Getting Your Secondary Teachers to HQT in a Personalized Learning School APLUS+ Conference October 2010 Diane Grotjohn

Subject Matter Verification Process for Middle and High School Level Teachers in Special Settings VPSS

Short Review of NCLB HQT 1. Must hold the “appropriate” teaching credential (as defined by State) 2. Must have a Bachelor’s degree 3. Must meet “subject matter competency (as defined by Feds) 3 APLUS+ October 2010

4 State Credential Federal Content Knowledge Bachelor’s Degree APLUS+ October 2010

Charter School Flexibility Federal law (NCLB) defers to state only in areas of credential required For credential – State guidelines trump NCLB 5 APLUS+ October 2010

CA Charter Law Requires credentials for teachers of core college prep –Vague about what is required for other courses Allows Charter to define “core” for state credential compliance purposes 6 APLUS+ October 2010

7 NCLB Teacher Classification “ New” to the Profession –Holds a Credential (preliminary or professional clear) or CCTC approved Intern Certificate issued on or after July 1, “ Not New” to the Profession –Holds a credential issued before July 1, Entry Into The Profession - received a credential from another state prior to July 1, 2002, even if that credential was allowed to lapse. APLUS+ October 2010

HOUSSE Only for “not new” teachers Verifies “subject matter” Based on 100 “points” –Experience –Training –Observations 8 APLUS+ October 2010

A Few Terms to Know … Supplementary Authorizations –20 units, requires NCLB subject matter verification Subject Matter Authorizations –32 units, NCLB subject matter compliant 9 APLUS+ October 2010

Under NCLB, the “appropriate credential” Defined by State law Under CA Charter law, teachers of a charter’s defined core courses –Must hold a “credential, certificate, permit, or other document equivalent to that which a teacher in other CA public schools would be required to hold” (EC ) 10 APLUS+ October 2010

“Alternative Programs” in California… Teacher needs to hold only one credential– either the multiple subject credential or a single subject credential (EC44865) Must verify/demonstrate NCLB subject matter competence in each subject assigned to teach. –don’t confuse credential requirement with subject matter competency requirement 11 APLUS+ October 2010

What are “Alternative Programs “? In California, defined by Ed Code as: Home teachers hospital classes necessary small high schools continuation schools alternative schools opportunity schools juvenile court school county community schools district community day schools Independent Study 12APLUS+ October 2010

Teachers of non-core, non- college prep courses CA Law is vague about charter credentialing Federal Law is clear about “Highly Qualified Teacher” –Teacher of NCLB defined core subject must meet subject matter, have a bachelor’s degree and hold “appropriate credential” –All other courses have no NCLB requirements 13 APLUS+ October 2010

14 NCLB Core Academic Subjects English Reading/Language Arts Mathematics Science History Economics Civics/Government Geography Foreign Languages Arts English/Language Arts/Reading –Includes reading intervention and CAHSEE-English classes Mathematics –Includes math intervention and CAHSEE-Math classes Biological Sciences Chemistry Geosciences Physics Social Science –history, government, economics, geography Foreign Languages (specific) Drama/Theater (English Credential) Visual Arts Music Dance (Physical Education Credential) How That Looks in California APLUS+ October 2010

OK, so all our credentials are fine, Our teachers all have bachelor’s, But how do we meet the Subject Matter? 15 APLUS+ October 2010

Pathways to Subject Matter Competency 16APLUS+ October 2010

17 Verification Process for Special Settings (VPSS) 1.NCLB compliant in one NCLB core academic subject (includes elementary multiple subjects) 2.Complete content specific coursework in each area assigned to teach 3.Three years to complete the process Subject Matter Advanced Certification for Secondary Teachers in Special Setting: Approved January 11, 2007 APLUS+ October 2010

Who can use VPSS? New and Not New Teachers in “special settings”… …who are already NCLB compliant in one subject … but teach additional subjects 18 APLUS+ October 2010

What are “Special Settings”? Secondary Alternative Education (EC44865) Independent Study Special Education 19 APLUS+ October 2010

What do Teachers have to do? For each core subject –Level I – 36 hours –Level II – 36 hours Level I is waived if a teacher has taken 20 (or 10 upper division) units in the subject area (Matches requirement for Supplemental Authorization) 20 APLUS+ October 2010

What are teachers going to learn? Language Arts –Linguistics, Language and Literacy –Literature and Textual Analysis –Rhetoric, Composition, Conventions 21 APLUS+ October 2010

What are teachers going to learn? Mathematics –Algebra –Number Theory –Geometry –Probability and Statistics 22 APLUS+ October 2010

What are teachers going to learn? Social Science –World History –Civics –US History –Economics –Geography 23 APLUS+ October 2010

What are teachers going to learn? Science –Astronomy –Geodynamics –Earth Resources –Ecology –Genetics and Evolution –Molecular Biology and Biochemistry –Waves, Forces, Motion –Electricity and Magnetism –Heat Transfer and Termodynamics –Structure and Properties of Matter 24APLUS+ October 2010

Will this be on the test? So, they just have to “show up”? Teachers must complete all assignments and time requirements to the instructor’s satisfaction Assessments include unit tests and a final lesson plan 25 APLUS+ October 2010

When will they EVER use this????? 26APLUS+ October 2010

How do teachers attend VPSS? Find a Program (Choose Carefully!) Sign Up Go 27 APLUS+ October 2010

What happens when a teacher completes VPSS? Certificate or Letter of Completion NCLB Certificate of Compliance Copies, Copies, Copies! 28 APLUS+ October 2010