Division of School Effectiveness Office of Educator Services

1. Division of School Effectiveness Office of Educator Services Presentation to Chief Academic Officers September 5, 2013

2. Guiding Principles • Serve the students of South Carolina • Do what is best for students … student-centered decision making • Treat all people with dignity and respect • Be innovative • Tailor programs and servicesto the unique needs of our customers • Be data-driven • Constantly look for ways to improve • Be good stewards of our resources • Provide services to educator

3. Office of Educator Services Educator Professions Alternative Licensure Licensure

4. Educator Professions • Facilitates the state and national accreditation processes • Partners with the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE), which as of October 22, 2010, began the process of merging with the Teacher Education Accreditation Council (TEAC) to become the Council for the Accreditation of Education Professions (CAEP) • Conducts reviews for 31 educator preparation units and 399 educator preparation programs,  prepares annual reports, and assists the units in meeting state standards  • Collects, analyzes and reports dataon the effectiveness of education preparation graduates for Title II of the Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) • Coordinates the ongoing evolution of policies and regulationsand provides support for deans, faculty and other higher education personnel

5. Educator Professions • Serves as a resource to provide professional support and technical assistance in recruitment and retention to public school districts  • Coordinates Teacher of the Year program including, creating application process, reviewing applications, selecting judges, and coordinating recognition activities  • Serves as the agency’s liaison to recruiting resources • Coordinates International Teacher Program, including establishing relationships with international organizations, drafting memorandums of understanding between participating countries, recruitment and orientation of international teachers. • Reviews operational procedures and makes any necessary modifications, based on analysis of operations and research information. • Works with all proposals for new programs, add on license areas and endorsements.

6. Educator Professions • The International Visiting Teachers Program provides cultural exchange through highly qualified teachers from China, France, India, and Spain and satisfies critical need shortages in math, science, special education, and world languages. • A total of 90 international teachers satisfied critical-need shortage areas in math, science, and special education. As a result, 30 math, 15 science, and 45 special education classrooms were filled with licensed teachers instead of long-term substitutes.

7. Educator Licensure • Evaluation and processing of Initial and Add-onlicensure applications • Advisement and processing related to License Renewaland other updates • Review and processing of licenses for applicants qualifying for National Board Certification • Evaluation and Processing of Program of Alternative Certification for Educators (PACE) licenses

8. Educator LicensureContinued • Evaluation and processing of licenses for otheralternate routes (ABCTE, Adjunct Instructor, Teach for America) • Evaluation and processing of work based licensure requests • Review of fingerprinting and professional practice issues involving licensure applicants • Maintenance of database and website related to Educator Licensure

9. Educator Licensure Application/ Fingerprinting FBI/SLED reports received and reviewed by staff All Clear – proceed with certification advisement Arrest Record – review by CRC All Clear – proceed with certification advisement Not Cleared – Refer to State Board Committee or full Board Approve or deny certification request

10. Accomplishments • Initial application process for licensure now completely on-line • Fingerprinting of student teachers and initial licensure applicants converted to electronic process, resulting in background reports within 24 hours • GOAL: Reduction of Licensure backlog to turnaround time of two weeks or less year-round

11. Relevant Data • Annually • Respond to over 44,000 phone calls • Respond to over 60,000 e-mails • Provide assistance to 1000 walk-incustomers • Process over 60,000 requests/cases • Provide over 255,000 educators with accessto licensure database (89,659 currently licensed and 59,679 employed in SC public schools) • Scan over105,000documents into licensure database

12. Alternative Licensure • South Carolina’s primary alternative route to licensure is PACE. • Targeted toward career changers • Requires a strong background in content • Participants complete a curriculum based on state and national standards • Three-year programleading to professional license • Ranked high in teacher preparation by principals and participants based on survey results • Consistent successful performanceon ADEPT and PLT exam

13. Alternative Licensure • 2000 PACE applications annually • 585 current participants • 74% retention rate over three years • 68% retention rate over five years • 40%of PACE participants are minorities • 44%of PACE participants are male • 174mean score on PLT (passing score 157)

14. Customers • All South Carolina Schools • District Superintendents • Chief Academic Officers • Personnel Directors • Professional Development Coordinators • Title II Contacts • District Technology Directors • Principals • Teachers • Paraprofessionals • Parents • 31 Educator Preparation Colleges of Education • Deans • Faculty and Students • Candidates • Education Decision-Makers

15. Hot Topics • Parklane Road – SC Archives and History • Middle Level Licensure • Jason Flatt Act • Regeneration of PRAXIS exams • New PRAXIS exams in secondary science • Protocols for working with districts • Review of PACE and add-on licensure

16. Questions cvanburen@ed.sc.gov | Office: (803)896-0352 September 5, 2013