(a) receive a satisfactory score on the written assessment of teaching skills after receipt of his/her score on the Library Specialist teacher performance assessment and prior to [September 30, 2019] December 31, 2021; or

(b) pass the written assessment of teaching skills on or before April 30, 2014 (before the new certification examination requirements became effective), provided the candidate has taken and failed the Library Specialist teacher performance assessment prior to [September 30, 2019] December 31, 2021.

1. STATUTORY AUTHORITY:

Education Law 101 (not subdivided) charges the Department with the general management and supervision of all public schools and all of the educational work of the state.

Education Law 207 (not subdivided) grants general rule-making authority to the Regents to carry into effect State educational laws and policies.

Education Law 210 (not subdivided) authorizes the Regents to register domestic and foreign institutions in terms of New York standards.

Education Law 305(1) authorizes the Commissioner to enforce laws relating to the State educational system and execute Regents educational policies. Section 305(2) provides the Commissioner with general supervision over schools and authority to advise and guide school district officers in their duties and the general management of their schools.

Education Law 3001 establishes the qualifications of teachers in the classroom.

Education Law 3004(1) authorizes the Commissioner to promulgate regulations governing the certification requirements for teachers employed in public schools.

Education Law 3009 prohibits school district money from being used to pay the salary of an unqualified teacher.

2. LEGISLATIVE OBJECTIVES:

The purpose of the proposed amendment to Section 80-1.5 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education is to extend the edTPA safety net for candidates who receive a failing score on the Library Specialist edTPA. The edTPA is a requirement for certification in the classroom teaching service for most candidates in New York State. This national teacher performance assessment evaluates candidates’ ability to plan, implement, and assess lessons. The Stanford Center for Assessment, Learning, and Equity (SCALE) developed the edTPA handbooks that describe the tasks to be performed and updates the handbooks annually in response to candidate performance data and feedback from educator preparation programs across the country.

Candidates who receive a failing score on the Library Specialist edTPA may take advantage of the safety net through September 30, 2019. The Department is proposing to extend the safety net expiration date until December 31, 2021.

The proposed safety net expiration date allows candidates to be held harmless during the continued use of the current Library Specialist edTPA while school library preparation programs transition to the updated Library Specialist edTPA. Candidates would be able to take the ATS-W if they do not earn a passing score on the current Library Specialist edTPA and during the first few months of the implementation of the updated Library Specialist edTPA. By December 31, 2021, candidates and school library preparation programs will be familiar with the updated Library Specialist edTPA handbook.

3. NEEDS AND BENEFITS:

The Department is proposing to extend the safety net expiration date for candidates who receive a failing score on the Library Specialist edTPA from September 30, 2019 to December 31, 2021 while SCALE revises the edTPA Library Specialist handbook. By extending the expiration date, the proposed safety net expiration date allows candidates to be held harmless during the continued use of the current Library Specialist edTPA while school library preparation programs transition to the updated Library Specialist edTPA. Candidates would be able to take the ATS-W if they do not earn a passing score on the current Library Specialist edTPA and during the first few months of the implementation of the updated Library Specialist edTPA.

4. COSTS:

a. Costs to State government: The amendments do not impose any costs on State government, including the State Education Department.

b. Costs to local government: The amendments do not impose any costs on local government.

c. Costs to private regulated parties: The amendment do not impose any costs on private regulated parties.

d. Costs to regulating agency for implementation and continued administration: See above.

5. LOCAL GOVERNMENT MANDATES:

The proposed amendment does not impose any additional program, service, duty or responsibility upon any local government.

6. PAPERWORK:

The proposed amendment does not impose any additional paperwork requirements.

7. DUPLICATION:

The proposed amendment does not duplicate existing State or Federal requirements.

8. ALTERNATIVES:

Because the State believes that uniform certification standards are required across the State, no alternatives were considered.

9. FEDERAL STANDARDS:

There are no applicable Federal standards.

10. COMPLIANCE SCHEDULE:

If adopted as an emergency action by the Board of Regents at its July 2019 meeting, the proposed amendment will become effective on July 31, 2019.

This proposed amendment applies to all individuals in New York State who pursue a Library Media Specialist certificate in the classroom teaching service. Because it is evident from the nature of the proposed amendment that it does not affect small businesses or local governments, no further steps were needed to ascertain that fact and none were taken. Accordingly, a regulatory flexibility analysis for small businesses is not required and one has not been prepared.

1. TYPES AND ESTIMATED NUMBERS OF RURAL AREAS:

This proposed amendment applies to all individuals in New York State who pursue a Library Media Specialist certificate in the classroom teaching service, including those located in the 44 rural counties with fewer than 200,000 inhabitants and the 71 towns and urban counties with a population density of 150 square miles or less.

2. REPORTING, RECORDKEEPING AND OTHER COMPLIANCE REQUIREMENTS; AND PROFESSIONAL SERVICES:

The purpose of the proposed amendment to Section 80-1.5 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education is to extend the edTPA safety net for candidates who receive a failing score on the Library Specialist edTPA. The edTPA is a requirement for certification in the classroom teaching service for most candidates in New York State. This national teacher performance assessment evaluates candidates’ ability to plan, implement, and assess lessons. The Stanford Center for Assessment, Learning, and Equity (SCALE) developed the edTPA handbooks that describe the tasks to be performed and updates the handbooks annually in response to candidate performance data and feedback from educator preparation programs across the country.

Candidates who do not pass the edTPA may take advantage of the safety net through September 30, 2019. For the safety net, teacher candidates must have passed the Assessment of Teaching Skills – Written (ATS-W) after receiving their failing edTPA score on or before April 30, 2014.

The Department is proposing to extend the safety net expiration date for candidates who receive a failing score on the Library Specialist edTPA from September 30, 2019 to December 31, 2021 while SCALE revises the edTPA Library Specialist handbook. By extending the expiration date, the safety net will be available to candidates who use the current edTPA Library Specialist handbook and give them time to take the ATS-W if they do not earn a passing score. The safety net enables candidates to be held harmless during the handbook revision process.

3. COSTS:

The proposed amendment does not impose any costs on teacher certification candidates and/or the New York State school districts/BOCES who wish to hire them.

4. MINIMIZING ADVERSE IMPACT:

The Department believes that uniform standards for certification must be established across the State. Therefore, no alternatives were considered for those located in rural areas of the State.

5. RURAL AREA PARTICIPATION:

Copies of the proposed amendments have been provided to Rural Advisory Committee for review and comment.

This proposed amendment applies to all individuals in New York State who pursue a Library Media Specialist certificate in the classroom teaching service. Because it is evident from the nature of the proposed amendment that it will have no impact on the number of jobs or employment opportunities in New York State, no further steps were needed to ascertain that fact and none were taken.