Wicomico County Board of Education Maryland Teacher Certification Certification Presentation New Teacher Orientation February 2011

Stephanie R. Moses – Director of Human Resources and Certified Authorized Partner with MSDE BS and MS in Human Resources Management – Wilmington College Sherri Hynes – HR Specialist and Certified Authorized Partner with MSDE BS in Liberal Studies – Salisbury University Contact Information –Stephanie – or –Sherri – or Role of Human Resources Department

The Law Annotated Code of Maryland Section of the Education Article – “Unless he is eligible to be issued a certificate by the State Superintendent, an individual may not be employed as a county superintendent, assistant superintendent, supervisor, principal, or teacher.”

Code of Maryland Regulations COMAR 13A Purpose of Licensure in Maryland Licensure of professional education personnel by the State is established to offer assurance to the citizens of this State that; A. Professional public educational staff possess the minimum essential knowledge and skills needed to achieve outcomes for public education declared by the State Board of Education.

COMAR 13A Personnel B(1)(a) A teacher employed in an early childhood, elementary, or secondary school program in the public school systems of Maryland shall hold an appropriate certificate under COMAR 13A

COMAR 13A – Issuance of Certificates B(4) It is the responsibility of the certificated individual to maintain the validity of the certificate to provide the Division of Certification of the Department with current information including name, address, and degree status.

COMAR 13A – General Duties A. Knowledge of Regulations. Every certificated employee shall become familiar with the regulations of the State Board of Education and the regulations of the local board of education.

Evaluations COMAR 13A B - All employees holding a Conditional, SPC I, or SPC II must be evaluated each year

Conditional Certificate

Definitions Credit Count Evaluation – MSDE form that indicates the three major areas of requirements for certification in a content area as prescribed by COMAR. Three Major Areas – –Coursework –Tests –Experience Shortage Areas – Requirements not met on the credit count evaluation. These are noted in the “semester hours needed” column. IHE – Institution of Higher Ed

Credit Count Evaluations For initial certification, course work must be: –Graduate level, or –Undergraduate level (100 or above) –Exception: Reading and special ed course work required for the professional education block can be met through completion of MSDE approved workshops Recommended IHE’s –Salisbury University –UMES –Wor Wic Community College –Online course work – Acceptable provided grade can be posted to an official transcript

Conditional Certificate Formerly known as provisional (1 year certificate) Issued when employee does not meet minimum requirements for professional certificate Conditional certificate effective 1/1/03 Valid for 2 years Reminder – Provisional Contract is still a one-year contract

Conditional Certificates Terms for One Allowable Conditional Certificate Need 12 or fewer credits and have tests Need test(s) only Need 12 or fewer credits and test(s) Need acceptable credits only (6) Needs to complete shortages on APC evaluation Current holder of a 3 year SPC 1 who has one unsatisfactory evaluation

Conditional Certificates Terms for One of Two Allowable Conditional Certificates Need more than 12 credits and have tests Need more than 12 credits and need test(s) if applicable

Conditional Certificates Terms for Two of Two Allowable Conditional Certificates Need to complete remaining credits Need to complete remaining credits; must have met qualifying scores on Praxis I, may need Praxis II in addition to courses

Conditional Certificate Renewal First Conditional to Second Conditional Must complete a minimum of 12 credits toward the shortages on the credit count evaluation Must meet qualifying score on Praxis I test to include all three parts of reading, writing, and math

Conditional Certificate Renewal Second Conditional to SPC 1 Must complete remaining required credits toward the shortages on the credit count evaluation Must meet qualifying score on Praxis II content test to include all required parts

Conditional Certificate Renewal When in the last year of conditional certificate, The WCBOE will only accept test(s) scores taken prior to May 1 of that respective year; and if applicable, Will only accept course work taken prior to June 30 of that respective year, OR must have course approval form submitted to the HR Department prior to June 30 of that respective year

Conditional Certificate Renewal Helpful Hints and Resources Do not wait until the end to take tests Do not wait until the second year to complete the required 12 credits, especially if more than 12 credits are needed Utilize assistance from mentors, administration, buddy teacher, human resources department ASK QUESTIONS!?!!?!?!?

Conditional Certificate Praxis Test Dates Information unavailable at this time; go to for more detailed information

Conditional Certificate Other Testing Resources Sylvan Learning Center – 240 Tilghman Road, Salisbury, MD Open Monday – Saturday all year Can take test anytime depending on availability of work stations Tutors are available upon request

Conditional Certificate Reminders Failure to complete renewal requirements will result in your ineligibility for another certificate and your employment will be terminated. You must complete a course approval form for each course taken prior to registration and submit to Sherri Hynes in HR. Forms may be found in your school office. Copies of ALL praxis test scores must be submitted to Sherri Hynes, whether or not the scores are passing.

Conditional Certificate Reminders Official transcripts are required for reimbursement and renewal credit. You do not have tenure while on a conditional certificate per COMAR. You cannot advance more than two steps on the pay scale while on a conditional certificate per the negotiated agreement.

Maryland Certificates Standard Professional Certificate 1 – SPC 1 Standard Professional Certificate 2 – SPC 2 Advanced Professional Certificate - APC

Maryland Certificates Standard Professional Certificate 1 – SPC 1 5-year certificate (Issued after 1/1/03) Renewal requirements: 6 credits earned at a regionally accredited college or university with a grade “C” or better or through MSDE approved workshops Meet reading requirements, if necessary, as required by MSDE Meet special ed requirement, if necessary, as required by WCBOE Credits must be earned during the validity period of the certificate 3 years satisfactory teaching experience Professional development plan (PDP)

Maryland Certificates Standard Professional Certificate 2 – SPC 2 5-year certificate (Issued after 1/1/03) Renewal requirements: Master’s degree Equivalency – A total of 36 credits of which 21 must be graduate; 15 can be undergraduate and/or MSDE approved workshops. Credits must be earned at a regionally accredited college or university with a grade “C” or better or through MSDE approved workshops. Note: 36 credits can be cumulative credits from point of initial certification. Meet reading requirements, if necessary, as required by MSDE Meet special ed requirement, if necessary, as required by WCBOE 3 years satisfactory teaching experience Credits earned for equivalency are cumulative post BS degree

Maryland Certificates Advanced Professional Certificate - APC 5-year certificate Renewal requirements: 6 credits must be earned at a regionally accredited college or university with a grade “C” or better or through MSDE approved workshops Meet reading requirement, if necessary, as required by MSDE Meet special ed requirement, if necessary, as required by WCBOE Credits must be earned during the validity period of the certificate 3 years satisfactory teaching experience Professional development plan (PDP ) Note: This does not apply to T&I (CTE) teachers. They meet APC in a different manner.

Tuition Reimbursement You must complete a course approval form for each course taken prior to registration and submit to Sherri Hynes in HR. Forms may be found in your school office. You are entitled to $2750 per fiscal year for required course work and tests to meet certification renewal, APC, or other work deemed necessary by principal or supervisor. Official transcripts are required for reimbursement and renewal credit – computer printouts are NOT acceptable.

Tuition Reimbursement When completing course approval forms, please submit college course work and workshops on separate forms. If need to cancel a course or workshop, please notify Sherri Hynes at

How Does Certification Affect My Pay? Conditional - $500 less applicable placement for professional certificate/degree SPC+15 – Must hold SPC and have 15 post-BS credits APC/Equivalency – Can be a stepping stone if working on masters APC/Masters – Placed on this lane if hold APC OR masters (i.e., First year guidance counselor has masters but not eligible for APC is placed on this lane APC/Equivalency +30 – Same lane and step plus $1,000 APC/Masters +30 – Must have masters +30 or 66 credits (including the masters) post BS whichever occurs sooner APC/Doctorate – Must have doctorate in education related field NOTE: Remember, even when some credits do not count toward initial certification or renewal, NO credits are wasted….they will eventually count toward +15 or +30 Pay adjustments effective September 1 – supporting documents must be received by October 15; Effective January 1 – February 15

What If I Don’t Meet Renewal Requirements? Failure to complete renewal requirements will result in your ineligibility for another professional certificate and continued employment will be jeopardized. In most cases, a conditional certificate will be issued. You will be required to sign a provisional contract and you will lose tenure for 3 years, Your pay will be reduced by $500 to reflect conditional certificate pay.

Highly Qualified Status HQ status information is provided on certification memos through initial hire/renewal process. All teachers should be striving for HQ status. Reimbursement is allotted for required course work and/or tests to gain HQ status. You must follow the same process as outlined for tuition reimbursement. Reminder: HQ status is dependent on credentials and assignment; therefore, your personal status may change periodically depending on your assignment.

Points of Interest Certificates issued January or July All certificates issued with personalized memo from HR Department (Note: Conditional certificates are issued separately from memo) Reminder notices sent to professional certificate holder one year prior to expiration date To add endorsement areas - information provided upon request

Maryland Certificate Holder Priorities Teach the students in Wicomico County! Be familiar with certification requirements Read your certification materials issued by HR Maintain goal to obtain professional certification ASK QUESTIONS!?!?!?!?