Lessons in Licensure

1. Lessons in Licensure Personnel Administrators of North Carolina Fall Conference October 6, 2013 Asheville, NC

2. Introductions • Katie Bowie, Licensure Specialist, Iredell-Statesville Schools • Barbara Hege, Licensure Specialist, Davidson County Schools • Karoline Fisher, Director Catawba Regional Alternative Licensing Center (RALC) • NCDPI Licensure Section • Susan Ruiz, Section Chief • Nadine Ejire, Assistant Section Chief • Christy Lane, Specialist

3. Knowledge of the Basics

4. Scenario 1 A teacher applied and accepted a 4th grade position in the LEA. It is late September and you still do not have a copy of the teaching license. When you check LicSal, there is no pending request for the employee. You speak with the teacher and they assure you that they graduated … even offering to share pictures with you! Through investigation, you learn from the licensure specialist at the university that the teacher could not get an official transcript due to unpaid fines. • Unpaid fine = no transcript • No transcript = No application will be sent to NCDPI • No licensure application = No license Now the principal must send letters to the parents of the students in the class because they are not only being taught by a teacher who is NOT high qualified, but she is, in fact, not even licensed yet. How would you approach this situation?

5. Scenario 1 Remember … • When interviewing new in-state graduates, request that the applicant bring a copy of the transcript • If official transcript is unavailable, ask for temporary, unofficial copy • Ask applicant to have the university supervisor or the university’s licensure specialist email LEA (licensure specialist or hiring agent) documentation indicating completion of licensure requirements and that a recommendation for licensure will be made to NCDPI • Check LicSal earlier to see whether the licensure request is pending, and, if not, have the teacher call the university to inquire about the reasons for the delay. • You may need to contact the university if the teacher is not prompt in obtaining necessary documentation.

6. Scenario 2 An out-of-state teacher recommended for hire provides you a copy of the license and indicates they will get Form E (Verification of K-12 Educator Experience). You later find out that that state refuses to complete the Form E and will only provide online verification. How would you support the teacher in submitting Form E? Remember … • Complete Form E and submit with attached correspondence from the former employer • Correspondence indicate only online verifications are completed • Correspondence verifies the employment history in various positions • If the individual worked a long time as a substitute teacher, submit Form NE to verify non-teaching experience along with a job description and the number of hours worked

7. Scenario 3 A teacher meets with you regarding submission of masters pay paperwork for an online program. You determine masters degree was not completed through a teacher education program that leads to licensure. How would you advise the teacher? • Ensure teachers are notified that the degree has to be relevant and in the area in which they are serving • Assist the teacher with getting the institution to complete Form V for verification • Secure a copy of the official transcript with a clear degree award date • Complete Form G for graduate pay approval • Ensure submission prior to 4/1/2014

8. Scenario 4 • Mr. B was hired to teach math from corporate America with 10 years retail experience as a customer service estimator and in the budget furniture department. The job description provided reflected significant functions requiring math skills, but they also included many general customer service skills. The request was denied by NCDPI with a response that experience related more to business than math. What best practices would you utilize to support a teacher through this process?

9. Scenario 4 • Provide advice prior to submission • Defining relevant experience – pay close attention to the job description • Everybody does math and language arts, but that does not make it relevant • Some people do not do job descriptions anymore • Must have the documentation • People promise things that are not so – verify everything • Pre-Screening – before placement is made • RALC website – includes relevant (created by NCDPI) • Reference for compliance and alignment

10. Challenges • Awareness of all types of teachers • In-state graduates • Out-of-state graduates/transfers • Lateral Entry Teachers • CTE Provisional Teachers • Everyone is unique based on their criteria • Assumptions are the enemy • Be specific in what you are asking • Communication • Documentation • Ability to translate policy/process into practice • Form V example – requires license AND Form V; however, the NCDPI website says “OR”

11. Best Practices • Communication • Customer service should always be our focus • Draft questions prior to contacting NCDPI • Remember your answer is only as good as the information you give • Documentation • Copies of everything • Create email/written trails • HQT plan upon hire • Ask the right people – Induction - direct to licensure specialist (including RALC)

12. Career and Technical Education

13. Scenario 5 • The LEA has had difficulty recruiting business teachers. Mr. B (from the previous scenario) has also indicated having a interest in teaching business so he can coach at the local high school that currently has an opening. How could you support Mr. B to become licensed in business education?

14. Did You Know? • Can now add CTE area to existing clear teaching license based on an associate’s degree, two years of related work experience in the last 5 years, 24 hours of related course work or passing the Praxis in the subject area • Effective July 1 • SBE change

15. Challenges • Policy/Procedural Changes • Ensure you are working with the most recent policy/procedure • Awareness of Uniqueness of Key Areas • Challenges in calculating work experience • i.e. Nurses - Two jobs during the same time period (no overlapping time) • Differences across areas • Health Sciences – no longer held in escrow • Drafting still held in escrow

16. Health Sciences vs. Drafting

17. Best Practices • Policy • Don’t try to remember what it takes, just know where to find it • Alphabetically, not numerically listed • Print-checklist for each candidate • Networking • Contact Resources • Accountants • Use of Tax Documents

18. Legislative/Procedural Changes

19. Scenario 4 A former teacher retired in 2007 with a renewal cycle end date of June 30, 2008 and enough credits to maintain renew the current license. What policy interpretations should be considered to renew for cycle ending June 30, 2013 should the teacher wish to maintain the license? • Remember … • Policy changes for required credits • Changes in interpretation for one-time retiree renewal policy

20. Challenges • Licensure renewal – retirees • Dissolution of ability to reserve cycle • Not a change in the legislation, but a change in the interpretation • Changes to renewal credit requirements • Interpretation • 8 total • 3 in literacy • Per policy, for this year only, go by the old • National Board – entire cycle • 7.5 vs. 8 for the same • Praxis testing changes • Not updated on NCDPI website • Masters Pay • Is there still a need to track and submit after the effective date of the policy change given anticipated challenges

21. Best Practices Know how to sharpen your saw by accessing the best resources available to you!

22. Sharpening the Saw

23. SBE Policy Walkthrough • Website Address: sbepolicy.dpi.state.nc.us • Search by keyword or topic • Search by Table of Contents • Administrative Procedures • What’s New • Contact Information

24. SBE Policy Walkthrough

25. State Resources • Licensure Manual • Does not include all updates • LicSal • What’s New • Includes only one update since 2012 • Still provides a good timeline of events • Calendar of Events • Has not been updated • Still provides a good timeline of events • Licensure Road Show and Webinar • Importance of engagement and interaction • Unsure of what these will look like for the future with reduced resources

26. Regional Resources • Licensure Specialists Contacts List • RALC Contacts • Regional PANC Meetings • Participation of licensure contacts • Process to cycle info across the department • RALC Documents • Revised Licensure Guide • Strikethrough version assists with tracking changes • Routes to Teaching Licensure

27. LEA Resources • Request Guides • Tracking Spreadsheets • Process – Integration of HQ Plan in hiring process