching an occupational education subject for which no high school credit is granted and for which there is no appropriate teaching certificate shall have three years of preparation and/or experience in the subject which the individual is employed to teach.  When no such prepared and/or experienced person is available after extensive recruitment, an individual with less preparation and/or experience may be employed upon a finding by the chief school officer that such individual has sufficient preparation and/or experience to teach the subject.