Highly Qualified Requirements (General Education and SPED) CSI Orientation

June 2015

Presented by: Glennon Stratton and Matt Hudson

Webinar Protocol

• All participants will be muted during the presentation

• If you have questions while the presentation is taking place, please type them into the chat box and I will address them at an appropriate time

• I will unmute all lines during the Question and Answer time

• This webinar is being recorded and will be posted to the CSI Website

Agenda

• Title I Federal Compliance Requirements

• HQ Requirements for schools

• HQ Requirements for teachers and paras

• Elementary

• Secondary

• 6th & 7/8 (middle)

• EDIS

• Documentation

• Resources

• SPED HQ

Federal Compliance Requirements

1. Principal Attestation

2. Parent Right to Know

3. Four Week Rule

Title I School Designation

Determined by CSI Federal Programs based on percentage of students who qualify for free or reduced price meals and years of operation.

Currently, 35% or more must qualify as FRL to be Title I

• School Wide

• Targeted Assistance – Year 1 schools are eligible for TA Only if they meet the 35% FRL requirement.

• Not served

Highly Qualified Requirements

Title I School Wide schools must have all teachers HQ upon hire

Title I Part A funds recipient - Targeted Assistance

Teachers paid with funds must be HQ upon hire

All others can have a plan for HQ by the end of the school year

Schools not receiving any Title I money must have HQ teachers, but teachers can have a plan to become HQ by the end of the school year

The only exceptions are PE, Technology, and Business Teachers

HQ compliance is confirmed through Title I requirements (Principal Attestation) and the Human Resources Snapshot Report.

Principal Attestation

Annually, principals must verify, in writing, that their school is in compliance with ESEA §1119.

ESEA §1119 defines the requirements for Highly Qualified (HQ) Teachers and Paraprofessionals.

Because CSI receives Title IA funds as a local educational agency (LEA), all CSI-authorized schools must comply with the Principal Attestation requirement.

The Principal Attestation form is due to CSI on Friday, September 18th, 2015

Principal Attestation The form is posted on the CSI Website the School Resources

tab.

http://www.csi.state.co.us/school_resources/federal_programs/highly_qualified

Principal Attestation – Form Elements 1. Title I Schoolwide: All teachers teaching core academic subject areas (i.e., reading/English/language arts, math, science, social studies, foreign language, art, music, drama) are highly qualified. This includes the hiring of new teachers and ensuring that they meet the ESEA HQ requirements. Title I Targeted Assistance: All teachers teaching core academic subject areas (i.e., reading/English/language arts, math, science, social studies, foreign language, art, music, drama) being paid out of Title I funds are highly qualified. Please mark “yes” if a new, non-HQ teacher is currently on a plan to become HQ during the first year of employment (not receiving Title I funds). Non-Title I Schools: Please mark “yes” if a new, non-HQ teacher is currently on a plan to become HQ during the first year of employment. If “no,” how many teachers are not highly qualified? _____

Principal Attestation – Form Elements 2. All teachers teaching in a program supported by Title I, Part A funds are highly qualified.

Non-Title I Schools: Please leave this section blank.

Principal Attestation – Form Elements 3. All Title I, Part A paraprofessionals with instructional duties teaching in a program supported by Title I, Part A funds, have a high school diploma or its equivalent and meet the Title I, Part A qualifications based on their (1) completion of 2 years of education at an institution of higher education, or (2) earning an associate’s (or higher) degree, or (3) having met a rigorous standard of quality through a formal local academic assessment that assesses the knowledge of and the ability to assist in instructing reading, writing, and mathematics; or the knowledge of and the ability to assist in instructing reading readiness, writing readiness, and mathematics readiness, as appropriate.

If “no,” how many paraprofessionals do not meet the Title I, Part A qualifications? _____

Principal Attestation – Form Elements 4. Copies of this Attestation are available at the school and LEA office (CSI) and will be made available to the general public upon request.

Principal Attestation

13

Complete forms must be:

Maintained at each school;

Maintained at the CSI office;

Available to any member of the general public upon request.

Maintaining an electronic copy is acceptable.

A fully executed copy of the form is due to CSI by 9/18/2015.

PARENTS RIGHT TO KNOW

Parents Right to Know

At the beginning of each academic year, schools must notify parents of the right to know the professional qualifications of their child(ren)’s classroom teacher.

Required by ESEA §1111(h)(6).

Because CSI receives Title IA funds as a local educational agency (LEA), all CSI-authorized schools, regardless of Title I status, must comply with the Parents Right to Know requirement.

Parents Right to Know

Highlights

Parents must be notified at the beginning of each academic year.

Notification must be in an understandable and uniform format and in a language that the parent can understand.

Notification ideas:

Letter

Student Handbook

NOTE: notification cannot just be posted online.

Parents Right to Know

A sample form is posted on the CSI Website in the School Resources Tab. http://www.csi.state.co.us/school_resources/federal_programs/highly_qualified

Evidence of compliance for 2014-15 is due to CSI by 9/18/15.

Four Week Rule

• If a student in a Title I school is being instructed -- for longer than four weeks -- by a teacher/substitute teacher who does not meet the HQ requirements, a letter informing students’ parents of this information must be sent, in a timely manner. This sanction applies to core content teachers in all Title I schools --regardless of whether the school runs a Targeted Assistance or Schoolwide program.

• Applies to Title I Schools Only

• Sample Form Posted here: • http://www.csi.state.co.us/school_resources/federal_programs/h

ighly_qualified

HIGHLY QUALIFIED

Highly Qualified Teacher Requirements

1. Degree

2. License

3. Subject Matter Competency

Highly Qualified Teachers

Degree: Bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited university

Foreign transcripts must be “translated” into US equivalencies for a Bachelor’s Degree

Highly Qualified Teachers

License • All CSI schools are waived from this requirement

• Waiver must be kept up to date

• Degree and Subject Matter Competency still required

• License Waiver does not apply to SPED teachers in charter schools

Highly Qualified Teachers

Just because a teacher has a license or a license with an endorsement in elementary, does not necessarily mean they are HQ in elementary!

Subject Matter Competency for Elementary (K-6) Teachers

• Core content teachers (math, science, writing, reading, social studies)

• Pass a recognized Elementary Education content assessment (PLACE or PRAXIS II) (approved out of state test) OR

• Pass the elementary HOUSSE provision for veteran teachers

• Specials teachers (foreign language, art, drama, music)

• Pass a recognized Elementary Education content assessment (PLACE or PRAXIS II) (approved out of state test) OR

• Pass the elementary HOUSSE provision for veteran teachers OR

• Complete 24 hours of coursework in teaching subject area or have a degree in the subject area or have an endorsement or pass the PLACE or Praxis II exam for the teaching subject area

• PE, Technology, and business teachers need not be HQ

Highly Qualified Teachers-Elementary

Subject Matter Competency for Secondary (6-12) Teachers One of the following that matches the subject area assignment:

• Bachelor’s degree or higher

• Subject area content assessment (PLACE, PRAXIS II or National Board Content Assessment)

• Endorsement

• National Board Certification

• 24 hours of coursework or PD (includes specific requirements)

• Pass a multi-subject HOUSSE

Highly Qualified Teachers-Secondary

Middle Schools and Subject Matter Competency • 6th Grade: If a 6th grade teacher is teaching in a general elementary

setting, the teacher must meet the elementary requirements to be Highly Qualified. In contrast, if a 6th grade teacher teaches in a traditional middle school setting, where the teacher is a content specialist, then the teacher has the option of meeting the elementary or secondary Highly Qualified requirements.

• 7th and 8th Grade: If a 7th and 8th grade teacher is teaching in a setting similar to an elementary classroom (i.e., teaching three or more core content classes to the same set of students), then the teacher may meet the elementary Highly Qualified requirements. In contrast, if the 7th and 8th grade teacher teaches in a traditional middle school setting where the teacher is a content specialist, then the teacher must meet the secondary Highly Qualified requirements.

Highly Qualified Teachers-Middle (or 7-8 in K-8)

Highly Qualified Paraprofessionals

Highly Qualified Paraprofessional:

• High School Diploma or its equivalent (GED)

• Subject Matter Competency • 2 years of college credit

• Para test passed

EDIS Numbers

• Each staff member will be reported on the HR report, and must have an Educator Identifier System (EDIS) number

• Each school will identify an EDIS Contact via the School Contact Identification Form that will be sent to schools next week.

• For questions about this process: Liz Schmit, Office Administrator, LizSchmit@csi.state.co.us 303-866-3299

Contact Information for HQ and Title I

HQ and Title/Federal Programs Questions- Glennon Stratton, Federal Programs Coordinator glennonstratton@csi.state.co.us

Highly Qualified Documentation

Typically, LEAs are required to maintain the evidence, either electronically or in hard copy, that demonstrates that a teacher is Highly Qualified.

Due to the unique nature of CSI, HQ documentation shall be kept at the school level.

Highly Qualified Documentation Documentation should include, but is not limited to, the following:

• Evidence that the teacher has a current license

• A copy of the score report from a content test assessment

• College transcripts and the school transcript review

• Documentation of participation in, and relevance of, professional development

This data will be collected through the December 1 count for both the general HR and SPED HR data collection

Note: If transcript hours are used for subject matter competency purposes, the transcripts or a separate document should demonstrate what hours were counted toward the requirement. CSI follows CDE Guidance on use of course credit.

• http://www.cde.state.co.us/cdeprof/Licensure_addendorsment_info#endorsements

Highly Qualified Documentation

Suggestions for Documentation:

• HQ Checklist and Cover Sheet

• Copy of License

• Copy of Test Results

• Copy of Transcripts

If transcript hours are used for subject matter competency purposes, the transcripts or a separate document should demonstrate what hours were counted toward the requirement.

References

• CSI Highly Qualified Webpage: http://www.csi.state.co.us/school_resources/federal_programs/highly_qualified

• Principal Attestation Form

• CSI Four Week Rule Document

• CSI Parent Right to Know Document

• HQ Checklist and Cover Sheet

• CDE Website: • HQ Handbook

• List of out of state tests

http://www.cde.state.co.us/FedPrograms/tii/a_hqt.asp

References

PLACE Exam Website: http://www.place.nesinc.com/index.asp

PRAXIS Exam Website: http://www.ets.org/praxis/about

Content Tests – Praxis II – Accepted by CDE:

http://www.cde.state.co.us/cdeprof/Licensure_PRAXIS_info.asp

SPECIAL EDUCATION

Special Education Teachers

All Special Education Teachers and Special Service Providers must hold a current License and/or Endorsement in their area (IDEA & ECEA)

Special Education Teachers : Special Education Generalist

For added endorsement: (Content) competency must be demonstrated by:

Documented evidence of 24 semester hours of college level coursework from a regionally accredited college or university in each of these areas (with 2.6 overall degree GPA), which may include a maximum of 6 semester hours of documented professional development or work experience

OR

A passing score on the Special Education Generalist PLACE exam #20

SPED Licensing Requirements

Requirements for a Colorado Initial Special Services License & Specialists i.e. EC, Visual, Deaf/HH, Audiologist, Counselor, Psychologist, Social Work, etc.

• A bachelor’s or higher degree* from a regionally accredited college/university institution,

• Successful completion of a state approved special services preparation program at a regionally accredited institution of higher education, and

• Additional requirements as follows (next page)

*Special Service Provider Requirements: http://www.cde.state.co.us/cdeprof/Licensure_ssp.asp

Special Education Specialists Early Childhood Special Education Specialist, Ages Birth to 8

• PLACE Early Childhood Special Education assessment

• Completion of an approved undergraduate program in early childhood education, or in early childhood special education, and

• Completion of an approved post-baccalaureate, early childhood special education specialist program

Special Education Specialist: Visually Impaired, Ages Birth to 21

Master’s degree or higher in an approved program for the preparation of special education specialists: visually impaired from a regionally accredited institution of higher education

Special Education Specialist: Deaf/Hard of Hearing, Ages Birth to 21

Master’s degree or higher or its equivalent in an approved program for the preparation of special education specialists: deaf/hard of hearing, from regionally accredited institution of higher education

Special Service Providers School Audiologist

• AuD or PhD in School Audiology, and

• Praxis II Audiology exam #10340

School Counselor

• Master's Degree in School Counseling; State approved school counseling program,

• Practicum, and

• PLACE School Counselor exam

School Nurse (option 1)

• Bachelors of Science in Nursing, and

• Valid Colorado Registered Nurse License

School Nurse (option 2)

• Bachelors degree,

• Current national certification in school nursing, and

• Three years of experience in school nursing

Special Service Providers School Occupational Therapist

• Bachelor's Degree

• AOTA accredited occupational therapy program,

• internship or supervised field experience, and

• National exam through NCBOT

School Orientation & Mobility Specialist

• Bachelor's Degree,

• Approved preparation program for school orientation and mobility specialists,

• Practicum,

• ACVREP exam, and

• ACVREP orientation and mobility certificate

School Physical Therapist

• Bachelor's Degree,

• APTA accredited physical therapy program,

• Practicum

• Valid Colorado Physical Therapist License issued by the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies

Special Service Providers School Psychologist

• State approved sixth-year specialist program (60-graduate semester hours) or doctoral program for school psychologist, serving children birth 0-21,

• Internship,

• Praxis II School Psychologist Exam #10401 or NCSP certification (*Prior to 9/13/08 test code #10400)

School Social Worker

• MSW, including coursework in school and special education law;

• Practicum including one placement w/ school aged children; and,

• ASWB Clinical, PLACE School Social Worker exam, or Colorado LCSW issued by the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies

School Speech-Language Pathologist

• Master's Degree in Communication Disorders or Speech-Language Pathology;

• Speech-language pathology program accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation (CAA) in audiology and speech-language pathology of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA);

• Practicum; and

• ASHA certification or Praxis II Speech-Language Pathology Exam #20330

Special Education Compliance

April 1st : All changes in systemic methods of providing special education services must be reported to CSI ES Department (i.e. cancelled contracts with private company & switch to independent contracts).

August 1st (Compliance Checks): All Special Education Staff including Special Education teachers and Related Service providers must be reported to the CSI Department of Exceptional Students (Use Highly Qualified Checklist)

Vacant Personnel Form: Documents Special Education positions that are vacant during the school year and includes an action plan i.e. hiring, interim service delivery plan.

THANK YOU!

Questions?