TSPC -The Licensing Process OSPA Conference October 18th, 2010 Public Service Representatives Jamila Miller 4 Public Service Reps (PSRs) Serve as first contact when anyone contacts the office, including: – – – Applicants School Districts (in and out of the state) Institutions of higher education (in and out of the state) Public Service Representatives (cont) Answer questions, advise applicants, assist outside organizations by: – – – – Responding to walk in customers Fielding and returning phone calls Answering emails Forwarding questions to others within agency, as needed Statistics for September 2010 Incoming phone calls and emails: = 6,147 Incoming applications to process: = 2,263 Total documents received to review for quality (includes applications, PEER forms, district letters, transcripts, etc.): = 10,517 Statistics for September 2010 Phone calls and emails responses: = 5,523 (of 6,147 questions received) Applications processed: = 1,821 (of 2,263 applications received) Total documents reviewed: = 6,173 (of 10,517 documents received) Professional Practices Joanne Kandle Staff include: – – – – 1 manager 3 investigators 2 investigative assistants 1 legal liaison Must investigate ALL complaints filed with the agency, by statute – Includes wide range of issues Professional Practices (cont) How to file a complaint? – – – Formal report must be submitted before investigation can be opened Districts can file a report on district letterhead Others are encouraged to use on-line complaint form How are cases prioritized? Please note: There are new character questions and instructions Pre-evaluation Stephanie Gross 2 Pre-evaluators First step: – Review documents to ensure that we have all materials required for requested license Second step: – Inform applicant if any required items are missing or incomplete Pre-evaluation We notify districts under the following circumstances: – – – Employing SD known Co-application from SD Expedited Pre-evaluation – Common Incomplete Errors PEER forms not received Unsealed PEER forms/transcripts PEER forms not dated Application not acceptable due to no signature, no date, character questions not completed Coursework not completed/submitted Tests not completed/submitted Evaluators Maria Odle 3 Evaluators – First, review file to ensure complete (yes, again) Review file to determine: – Does PEER form indicate proper assignment? – – – If not properly assigned, send letter to district After letter received, send referral to Executive Director CPD completed? Coursework completed? Exams completed? Issue license Staff Receiving Your Calls Public Service Reps: Amanda Hill Patty Liddell Jamila Miller Mike Newton (retiring) Pre-Evaluators: Stephanie Gross Beth Jones Investigative Assistants: Cristina Edgar Joanne Kandle Evaluators: Linda Helton Maria Odle Heidi Reinhardt Questions? Do you have questions for us about this internal licensing process? TSPC Presentation Licenses 101 Beth Jones October 18th, 2010 Types of Teaching Licenses 21st Century Licensure – – – – Initial Initial 1 Initial 2 Continuing 1965 – 1999 – – Basic Standard Who Should Hold a License? Teachers Administrators Counselors School Psychologists Charter School Educators (Registries) Initial Teaching License First Oregon license for out-of-state educators Valid for 18 months Must complete requirements for Initial 1 Teaching license within those 18 months Initial 1 Teaching License The first stage non-provisional license valid for regular full-time teaching Requirements: – – – Regionally accredited Bachelor’s degree or higher Completion of an initial teacher education program approved by the commission Passing scores on basic skills, subject matter and civil rights exams Renewal of Initial 1 Teaching License This license is valid for 18 months or 3 years during first renewal cycle – The length of time depends upon whether applicant first held an Initial License Following the first renewal, this license may be renewed twice, for 3 years each time Renewal of Initial 1 Teaching License (cont) License can be renewed with completion of 3 semester or 4.5 quarter hours graduate credit This credit must be earned after license was first issued Can renew this license up to a maximum of 10 years total Initial II Teaching License Ten (1) years from the date of issuance of the first Initial Teaching License, educator must – Verify completion of requirements for the Initial II Teaching License by meeting one of two options Initial Teaching License II (cont) If Initial License was received from a bachelor’s degree: – A master’s degree OR – in lieu of a master’s degree, 15 quarter hours graduate preparation in subject-matter coursework; and 15 quarter hours in graduate-level educationrelated coursework; and 15 quarter hours in graduate-level electives. Initial Teaching License II (cont) If Initial License was based on a post-baccalaureate teacher preparation program or master’s degree: – 6 semester or 9 quarter hours of graduate level coursework since the Initial Teaching License was first issued Coursework must be germane to teaching license or directly germane to public school employment and may include: – – – pedagogy, or content related to existing endorsement or authorization, or content related to a new endorsement or authorization. Continuing Teaching License - Optional The Continuing Teaching License is now optional; however, it is still considered to be an indication of the highest-level of achievement possible for an Oregon teacher. TSPC considers the accomplishment equivalent to attaining the National Boards for Professional Teaching Standards certification. Continuing Teaching License (cont) Candidate for the CTL must: Complete all requirements of the Initial Teaching License and Hold a master’s degree or higher in the arts and sciences or hold an advanced degree in the profession from a regionally accredited institution in the United States, or the foreign equivalent of such degree approved by the commission, together with an equally accredited bachelor’s degree; and Have taught five years of at least half-time or more on any nonprovisional license appropriate for the assignment in any state; and Continuing Teaching License (cont) Complete a Continuing Teaching License program offered by a college or university; or – – – Complete a doctorate degree in education from a regionally accredited institution; or Have been Certified by the National Boards of Professional Teaching Standards; or Hold Certificate of Clinical Competence awarded by the American Speech and Hearing Association for those holding a communication disorders endorsement Grade Levels for Initial/Continuing Early Childhood (ECE) – Valid for any multiple subjects teaching assignment, except assignments in specialty areas, in prekindergarten (pre K) through grade four (4) in a school designated as a pre-primary school, a primary school, or an elementary school Elementary (ELE) – Valid for any multiple subjects teaching assignment, except assignments in specialty areas in grades three (3) through eight (8) Grade Levels for Initial/Continuing Middle Level (ML) Valid for any multiple subjects teaching assignment, except assignments in specialty areas, in grades five (5) through nine (9) of a school designated as an elementary, middle, junior high school, or high school High School (HS) Valid for teaching one or more integrated or departmentalized subjects, with which the license must be endorsed, in grades nine (9) through twelve (12) of a school designated as a high school Grade Levels for Initial/Continuing Specialty Areas: The ECE/ELE authorization levels with a multiple subjects endorsement is not valid for assignments requiring specialization endorsement such as: – Art, Music, ESOL, ESOL/Bilingual, PE, Adaptive PE, Educational Media, Reading, or Special Ed ORELA Tests Pearson is the company that designs the National Evaluation Series (NES) tests. NES is the national “umbrella” series of exams. Oregon Evaluation Licensing Assessment (ORELA) is the new Oregon-specific exam series. (Please see handout for list of tests which are ORELA and which are still Praxis.) NES Exams Computer-based On-demand scheduling Over 200 testing centers nationwide Online preparation materials Full-length practice tests Immediate scores Detailed feedback Faculty resources ResultsAnalyzer© Areas that do NOT require an Endorsement Some general examples include: Alternative Education Observing Occupations Study Hall Student Leadership Personal Finance Career Education Dance/Drill Team Journalism Basic Skills Class (non-chapter 1) Resource Room (non-special Ed) TAG Photography Leadership Computers Outdoor education Study skills SAT Preparation Sign Language School District Letters to TSPC When should you write a letter to TSPC? District letters are required for the following: – – – Emergency license Any restricted license If an educator’s license lapses, the school district will likely be asked to provide a written explanation Questions? Beth Jones, Pre-Evaluator TSPC