RECEIVED
AUG 11 2006
Professional Standards Commission
Two Peachtree Street, Suite 6000
Atlanta, Georgia 30303
(404) 232-2500
Terri T. Deloach Chair
Floyd D. Toth Executive Secretary
MEMORANDUM
DATE:
August 8, 2005
TO:
FROM:
SUBJECT:
Georgia Superintendents, College Deans and Other Designated Personne
F.D. Toth
Special Education Changes
In response to (1) the Federal No Child Left Behind (NCLB) law requiring teachers to increase their
content knowledge in order to qualify as Highly Qualified, (2) the recent reauthorization of Federal
IDEA RegulationS, and (3) national changes in Special Education standards and trends, the
Professional Standards Commission recently approved the revision of all Certification and Educator
Preparation Special Education Rules, to become effective August 15,2005. The resulting changes to
Certification are as of August 15,2005, whereas, changes affecting Georgia Educator Preparation
Programs will occur over time.
Please find enclosed with this memorandum the following information related to these Special
Education changes. I strongly encourage you to review all information and to share it as soon as
possible with all appropriate personnel, since much of it is very time sensitive:
1.
Final Notice of all Certification and Educator Preparation Rule changes that are effective
August 15, 2005. The Notice summarizes all changes rule by rule and provides the PSC
website address for downloading the rules. I encourage you to provide this rule information
as soon as possible to all leadership personnel involved with implementing the changes.
2.
PSC Special Education Rule Changes Overview. This two page question and answer
document best summarizes the "who, what, when, where, why and how" of the Special
Education rule changes that will take effect on August 15, 2005.
3.
HOUSSE Rubric specifically designed to add Special Education content fields for qualifying
veteran teachers. This is a valuable tool to use for adding Academic Content Concentrations
to certificates of qualifying veteran special education teachers who did not otherwise qualify
Special Education Changes Page 2
by the review of transcript and assessment records already on file in the PSC. Letters will
also be sent with the new certificates to each special educator whose records have already
been reviewed. All questions related to using this HOUSSE form should be addressed to the
State Title IIA. Consultant assigned to your school system. If you do not know who this is,
you may locate them by referencing the Title IIA Guidelines found at
http://www.gapsc.com/nclb/Contact/contact.html. .
4. Georgia PSC Special Education Academic Content Concentration. This is a new form that
must be used by the school system Certification Official when applying to add new Special
Education Academic Concentrations to the certificates of special educators. It is already
currently available on the PSC website for downloading from the Certification Forms and
Applications
section,
which
can
be
found
at
http://www.gapsc.com/TeacherCertification/CertificationFormsandApplications.asp
Failure to submit this form with the requested information and documentation will delay the
process of adding Special Education Academic Concentrations to special educator
certificates. Approved program providers should continue to use the Approved Program
Recommendation Form for submitting this information.
Please know that we stand ready to assist you in every way possible in order to provide a
smooth Special Education transition.
Enclosures
Effective August 15, 2005
505- 3-.61 SPECIAL EDUCATION GENERAL CURRICULUM PROGRAM
(1)
Purpose. This rule states field-specific content standards for approving programs that
prepare teachers to teach all students P-12 with disabilities whose individual education
program indicates instruction using the general education curriculum and participation in
the general statewide assessment. This rule supplements requirements in Rule 505-301, Requirements and Standards for Approving Professional Education Units and
Programs Preparing Education Personnel.
(2)
Requirements.
(a)
To receive approval for a Special Education General Curriculum Program, a
state-approved professional education unit shall offer a preparation program
described in program planning forms, catalogs, and syllabi addressing the
following standards:
1.
STANDARD I: The program shall conform to the standards for the
preparation of all beginning special education teachers of students in
Individualized General Curriculum published by the Council for
Exceptional Children. (http://www.cec.sped.org/ps/gencurriculum.doc)
2.
STANDARD II: The program shall prepare professionals who understand
and apply principles of teaching reading and address the following
emphases (numbers refer to the elements of the standards specified by
IRA Standards for Reading Professionals, Classroom Teacher Candidate,
2003.) http://www.reading .org/advocacy/standards/standards03 _revised/ #pt2)
(i)
Use knowledge of adolescent literacy development (1.3)
(ii)
Apply knowledge of the teaching of reading and writing to
adolescents (1.1, 1.4)
(iii)
Use knowledge of formal and informal literacy assessment
strategies in the content areas (3.3)
(iv)
Apply knowledge of how to meet the needs of students who read
at diverse levels (2.1, 2.4, 4.2)
(v)
Facilitate all students' learning from content area texts (2.2, 2.3)
3.
STANDARD III: The program shall include the requirement of fifteen (15)
semester hours of content concentration in either social science, science,
math, language arts, or reading. The content concentration for cognitive
level (4-8) (See Rule 505-2-.103) should conform to the content
standards for the preparation of middle grades educators published by
their respective national specialty area organizations (National Council of
Teachers of Mathematics, National Science Teachers Association,
National Council for Social Studies, National Council of Teachers of
English, International Reading Association.)
4.
STANDARD IV: The program shall meet all requirements specified in
Rule 505-2-.20, Special Georgia Requirements.
Authority a.C.G.A. § 20-2-200
PSC SPECIAL EDUCATION RULE CHANGES OVERVIEW
Revised August 1, 2005
1.
WHY CHANGE THE RULES?
A.
Federal Legislation (NCLB / IDEA)
(I)
Highly Qualified Requirements Call For Increased Content Knowledge
(2)
Timeline to Meet Requirements is JuneJO, 2006
B.
National Special Education Trends
(I)
Increased Multi-Categorical Focus (More certificates like Interrelated; Less like
Learning Disabilities)
2.
WHAT RULES WILL CHANGE?
A.
PSC Special Education Rules for Educator Preparation (505-3 Series)
B.
PSC Special Education Rules for Certification (505-2 Series)
C.
The proposed new rules are posted on the PSC web site at www.gapsc.com
3.
WHEN DOES THE RULE CHANGE TAKE PLACE?
A.
A 30-day Public Review of the rules occurred from May 19 to June 18. In addition, a Public
Hearing was requested and held on July 11 to solicit input.
B.
Following a review of comments at the July 12 Commission meeting the rules were adopted.
The Effective Date of the rules will be August 15.
4.
WHAT ARE THE MAJOR CHANGES?
A.
SPECIAL EDUCATION CONTENT
(1)
As with Middle Grades, Special Education Certificates will have five Content Concentrations:
Math, Science, Language Arts, Social Science and Reading
B.
SPECIAL ED CONTENT COGNITIVE LEVELS
(1)
For each of the SPED Content Concentrations there are three associated content
Cognitive Levels: P-5, 4-8; 6-12.
.
,
(2)
The student's appropriate Cognitive Level is based on information contained in the
student's Individualized Education Program (IEP).
C.
THE REQUIRED CERTIFICA nON IS BASED ON SPECIFIC JOB ASSIGNMENT
(I)
Consultative: SpEd teacher works collaboratively w/content teacher of record.
Special Education teachers serving only in a Consultative roles do NOT need any
Content Concentrations.
(2)
Teacler of Record: If the SpEd teacher is assigned as the teacher of record in math.
science) language arts, social science, or reading, then they MUST have the
appropriate SpEd Certificate and the appropriate Content Concentration and the
appropriate Cognitive Level printed on hislher certificate.
D.
CERTIFICATE TITLE / ENDORSEMENT CHANGES
(1)
The names of most SpEd certificates will change. Examples:
(a)
Interrelated becomes Special Education General Curriculum
(b)
Mental Retardation becomes Special Education Adapted Curriculum and
Special Education General Curriculum
(c)
Hearing Impaired becomes Special Education Deaf Education
(d)
Orthopedically Impaired becomes Special Education Physical and Health
Disabilities
(2)
New SpEd Endorsements are created. A few examples are:
(a)
Special Education Preschool Endorsement (Ages 3-5)
(b)
Special Education Deaf Education Endorsement
(c)
Special Education Transition Specialist Endorsement
,
.
5.
WHEN DO SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHERS HAVE TO MEET THE NEW CRITERIA?
A
Effective July 1, 2006, to be considered in-field, Special Education teachers may serve in consultative
mode with the appropriate based SPED certification. No content is required.
B.
Effective July 1,2006, to be considered in-field, Special Education teachers serving as a Teacher of
Record in an Academic Content Concentration must have the appropriate SPED Certificate and the
appropriate Content Concentration and the appropriate Cognitive Level on their Certificate.
6.
HOW DO SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHERS ADD mE CONTENT CONCENTRATIONS?
A.
Until June 30, 2006:
(1)
Recommendation from Approved Provider (approved under the new rules), OR
(2)
PSC Transcript Analysis of Course Work (15 semester hrs / 25PLUs in each area), OR
(3)
Content Assessment(s), OR
(4)
HOUSSE Criteria (for veteran. SpEd teacher teaching content)
B.
After June 30, 2006:
(1)
NO MORE PSC Transcript Analysis of Course Work; all other methods remain.
7.
HOW WILL HOUSSE (HIGH OBJECTIVE UNIFORM STATE STANDARDS OF EVALUATION) BE
USED TO ADD SPECIAL ED CONTENT CONCENTRATIONS?
A.
To add SpEd Content Concentration may be applied to veteran Special Education
teacher who, at the time of application for the certificate, have three out of five years of successful
experience (based on annual performance appraisals of satisfactory or above) teaching Special
Education and Academic Content Concentration(s).
B.
Upon being designated as Highly Qualified in a Special Education Academic Content
Concentration(s), the educator's employing school system may apply to the PSC for that Concentration
and Cognitive Level, which will be issued with Clear Renewable status.
C.
The Georgia HOUSSE criteria is available on the web site at www.gapsc.com.
8.
WHEN AND HOW WILL THE PSC IMPLEMENT THESE RULE CHANGES?
A.
On or about the effective date of the new rules, the PSC certification database will undergo an
overnight update with the following electronic changes:
(1)
SpEd Certificate names will convert from the "old" to the "new".
(2)
SpEd Content Concentrations will be added based on transcript reviews and satisfactorily
completed assessment(s).
B.
On or about the same date, the following additional procedures will be initiated:
(1)
An e-mail process for teacher/systems to address their transcript reviews. (Must provide
name of content concentration, specific transcript source, course number and title).
(2)
Begin mail-out of updated hard-copy certificates.
.
(3)
New, out-of-state applicants will receive certificates with new titles.
9.
WHAT ASSESSMENTS WILL BE USED FOR THE CONTENT AND COGNITIVE LEVELS?
A.
A listing of PRAXIS IT Content Assessments and the corresponding Special Education Content
Concentrations and Cognitive Levels will be posted on the PSC web site at
www.gapsc.com/nclb/Admin/FilesllmpPolicy.pdf
the Georgia Implementation Guidelines Criteria for "Highly Qualified" Teacher
Professional Standards Commis.sion Two Peachtree Street Suite 6000 Atlanta, Georgia 30303-3141
(404) 232-2500
Terri T. DeLoach .Chair
Floyd D. Toth Executive Secretary
August 15, 2005
FINAL NOTICE
TO:
Employers of Educators Preparers of Educators Other Interested Parties
FROM:
Floyd D. Toth
SUBJECT:
Professional Standards Commission Rule Rescission/Amendment/Adoption
On May 12, 2005, the Professional Standards Commission authorized its Executive Secretary to initiate (1) rescinding
the current rules in Chapter 505-2 (Certification), effective August 15, 2005, as follows: 505-2-.52, 505-2-.72, 505-2-.75,
505-2-.76, 505-2-.80, 505-2-.83, 505-2-.86, 505-2.97, and 505-2-.110; (2) adopting new rules in Chapter 505-2
(Certification), effective August 15, 2005, as follows: 505-2..103, 505-2-.104, 505-2-.105, 505-2-.106, 505-2-.107, 5052-.108, 505-2-.109, 505-2-.110, 505-2-.111, 505-2-.112, 505-2-.170, 505-2-.171, 505-2-.172, and 5052-.174; (3)
amending rules for Chapter 505-3 (Educator Preparation), effective August 15, 2005, as follows: 505-3-.61, 505-3-.62,
505-3-.63, 505-3-.66, 505-3-.67, 505-3-.68, 505-3-.71, 505-3.72, 505'-3-.73, and 505-3-.75; and (4) amending rules for
Chapter 505-6 (Educator Ethics), effective August 15, 2005, as follows: 505-6-.01. The notice of proposed rulemaking
was distributed to the state's education community for review.
On July 12, 2005, the Commission rescinded/amended/adopted the aforementioned rules, effective August 15, 2005.
These rescinded/amended/adopted rules may be downloaded in their entirety from the PSC website at
http://www.gapsc.com/TeacherCertification/Documents/rules.asp by clicking on the title of any rule. Presentation of
rules in this format is permissible under O.C.G.A. § 50-13-2.
I
1"FINAL NOTICE August 15, 2005 Page 2
Piscussion (Certification)
SPECIAL EDUC.ATION RULES
In April 2005 the Commission Initiated and subsequently issued NOTICE to the public for the purpose of
rescinding, amending and adopting proposed Special Education Rules. Since that action, the PSC was informed by US
Department of Education monitors. that the April group of prop°s.?d
. Special Education rules were not in compli_HJqe _i!_.J.J_:9_l!t Feqeral Iq_A _n_ No Child \;.eJt Bebind.
. (NCLB) Act Regulations. Therefore, the Special Education rules proposed in April were withdraWn, reviseg. and reinitiat_d in May so as to bring the PSG rules into compliance with IDEA and NCLB Regulations.
505-2-.103 SPECIAL EDUCATION ACADEMIC CONTENT CONCENTRATIONS
This new rule establishes eligibility guidelines and requirements for the Special Education Academic Content
Concentrations (mathematics, science, social science, language arts and reading) ar;ld Cognitive Levels (P-5, 48 and 6-1 2). To serve as a teacher of record in one of these five academic content concentrations, the specific
Content Concentration and Cognitive Level must be designated on the Special Education certificate. Without these
conte.,t concentL<}ti_n,_, tP_ _B_p1(!t educ<;\tor may serve in a consultative role with content teachers of record
in all content subjects, but may NOT serve as the teacher of record.
505 2 .83 MENTAL RETARDATION
505-2-.104 SPECIAl" E:PUCA TIQN APAPTE:P CURRICUllJ1Y! (P"12)
The new rule aligns with Educator Preparation Rules and creates a new certificate field of Special Education
Adapted Curricull,lm (P-12) that is similar to the old field of Mental Retardation. Rule 505-2-.83 has been
rescinded.
II
I
505 2 .62 8EHA '.'IOR DISORDERS
505-2-.105 SPECIAL EDUCATION BEHAVIOR DISORDERS (P"12)
The new rule renumbers the rule from 505-2-.52 to 505-2-.105 but maintains the old Behavior Disorders certificate,
adapting it to the new Special Education Consultative model and designates Special Education Academic
Content Concentration(s) and Cognitive Level(s). Eventually, as the Georgia state-approved providers convert to
the new Special Education preparation standards and graduate those students accepted under the old program
standards, new certificates in this field will no longer be issued' to Georgia prepared candidates. The
certificate will be maintained for those previously issued the certificate and to accommodate comparable out-ofstate certificate holders moving into Georgia.
y5062.72 HEARING IMPAIRED
505-2-.106 SPECIAL EDUCATION DEAF EDUCATION (P-12)
This new rule aligns with Educator Preparation rules, renames the certificate field from Hearing Impaired
to Special Education Deaf Education (P-1 2) and establishes the consultative and content concentration (teacher
of record) model. It also renumbers the certificate rule from 505-2-.72 to 505-2-.106.
I.
FINAL NOTICE August 15, 2005 Page 3
6052.75 INTERRELATED SPECIAL EDUCATION
505-2-.107 $P_gl_,,",E,Q,YJ;__3&_QN_I_tt_§I__I.QJ!
This new rule aligns with Educator Preparation Rules and c:fMfes' a newcertificate field of Special Education General
Curriculum (P-1 2). This is a Special Education multi-categorical field similar to the oldfield of Interrelated. Rule 505-2-.75
has been rescinded.
",
6062.76 INTERRELATED SPECIJ\l EDUCATION/EARLY CHilDHOOD
505-2-.108' SPE<::IAI."I;P._.,_e.JlIQtoI..\_I;NJiB_I.,1b.__RRt_"'J",tll!!1t__BlY.CHU.DHOOD EDUGATION (P-5)
",.,." "',' , ',;'" ""'1';1',5:,'"" ",T"""N3"\;T,""";;'\;:"'"d0t;,_ /""., "," ,', "," "'y""., "'"
This new rule ,aligns with Educator Preparation Rules, renames the certificate' field frain 'Interrela'ted
Special Education/Early Chilcl!)qPcf tQ, $p_qip.J_dHq_lig.n _er1_ral fH_r___I_r11/Early Childhood
Education (P-5) (:ind rewords the in-field statement. It' also renumbers"iltE('certificafiori 'nile frorp
505-2-.76 to 505-2-.108.
",'
'
\\_
606 2 .80 lEARNING DISABILITIES
505-2-.109 SPECIAL EDUCATION lEARNING DISABILITIES (P-12)
The new rule renumbers the rule from 505-2-.80 to 505-2-.109 but maintains the old Learning Disabilities certificate,
adapting it to the new Special Education model with Consultative and designates Special Education Academic Content
Concentration(s) and Cognitive Level(s). Eventually, as the Georgia state-approved providers convert - to the new Special
Education preparation standards and graduate those students accepted under the old program standards, new certificates
in this field will no longer be issued to Georgia prepared candidates. The certificate will be maintained for
those previously issued the certificate and to accommodate comparable out-ofstate certificate holders moving
into Georgia.
606 2 .86 ORTHOPEDICJ\ll Y IMPAIRED
505-2-.110 SPECIAL EDUCATION PHYSICAL AND HEALTH DISABILITIES (P-12)
This new rule aligns with Educator Preparation Rules, renames the certificate field from Orthopedically
Impaired to Special Education Physical and Health Disabilities (P-12), and establishes the consultative and Content
Concentration(s) and Cognitive level(s) (teacher of record) model. It also renumbers the certificate rule from 505-2-.86
to 505-2-.110.
505-2-.111 SPECIAL EDUCATION PRESCHOOL (AGES 3-5)
The new rule aligns with Educator Preparation rules and creates a new certificate field of Special Education Preschool
(Ages 3-5).
606 2 .97 VISUAllY IMPAIRED
505-2-.112 SPECIAL EDUCATION VISUAL IMPAIRMENT (P-12)
This new rule aligns with Educator Preparation Rules, renames the certificate field from Visually Impaired to Special
Education Visual Impairment (P-12) and establishes the consultative and Content Concentration(s) and Cognitive
Level(s) (teacher of record) model.
It also renumbers the
certification rule from 505-2-.97 to 505-2-.112.
_505-2-.170 SPECIAL EDUCATION DEAF EDUCATION ENDORSEMENT
This new rule aligns with Educator Preparation Rules and creates a new certificate endorsement field of Special Education
Deaf Education Endorsement.
505-2-.171 SPECIAL EDUCATION PHYSICAL AND HEALTH DISABILITIES ENDORSEMENT
This new rule aligns with, Educator Preparation Rules and creates a new certificate endorsement field of Special
Education Physical and Health Disabilities Endorsement.
"..
FINAL NOTICE August 15, 2005 Page 4
505 2 .110 PRESCHOOL SPECI_L EDUCATION ENDORSEMENT
505-2-.172 SPECIAL EDUCATION PRESCHOOL (AGES 3-5) ENDORSEMENT
This new rUle aligns with previously approved Educator Preparation rules and adds new requirements as pre-requisite
requirements and adjusts the in-field statement. It also renumbers the rule from 505_2-.11 0 to 505-2-.172.
505-2-.174 SPECIAL EDUCATION VISUAL IMPAIRMENT J:NDORSEMENT
This new rule aligns with Educator Preparation Rules and creates a new certificate endorsement field of Special
Education Visual Impairment Endorsement.
Discussion (Educittor Preparation)
SPECIAL EDUCATION RULES
In April 2005 the Commission Initiated and subsequently issued NOTICE to the public for the purpose of rescinding,
amending and adopting proposed Special Education Rules. Since _hat action, the PSC was informed by US Department
of Education monitors that the April group of proposed Special Education rules were not in compliance with recent
Federal IDEA and No Child left Behind (NClB) Act Regulations. Therefore, the Special Education rules proposed in
April were withdrawn, revised and re-initiated in May so as to bring the PSC rules' into compliance with IDEA and
NClB Regulations.
505- 3-.61 SPECIAL EDUCATION GENERAL CURRICULUM PROGRAM
The changes to this rule clarify the core academic content requirement for the Special Education General Curriculum
Program.
505-3-.62 SPECIAL EDUCATION SPECIALIZED ADAPTED CURRICULUM PROGRAM
The changes to this rule clarify the core academic content requirement for Special Education Adapted Curriculum
Program and changes the name of the program.
505-3-.63 SPECIAL EDUCATION GENERAL CURRICULUM/EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION PROGRAM
The changes to this rule clarify the core academic content requirement for the Special Education General Curriculum/Early Childhood
Education Program.
505-3-.66 SPECIAL EDUCATION DEAF EDUCATION PROGRAM
The changes to this rule clarify the core academic content
requirement for Special Education Deaf Education.
505-3,..67 SPECIAL EDUCATION PHYSICAL AND HEALTH DISABILITIES PROGRAM
The changes to this rule clarify the core academic, content requirement for Special Education Physical and Health
Disabilities Program.
_505-3-.68 SPECIAL EDUCATION VISUAL IMPAIRMENT PROGRAM
The changes to this rule clarify the core
academic content requirement for the Special Education Visual Impairment
Program.
505-3-.71 SPECIAL EDUCATION DEAF EDUCATION ENDORSEMENT PROGRAM
The changes to this rule clarify the core academic content requirement for Special Education Deaf Education.
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wLFINAL NOTICE August 1 5, 2005 Page 5
505-3-.72 SPECIAL EDUCATION PHYSICAL AND HEALTH DISABILITIES ENDORSEMENT PROGRAM .
The changeS to this. rule clarify the rule for Special Education Physical and Health Disabilities
Program.
505-3-.73 SPECIAL EDUCATION PRESCHOOL (AGES 3 -- 5) ENDORSEMENT PROGRAM The changes to this rule
clarify the rule for Special Education Preschool (Ages 3_5) Program.
505-3-.75 SPECIAL EDUCATION VISUAL IMPAIRMENT ENDORSEMENT PROGRAM
The changes to this rtlJe_'-claTify the rule for Special Education Visual Impairment Program.
Discussion (Educator Ethics)
505-6-.01 THE CODE OF ETHICS FOR EDUCATORS
The amendment to this rule restores a portion of a standard inadvertently omitted during th_ last revision. The
amendment clarifies that a pattern of behavior or conduct that is detrimental to the health, welfare, discipline, or morals
of students is unprofessional conduct.