1. Section 80-5.22 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education shall be amended as follows:

§ 80-5.22 Transitional G certificate for career changers and others holding a graduate or higher degree [in science, technology, engineering or mathematics] in any area for which there is a certificate title and with at least two years of acceptable post-secondary teaching experience in any area for which there is a certificate title or in a closely related subject area acceptable to the department.

(a) General requirements.

(1) . . .

(2) Limitations. The transitional G shall authorize a candidate to teach only in a school district for which a commitment for employment has been made. The candidate shall meet the requirements in each of the following paragraphs.

(i) Education. A candidate shall hold a graduate degree in the area of a certificate title [in science, technology, engineering or mathematics] from a regionally or nationally accredited institution of higher education, a higher education institution that the commissioner deems substantially equivalent, or from an institution authorized by the Board of Regents to confer degrees. A candidate shall complete study in the means for identifying and reporting suspected child abuse and maltreatment, which shall include at least two clock hours of coursework or training in the identification and reporting of suspected child abuse or maltreatment in accordance with the requirements of section 3004 of the Education Law. In addition, the candidate shall complete at least two clock hours of coursework or training in school violence prevention and intervention, as required by section 3004 of the Education Law, which is provided by a provider approved or deemed approved by the department pursuant to Subpart 57-2 of this Title. A candidate who applies for the certificate on or after December 31, 2013, shall also complete at least six clock hours, of which at least three hours must be conducted through face-to-face instruction, of coursework or training in harassment, bullying and discrimination prevention and intervention, as required by section 14 of the Education Law.

(ii) Post-secondary teaching experience. The candidate shall submit evidence of at least two years of satisfactory teaching experience at the post-secondary level in the certificate area to be taught or in a closely related subject area acceptable to the department; provided, however, that such experience must have been completed within 10 years immediately preceding the application for a Transitional G certificate.

(iii) . . .

2. Item (iii) of subclause (2) of clause (c) of subparagraph (ii) of paragraph (2) of subdivision (b) of section 52.21 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education shall be amended to read as follows:

(iii) Upon written application by the institution, the commissioner may grant a time- limited approval for an alternate model for field experiences and college-supervised student teaching or practica, provided that the institution demonstrates the success of such model or has an adequate plan for demonstrating that the model will be successful. In the case of alternate models that include college-supervised student teaching conducted when a candidate is employed by a school district or BOCES under a pre-professional teaching assistant certificate pursuant to Part 80 of this Title, the institution and employing school district or BOCES will provide candidate(s) holding such certificate with the same and/or similar student teaching experience as required under this section while employed at the school district or BOCES. No approval from the commissioner is required for such alternate models nor shall they be time limited.

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 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 3006 authorizes the Commissioner to issue certificates.

2. LEGISLATIVE OBJECTIVES:

The purpose of the proposed amendment to Section 52.21 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education is to eliminate the requirement that a candidate pursuing a Transitional G certificate have a degree and postsecondary teaching experience only in a science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) field. The amendment allows those with degrees and postsecondary experience in any area for which there is a certificate title to obtain a Transitional G certificate.

The purpose of the proposed amendment to 80-5.22 of the Regulations of the Commissioner is to allow a pre-professional teaching assistant who is employed in a school district or BOCES to complete their student teaching experience or practica required under Section 52.21 while employed under the certificate, provided that the institution ensures that the candidate receives the same and/or similar student teaching experience as prescribed in Section 52.21 of the Regulations.

3. NEEDS AND BENEFITS:

Transitional G Teaching Certificate:

A transitional G teaching certificate is a certificate issued to career changers and others holding a graduate degree or higher in STEM who have had at least two years of acceptable postsecondary teaching experience and who possess an employment and support commitment from a school district. Currently, this certificate is only applicable in the STEM fields.

Pre-Professional Teaching Assistant Certificate:

A pre-professional teaching assistant certificate is issued to an individual enrolled in a New York State teacher education program, authorizing the certificate holder to provide direct instructional services to students under the general supervision of a New York State certified teacher. This certificate is valid for five years and may lead to an initial teaching certificate or a renewal of the pre-professional teaching certificate. Currently, if a pre-professional teaching assistant certificate holder completes the requirements for the initial certificate, he/she must complete a student teaching or practica experience as a part of a registered teacher preparation program, as required by Section 52.21 of the Regulations.

Proposed Amendment

Transitional G Teaching Certificate:

The proposed amendment to Section 80-5.22 eliminates the requirement that a candidate pursuing a Transitional G certificate have a degree and acceptable postsecondary teaching experience only in a STEM field and expands the option to postsecondary faculty with degrees and acceptable postsecondary teaching experience in all certificate areas for which there is a need for a temporary certificate while they complete the requirements for an initial certificate. The proposed amendment also clarifies that the two years of acceptable postsecondary teaching experience required to obtain a Transitional G certificate must have been completed within 10 years immediately preceding the application for the certificate.

Pre-Professional Teaching Assistant Certificate:

The proposed amendment to Section 52.21 enables those who hold a pre-professional teaching assistant certificate to complete the student teaching or practica experience required in Section 52.21 of the Regulations while employed under the pre-professional certificate, provided that the institution ensures that the candidate receives the same and/or similar student teaching experience as prescribed in Section 52.21of the Regulations at the location of the candidate’s employment. This change is to accommodate candidates who are employed under a pre-professional teaching assistant certificate in a school district or BOCES while completing the student teaching component of their educator preparation program.

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 amendments 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 amendments do not impose any additional program, service, duty or responsibility upon any local government.

6. PAPERWORK:

The proposed amendments do not impose any additional paperwork requirements.

7. DUPLICATION:

The proposed amendments do not duplicate existing State or Federal requirements.

8. ALTERNATIVES:

No alternatives were considered.

9. FEDERAL STANDARDS:

There are no applicable Federal standards.

10. COMPLIANCE SCHEDULE:

It is anticipated that the proposed amendment will be adopted as a permanent rule by the Board of Regents at its February 2018 meeting. If adopted at the February 2018 meeting, the proposed amendment will become effective on February 28, 2018.

The purpose of the proposed amendment to Section 52.21 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education is to eliminate the requirement that a candidate pursuing a Transitional G certificate have a degree and postsecondary teaching experience only in a science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) field. The amendment allows those with degrees and postsecondary experience in any area for which there is a certificate title to obtain a Transitional G certificate.

The purpose of the proposed amendment to 80-5.22 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education is to allow a pre-professional teaching assistant who is employed in a school district or BOCES to complete their student teaching experience or practica required under Section 52.21 while employed under the certificate, provided that the institution ensures that the candidate receives the same and/or similar student teaching experience as prescribed in Section 52.21 of the Regulations.

The amendments do not impose any new recordkeeping or other compliance requirements, and will not have an adverse economic impact, on local governments or small businesses. 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 one were taken. Accordingly, a regulatory flexibility analysis for small businesses and local governments is not required and one has not been prepared.

1. TYPES AND ESTIMATED NUMBER OF RURAL AREAS:

This proposed amendment applies to all individuals in New York State pursuing a Transitional G certificate and those employed under a pre-professional teaching assistant certificate, 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:

Transitional G Teaching Certificate:

A transitional G teaching certificate is a certificate issued to career changers and others holding a graduate degree or higher in science, technology, engineering, or math (STEM) who have had at least two years of acceptable postsecondary teaching experience and who possess an employment and support commitment from a school district. Currently, this certificate is only applicable in the STEM fields.

Pre-Professional Teaching Assistant Certificate:

A pre-professional teaching assistant certificate is issued to an individual enrolled in a New York State teacher education program, authorizing the certificate holder to provide direct instructional services to students under the general supervision of a New York State certified teacher. This certificate is valid for five years and may lead to an initial teaching certificate or a renewal of the pre-professional teaching certificate. Currently, if a pre-professional teaching assistant certificate holder completes the requirements for the initial certificate, he/she must complete a student teaching or practica experience as a part of a registered teacher preparation program, as required by Section 52.21 of the Regulations.

Proposed Amendment

Transitional G Teaching Certificate:

The proposed amendment to Section 80-5.22 eliminates the requirement that a candidate pursuing a Transitional G certificate have a degree and acceptable postsecondary teaching experience only in a STEM field and expands the option to postsecondary faculty with degrees and acceptable postsecondary teaching experience in all certificate areas for which there is a need for a temporary certificate while they complete the requirements for an initial certificate. The proposed amendment also clarifies that the two years of acceptable postsecondary teaching experience required to obtain a Transitional G certificate must have been completed within 10 years immediately preceding the application for the certificate.

Pre-Professional Teaching Assistant Certificate:

The proposed amendment to Section 52.21 enables those who hold a pre-professional teaching assistant certificate to complete the student teaching or practica experience required in Section 52.21 of the Regulations while employed under the pre-professional certificate, provided that the institution ensures that the candidate receives the same and/or similar student teaching experience as prescribed in Section 52.21of the Regulations at the location of the candidate’s employment. This change is to accommodate candidates who are employed under a pre-professional teaching assistant certificate in a school district or BOCES while completing the student teaching component of their educator preparation program.

3. COSTS:

The proposed amendments do 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 proposed amendments create no adverse impact and in fact, will increase the supply of teachers in the field.

5. RURAL AREA PARTICIPATION:

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

The purpose of the proposed amendment to Section 52.21 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education is to eliminate the requirement that a candidate pursuing a Transitional G certificate have a degree and postsecondary teaching experience only in a science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) field. The amendment allows those with degrees and postsecondary experience in any area for which there is a certificate title to obtain a Transitional G certificate.

The purpose of the proposed amendment to 80-5.22 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education is to allow a pre-professional teaching assistant who is employed in a school district or BOCES to complete their student teaching experience or practica required under Section 52.21 while employed under the certificate, provided that the institution ensures that the candidate receives the same and/or similar student teaching experience as prescribed in Section 52.21 of the Regulations.

Because it is evident from the nature of the proposed amendments that they 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. In fact, the amendment related to the Transitional G certificate may help districts attract qualified candidates into positions that need to be filled.