Teacher LicensureReminders for New Teachers

New Teacher Induction2015-2016

Anita W. Alpenfels, Ed.D.Executive Director for Human Resources

A PRIMER

LICENSURE CONTRACT EXPERIENCE

• Must be licensed in all areas you teach• “Beginning Teachers” and “New Teachers” may not be the same thing• SP1-holder may be a Beginning Teacher OR experienced teacher from out-of-state

• One-Year Renewable Contracts• No more granting of Career Status (Tenure)

-Number of observations contingent on whether the teacher has

- Less than three years in the school district, or- More than three years in the school district, or- Has career status

• Determines Pay Level• Pay stub will always be a year behind, because the scale begins at “0”• Experience on the license may be different than “years of service” for purposes of State Service, i.e., retirement purposes

A PRIMER

LICENSURE CONTRACT EXPERIENCE

1 year = 6 months of paid days (whether actually on the job or using paid leave)

1 year = 120 days on the job• May not include any paid leave days

1 year = 6 months of paid days (whether actually on the job or using paid leave)

NC LICENSURE

It is the responsibility of the individual license holder to know and satisfy requirements for NC licensure.

New On-Line NC Licensure System

• The new system went live on August 1:

https://vo.licensure.ncpublicschools.gov/

• For information about North Carolina Licensure: http://www.ncpublicschools.org/licensure/steps

New On-Line NC Licensure System Educators will be able to:

– Apply for Initial (Non-Alternative) License– View/Edit License Application– View Application Status– Print License– Add License Areas by Program Completion,

Test(s) or 24 Semester Hours– Add Experience– Add National Board Certification– Correct Education Record

New On-Line NC Licensure System Educators will be able to (continued):

– Request a Copy of Files/Test Scores– Research Experience– Change Name on License– Update Contact Information– Update Work Authorization– Make Payments

New On-Line NC Licensure System Human Resources will be able to :

– Process Automated Applications– Apply for Initial Alternative Licenses (Lateral,

CTE, Provisional)– Add and Clear Alternative License Areas– Recommend/Not Recommend SP1 to SP2

Conversions– Validate an Expired SP2 License– Renew SP2 Licenses– Request Graduate Pay

STANDARD PROFESSIONAL 1LICENSE

• SP1 is the first clear license issued to teachers in North Carolina (formerly called “Initial” license).

• A Lateral Entry or Provisional license (only in non-core content areas) may be issued if the teacher is not eligible for an SP1 license.

• The SP1 license is valid for three (3) years at which point it must be converted to an SP2 license.

STANDARD PROFESSIONAL 1LICENSE

• SP1 license holders are not required to earn a certain number of Continuing Education Units (CEUs or “renewal credits”), but they must participate in any professional development required of them.

CONVERTING SP1 to SP 2For degrees conferred before July 1, 2014 (or before October 1, 2014, for EC and Elementary Education):•The individual must have three (3) years of successful teaching experience, at least one (1) of which is in North Carolina.•In addition, the individual must

– Satisfy NC testing requirements; OR– Receive a satisfactory evaluation, i.e., “proficient” or better in all areas, in

the most recent year of employment in North Carolina, which verifies the ability to positively impact student learning along with an additional form completed by the principal; AND

– Complete any professional development activities prescribed by the school district; AND

– Be offered re-employment.

CONVERTING SP1 to SP 2For degrees conferred on or after July 1, 2014 (or on or after October 1, 2014, for EC and Elementary Education):•The individual must have three (3) years of successful teaching experience, at least one (1) of which is in North Carolina.

•In addition, the individual must – Satisfy NC testing requirements; AND– Receive a satisfactory evaluation, i.e., “proficient” or better in all areas, in the

most recent year of employment in North Carolina, which verifies the ability to positively impact student learning along with an additional form completed by the principal; AND

– Complete any professional development activities prescribed by the school district; AND

– Be offered re-employment.

TESTING REQUIREMENTS• If required to complete testing

requirements, you should not wait to register for the last available test date.

• Tests are administered at major universities with approved teacher education programs.

• You must provide a copy of test scores to Human Resources; they will not be sent to us automatically.

www.ets.org/praxis/nc/requirementswww.nc.nesinc.com/

CONVERTING SP1 to SP 2• Human Resources makes the

recommendation to the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) for conversion of the license.

• A new five-year cycle is issued when the SP1 license is converted to an SP2 license.

DATING OF LICENSESEffective Date• July 1 unless there is a mid-year

completion of requirements– Other factors may occasionally create a slightly

longer/shorter cycle (e.g., mid-year graduation)

• Test date will be used for effective date when testing requirements are met

• Expiration Date – ALWAYS June 30• Once SP2 license, generally a 5-year cycle

LICENSE RENEWAL - currently • Five-year license renewal requires 8.0

continuing education units (CEUs) relevant to area of licensure (80 contact hours = 8.0 CEUs).

K-8 Teachers3 Content3 Literacy 2 General*

All Others3 Content

5 General*

*subject to change based on North Carolina State Board of Education Policy

LICENSE RENEWAL, cont. • License renewal requirements are

different for individuals who have let their licenses expire, i.e., 15 renewal credits in the most recent five years or 15 renewal credits within the next three years, i.e., a “validated” license.

LICENSE RENEWAL, cont.• For administrators:

– Three (3) renewal credits that align with the expectations of the North Carolina School Executive Standards 2, 4, and 5, focused on the school executive’s role as instructional, human resources, and managerial leader

– Five (5) general credits (not to include years of experience) at the discretion of the LEA, if employed

LICENSE RENEWAL, cont.• Completion of National Board

Certification may count for one entire renewal cycle (8.0 credits) and may be “banked.”

• National Board Certification “counts” for both literacy and content credits.

• Renewal of National Board Certification counts as two renewal credits, one for literacy and one for content.

LICENSE RENEWAL, cont.• When participating in workshops

sponsored by Moore County Schools, your signature must be on the class sign-in sheet to receive license renewal credits.

LICENSE RENEWAL, cont.• You may always check the progress of

your CEU’s via the “Human Resources” page at www.ncmcs.org. Click on “Departments.”– The “CEU” link is also where you may find

your “UID” for the On-Line Teacher Evaluation System.

NOTE: The posting of district-sponsored CEU’s requires documentation from the presenter to Human Resources.

LICENSE RENEWAL, cont.Non-district-sponsored workshops or classes

– Must be approved in advance, i.e., prior to registration, by the principal, and– Must be documented with an official certificate of completion or official transcript and submitted to the Director for Professional Development with Instructional Design and Innovation to receive consideration for license renewal credits

ADDING TO LICENSUREAdding Teaching Experience Credit

• Be sure to file all teaching experience from other states on Form E. All forms should be filed with the initial application to avoid additional fees.

• Instructional TA experience can be added at the following rates:– One year = one year after earned bachelor’s

– Two years = one year before earned bachelor’s

• There is a $55.00 fee to add any experience after the initial application.

ADDING TO LICENSUREAdding Non-Teaching Work Experience• Non-Teaching Work Experience is defined as

professional work experience in public or private sectors that is directly related to an individual’s area of licensure and work assignment.– There are many restrictions, and every person’s

background is different. Contact your licensure contact in Human Resources if you believe you may have relevant non-teaching work experience.

ADDING TO LICENSUREAdding Non-Teaching Work Experience,

cont.

• DPI makes the final determination if the experience can be “counted.”

PAY ACCURACY

Reminder: Check your pay stub to make sure you are being paid at the correct level so that, if needed, it can be corrected at DPI before April 15 to make it effective within the correct school year. Corrections may not be made for previous fiscal years.

Teacher pay scales are/will be available on the “Human Resources” page at

www.ncmcs.org.

ADDING MASTER’S LEVELLICENSURE• Licensed public school personnel are

paid on the salary schedule applicable to their assignment at the highest license level held. This policy applies to all areas, including administration, student services and teaching.

ADDING MASTER’S LEVELLICENSUREBefore enrolling in a master’s program, be sure to ask two questions:

1. Is the institution regionally accredited?www.ope.ed.gov/accreditation/search.aspx

2. Does the program lead to licensure in that state?

Neither Human Resources nor DPI may authorize “prior approval.”

GRADUATE DEGREESThe Licensure Section will continue adding the graduate degree level designation on the Educator’s license if the following criteria are met

1.A state-approved education program that leads to licensure has been completed and verified with the required Form V, degree-dated transcripts and the completed application has been submitted to the NCDPI Licensure Section AND

GRADUATE DEGREES, cont.2. The college or university is regionally

accredited.

Note: The graduate degree designation will be on the license. However, the individual will only be eligible to be paid on the graduate salary schedule if at least one of the graduate degree courses was completed prior to August 1, 2013.

APPROVAL FOR GRADUATE PAYGraduate pay approvals will be considered if one of the following criteria is met:

1.An individual was paid on the graduate salary schedule prior to July 1, 2014 OR

2.At least one of the graduate degree courses was completed prior to August 1, 2013

AND

APPROVAL FOR GRADUATE PAY• The master’s or higher degree is in an

education or subject area directly related to an existing area of licensure and current teaching assignment or instructional support responsibility, and

• The educator’s assignment for the majority (50% or more) of the school day is in the area for which the master’s or higher degree applies, and

APPROVAL FOR GRADUATE PAY• There is a $55.00 processing fee to

request graduate pay.

*Change in location or assignment may impact graduate pay approval.

ADDING LICENSURE AREAS• Once a teacher has a clear SP1 or SP2

license, he/she may add an area of licensure (teaching area only, not administration, guidance, media, etc.) simply by taking and earning a passing score on the Praxis™ II/Pearson test(s) for that area or by documenting 24 semester hours in the area.

• There is a $55.00 fee to add a license area by test or semester hours.

LATERAL ENTRY• License is issued for three (3) years,

the maximum time allowed to complete requirements.

LATERAL ENTRY• Must complete a minimum of six (6)

semester hours each year from plan of study (submission of official transcript required).– Per contract, teacher shall provide written

documentation to HR by May 1 each year that teacher has enrolled in the necessary courses to meet the yearly requirements outlined by NCDPI.

– Contract is enforceable only if yearly requirements are met.

LATERAL ENTRY• Must meet testing requirements within

the time frame outlined on the letter from the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, usually within three (3) years• Do not wait until the last minute to take

any required tests. In the unlikely event you don’t pass, your continued employment may be at risk.

COURSE REIMBURSEMENTOnce Moore County Schools receives its allocation for federal funds, the school district may have resources for limited tuition/testing reimbursement.

– Requests may be submitted three times during the school year.

– Information is available from the “Professional Development” link on the “Curriculum” page of www.ncmcs.org.

COURSE REIMBURSEMENT– Paperwork submitted for course/testing

reimbursement is separate from that submitted for licensure, i.e., if you submit a transcript for reimbursement (official transcripts are not required for this purpose), you must submit another official transcript for licensure requirements because they go to two different offices.

BEGINNING TEACHERS (BTs)• By law, beginning teachers who take on

“extra duties” (such as coaching) MUST make the request for such duty in writing to the principal, with a copy of the written request sent to Human Resources for the individual’s personnel file.– This requirement is also in place for those

with 27+ years of experience.– G.S. 115C-47

BEGINNING TEACHERS (BTs)• Mentoring and other Beginning Teacher

questions should be forwarded to the Director for Professional Development with Curriculum and Instructional Support Services.

• Licensure questions should be forwarded to your licensure contact in Human Resources:– Elementary: Cassie Strong– Secondary: Alexia (“Lexi”) Bostic

BEST PRACTICES• As a professional, the keeping of your

professional documents is critical, i.e., don’t rely on others to keep up with copies of your evaluations/ observations, etc.   – It would be wise that you keep a paper file

of your on-line documents, as you will be unable to access these once you leave employment with Moore County Schools.