NCPTSC Meeting Minutes June 2005

North Carolina Professional Teaching Standards Commission

June 3-4, 2005 Commission Meeting - UNC Pembroke

Meeting Minutes

Members Present: Joan Celestino, Dave Corsetti, Eddie Davis, Gerald Dillashaw, Felicia Eybl, Brian Freeman, Sarah Holden, Dianne Jackson, Margaret McKinney, Allison Ormond, Eunice Sanders, Delores Parker, Tom Williams, Ruth Wormald

Members Absent: Sheree Covey, Carolyn Williams

Staff Present: Eleanor Goettee, Loretta Peace-Bunch

Guests: Dr. Zoe Locklear, UNC Pembroke, Eric Hirsch, SECTQ

Old Business

I. Update on Projects

A. REAL DEAL School Site Visits:

§ 28 Total

§ 9 Posted

§ 7 being edited

Executive Director requested that all write-ups be posted by the end of June.

B. Survey of elementary planning time – Commission hired retired educator for three weeks to collect data using three sources:

§ Schools scoring 3.5 and higher on the 2004 TWC Survey

§ Information from DPI Spring Survey of Principals

§ Calls to every LEA Superintendent

C. Online Resource Center

Executive Director shared her decision to suspend the Commission’s work on the PD ORC since there is not common agreement on what it should look like or dedicated funds for its development. She has communicated this decision to appropriate entities.

II. Commission Budget: As of this meeting, the Commission has about $15,000 in available funds for the remainder of the fiscal year. This does not include salary and benefits for Commission staff. New monies should be in place July 1, 2005 and any balance in the budget at that point reverts to the state.

Recent encumbrances:

§ Salary for temporary employee

§ Sponsorship of two teachers to the NCTAF conference in July

§ New copier (purchase approved last year)

III. Report on New Teacher Center Symposium

Dave Corsetti and Joan Celestino gave an overview of the NTC Model of Teacher Induction. This information came as a result of their attending the NTC Symposium in January, along with Sheree Covey.

New Business

I. NBCT Summit – August 12, Greensboro: Dave Corsetti and Felicia Eybl agreed to serve as facilitators (Joan Celestino had already agreed to do so). Topic for the summit is “ Supporting and Staffing High – Needs Schools”

II. Executive Director Performance Review - Status Report:

A. ‘04-’05 Performance Review approved by the Executive Committee and Jane Worsham – on file at DPI

B. ’05 – ’06 Upcoming Performance Review – Executive Director has targeted “Advocacy for the Profession” as her area of focus for the coming year.

III. Calendar for Coming Year

§ September 25-26, 2005 – Commission Retreat in Edenton

§ January 28, 2006 – Commission Meeting - Raleigh

§ June 3, 2006 - Commission Meeting - Elon University

§ Beginning in January 2006, Commission meeting will be held all day Saturday with an optional Friday night dinner.

IV. Opportunities for Commission

A. Request from DPI for Commission members to sit on a panel for lateral entry candidates appealing their non-teaching work experience as credit.

§ Members voted unanimously to serve in this role – Executive Director will communicate this to Kathy Sullivan at DPI

B. Survey of interest among Commission members for our participation in the Teacher Education Program Approval Process

§ Members voted unanimously to pursue training to equip them to sit on program approval teams. Executive Director will communicate this to Kathy Sullivan at DPI.

V. Review of License Renewal Requirement: As per request for Kathy Sullivan at DPI, Commission members received current SBE policy on License Renewal and offered edits. The two major suggestions are to:

1. Expand grades K-8 to grades K-12 for teachers’ required training in reading methods.

2. Expand reading to include literacy. A copy of the Commission’s recommendations is attached.

VI. Next Steps for Commission involvement with TWC initiative

Develop marketing plan

§ Check into hiring a consultant/using a graduate student

§ Communicate upcoming survey through: NBCT, DTF, School Boards, TOY (TOY Symposium), PANC conference, School Administrators Conference, Teachers List Serve, Principals list serve, SIT, Teacher organizations, NCCBI, NCBCE

Executive Director will investigate hiring a consultant and report to Commission.

VII. Expanding role of Commission in advocating for the profession

A. Commission:

§ Reviewed current pending legislation related to education

§ Discussed various bills and agreed to submit letters of support to legislators regarding:

1. HB 1151 Planning Time and Duty Free Lunch for Teachers (Felicia Ebyl to send draft of statement to Executive Director)

2. HB 563 Community College May train Lateral Entry Teachers (Delores Parker to send draft of statement to Executive Director)

B. Other suggested action for Commission members:

§ Communicate with individual legislators, acquaint them with work of the Commission

§ Get training in how to effectively lobby

§ Invite legislators to visit classrooms in the fall

VIII. Possible Programs for September Retreat

A. Teachers Education Program Approval Training

B. Training in how to lobby

C. Presentation from Tom Williams and Dave Bennett on their participation in NCTAF study on cost of Teacher turnover

D. Training in creating action plans from TWC survey data for schools and communities

E. Work session on marketing of ’06 TWC survey

Policy Identification
Priority:  Quality Teachers, Administrators, and Staff
Category:  Licensure
Policy ID Number:  QP-A-005

Other Historical Information: Previous board dates: 01/14/1998, 07/09/1998, 01/09/2003

Continuing licenses shall be issued with five-year renewal cycles. Holders must renew their licenses at the end of each five-year period. Credit earned for renewal purposes shall apply to the person’s license field(s) and professional duties.

Renewal or reinstatement of a license shall be based on 15 units of renewal credit. A unit of credit shall be equal to one-quarter hour or two-thirds of a semester hour of IHE credit, ten clock hours of professional development, or one school year of teaching experience. (Commission agrees that this should stand)

Five-year renewal cycles shall be initially based on the completion of credit requirements to qualify for licensure, the completion of licensure renewal requirements, or a valid license held from another state. New five-year renewal cycles are established for continuing licenses when an expired license is renewed. A new five-year renewal cycle also is established upon the completion of program requirements for converting an initial license to continuing status.

LEA employees shall maintain an individual growth plan. During each five-year cycle, individuals shall participate in professional development activities based on levels(s) of expertise, from beginning to accomplished, in the areas of content knowledge, content pedagogy, assessment, diverse learners, leadership, technology, and others. Teachers should plan their own professional development; however, an LEA may require a minimum number of hours in integrating technology to improve student learning. (And, should the reading requirement for teachers remain we recommend a couple of changes: as follows in red)Individuals teaching kindergarten through twelfth (replaces “eighth”) grade must complete three renewal credits in either: 1. reading methods courses; or

2. courses intended to develop student literacy during each five-year renewal cycle.

This requirement applies to individuals renewing their licenses on or after July 1, 2003.

c) earning National Board for Professional Teaching Standards certification or completion of the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards certification process;

d) completion of activities that meet the following criteria (one unit of renewal credit per ten clock hours):

i. The activity shall be delivered in a minimum of 10 clock hours over time with on-the-job application, feedback, and follow-up.

ii. The activity shall have identified goals and objectives that are designed to increase knowledge or skills in the person’s license area or job assignment.

iii. The activity shall include focused content and instruction that are sequenced to develop specified competencies of a specific population.

iv. The activity shall be conducted by instructional personnel approved by the sponsoring school unit or employer.

v. The activity shall include a focused evaluation designed to gauge the change in learner knowledge or skill and to guide the development of future programs.

e) independent study of no more than five units of renewal credit per five-year period which meets the following criteria:

i. Teachers and other licensed personnel help to develop local independent study procedures which the superintendent shall keep on file and periodically send to each licensed employee; and

ii. The employee and the superintendent or his or her designee shall plan the experience in advance, including identification of competencies to be acquired and an evaluation to determine satisfactory achievement of those competencies.

LEAs and governing boards of schools shall assure that all local courses, workshops, and independent study activities which do not carry IHE credit meet the standards contained in this policy. LEAs must adopt a procedure to determine the appropriateness of credit in advance of renewal activities. In determining appropriateness, the LEA must consider direct relationship to critical job responsibilities, school improvement plans, and SBE strategic priorities to properly establish credit for the activity. Each LEA must report on participation in and effectiveness of professional development to the North Carolina Professional Teaching Standards Commission on an annual basis. – Delete this statement

LEAs may develop an alternative license renewal plan that is competency-based and results-oriented. The plan must describe the connection among professional development, the school improvement plan, and the individual’s license area or job responsibilities through processes such as peer review and annual evaluation. The plan may waive specific hour requirements that a licensed employee must meet and focus instead on knowledge and skill acquired by participants. The plan must include outcome measures and must be submitted to the Department for review in advance of its implementation.

Persons who hold a NC license but who are not currently employed in the public schools or by governing boards of approved nonpublic schools may earn renewal credit through college or university coursework, or local courses and workshops on the same basis as currently employed persons. The Licensure Section shall evaluate the appropriateness of the credits.