January 2018 
Georgia Professional Standards Commission Meeting
January 2018
The following topics were discussed during the Georgia Professional Standards Commission's (GaPSC) monthly meeting for January.
Ethics Division

The certificate of a substitute teacher who admitted to drinking alcohol on the way to school/work was suspended for two years. A student injured his finger while under the supervision of the educator, who was allegedly intoxicated at the time.
Certification Division

The GaPSC initiated changes to seven certification rules:
 
505-2-.02         Classification
It was proposed that this rule be amended to change the associate's degree equivalent from fifty-four to sixty semester hours.
 
505-2-.04         Induction Certificate
It was proposed that this rule be changed to clarify the circumstances under which an Induction Pathway 4 certificate may be reissued.
 
502-2-.18         Paraprofessional License
It was proposed that this rule be changed to clarify that coursework needed to meet the semester hour associate's degree equivalent requirement must be above the remedial level and earned with a grade of "C" or better.
 
505-2-.23         Certificate of Eligibility
It was proposed that this rule be amended to clarify that the Certificate of Eligibility is not issued for Induction Pathway 4 certifications.
 
505-2-.43         Annual Performance Evaluation
It was proposed that this rule be amended to include Clearance certificate-holders in the definition of "certificated personnel."
 
505-2-.87         Healthcare Science
It was proposed that this rule be amended to add the Ethics Entry assessment as a requirement for issuance of the Induction Pathway 4 certification.
 
505-2-.90         Career and Technical Specializations
It was proposed that this rule be changed to remove the National Construction Career Test as a requirement for Construction and Welding certification and add the Ethics Entry assessment as a requirement for the Induction certification.

Educator Preparation Division

The GaPSC initiated an amendment to one educator preparation rule:
 
505-3-.02         Educator Preparation Provider Annual Reporting and Evaluation
It was proposed that this rule be changed to reflect revisions to Preparation Program Effectiveness Measures ("PPEMs"), particularly the weighting of specific measures for teacher and leader preparation programs. 
   
The Commission granted Continuing Approval of the educator preparation provider and the following educator preparation programs at Toccoa Falls College:
  • Early Childhood Education (P-5; Baccalaureate)
  • Early Childhood Education (P-5; Certification-only)
  • English (6-12; Baccalaureate)
  • English (6-12; Certification-only)
  • ESOL Endorsement
  • History (6-12; Baccalaureate)
  • History (6-12; Certification-only)
  • Middle Grades: Language Arts (4-8;Baccalaureate)
  • Middle Grades: Language Arts (4-8;Certification-only)
  • Middle Grades: Social Science (4-8;Baccalaureate)
  • Middle Grades: Social Science (4-8;Certification-only)
  • Middle Grades: Mathematics (4-8;Baccalaureate)
  • Middle Grades: Mathematics (4-8;Certification-only)
  • Middle Grades: Science (4-8;Baccalaureate)
  • Middle Grades: Science (4-8;Certification-only)
  • Music Education (P-12; Baccalaureate)
  • Music Education (P-12; Certification-only)
  • Reading Endorsement
  • Science (6-12; Baccalaureate)
  • Science (6-12; Certification-only)
Leonard Williams
Staff Attorney
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