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THE
STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT / THE UNIVERSITY
OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK / ALBANY, NY 12234 |
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TO: |
Higher Education and Professional Practice Committee |
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FROM: |
Johanna Duncan-Poitier
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SUBJECT: |
Proposed Amendment to the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education Relating to the Extension in Gifted Education of a Teaching Certificate |
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DATE: |
May 31, 2005 |
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STRATEGIC
GOAL: |
Goals 2 and 3 |
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AUTHORIZATION(S): |
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Summary
Issue for
Discussion
Should the Regents amend sections
52.21(b)(4)(v), 80-4.1(a)(2), and 80-4.3(d) of the Regulations of the
Commissioner of Education, relating to the extension in gifted education of a
teaching certificate?
Reason(s) for
Consideration
Review of
policy.
Proposed
Handling
The proposed amendment is before
the Committee for discussion in June and will be submitted for action at the
July Regents meeting.
Procedural
History
A Notice of Proposed Rule Making
was published in the State Register on May 25, 2005.
Background
Information
The purpose of the proposed
amendment is to clarify and strengthen the education requirements for the
extension of a teaching certificate in gifted education to better align with the
competencies tested in the teacher certification examination for this extension
as articulated in the examination's framework, and defer the implementation of
the requirement for the extension.
The proposed amendment would defer until
September 1, 2006 the implementation of the requirement that a teacher must hold
a gifted education extension of a teaching certificate, or have obtained from
the Department a statement of continued eligibility based upon employment in
this field, in order to provide instruction for gifted pupils in State funded
gifted and talented programs.
This is needed to provide colleges with additional time to develop
teacher preparation programs in this field.
At the present time to meet the education
requirement for the extension in gifted education, a candidate must complete a
registered program leading to the extension or six semester hours of equivalent
coursework in specified subjects.
The Department surveyed the eight registered programs leading to the
gifted education extension and found that all were between nine and 18 semester
hours in length. The amendment
would require candidates seeking to meet the education requirement through
equivalent coursework to complete 12 semester hours of coursework in specified
subjects, rather than six. This is
needed to provide candidates with adequate preparation for the New York State
certification examination and for teaching gifted students. The amendment is also needed to clarify
the content of the education requirement for the extension, ensuring that
coursework is focused specifically on preparing teachers for providing
instruction and support to gifted students.
Recommendation
N/A
Timetable for
Implementation
The effective date of the
proposed amendment is August 11, 2005.
Attachment
AMENDMENT TO THE REGULATIONS OF THE
COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION
Pursuant to
sections 207, 210, 305, 3001, 3004, 3006, 3009, and 3010 of the Education
Law.
1. Subparagraph (v) of paragraph (4) of
subdivision (b) of section 52.21 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of
Education is amended, effective August 11, 2005, as
follows:
(v) Programs
leading to extensions for gifted education for classroom teaching certificates
shall require:
(a) study that
will permit the candidate to obtain the following knowledge, understanding and
skills:
(1) knowledge of
the characteristics of gifted students who learn at a pace and level that
is significantly different from [that of] their classmates[, including but not
limited to gifted students and other high ability
learners];
(2) knowledge of
various tools and methods for identifying and assessing gifted
students [who learn at a pace and level that is significantly different from
that of their classmates], and skill in using [the] such tools and
methods;
(3) knowledge
and understanding of appropriate curriculum design for gifted
students;
[(3)] (4)
knowledge and skills for planning, providing, coordinating, and evaluating
differentiated teaching and learning environments to challenge and assist [all]
gifted students in learning to their highest levels of achievement;
and
[(4)] (5)
skill in collaborating with other school staff, families and the
community to provide appropriate individualized instruction for [all]
gifted students; and
(b)
college-supervised field experiences of at least 50 clock hours teaching
gifted students [who learn at a pace and level that is significantly
different from that of their classmates, including but not limited to gifted
students and other high ability learners].
2.
Paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of section 80-4.1 of the Regulations of
the Commissioner of Education is amended, effective August 11, 2005, as
follows:
(2) On or after
September 1, [2005] 2006, the extension in gifted education shall be
required to authorize a candidate to provide education for gifted pupils, as
such term is defined in section 4452 of the Education Law, within a gifted and
talented program which is funded pursuant to the Education Law and in accordance
with Part 142 of this Title.
3. Subdivision (d) of section 80-4.3 of the
Regulations of the Commissioner of Education is amended, effective August 11,
2005, as follows:
(d) Requirements
for the extension for gifted education.
(1) Effective
September 1, [2005] 2006, this extension shall authorize the candidate to
provide education for gifted pupils, as such term is defined in section 4452 of
the Education Law, within a gifted and talented program which is funded pursuant
to the Education Law and in accordance with Part 142 of this Title.
(2) The candidate
shall meet the requirements in each of the following
subparagraphs:
(i) . .
.
(ii) The
candidate shall complete a program registered pursuant to section 52.21(b)(4)(v)
of this Title, or its equivalent consisting of a total of [six] 12
semester hours of coursework that includes study in each of the following
subjects: knowledge of the characteristics of gifted students who learn at a
pace and level that is significantly different from their classmates; knowledge
of various tools and methods for identifying and assessing gifted
students [who learn at a pace and level that is significantly different from
that of their classmates, including but not limited to gifted students; methods
for providing differentiated teaching and learning environments for such
students] ,and skill in using such tools and methods; knowledge and
understanding of appropriate curriculum design for gifted students; knowledge
and skills for planning, providing, coordinating, and evaluating differentiated
teaching and learning environments to challenge and assist gifted students in
learning to their highest level; and skills for collaborating with other
school staff, families, and the community to provide appropriate
individualized instruction for gifted students. For such equivalent coursework, the
candidate must have achieved at least a C or its equivalent in any undergraduate
level course and at least a B- or its equivalent in any graduate level course in
order for the semester hours associated with that course to be credited toward
meeting this semester hour requirement.
(iii) . . .
(3) Statement of
continued eligibility.
(i) A person
employed in a position in New York State as a teacher within a gifted and
talented program which is funded pursuant to the Education Law and in accordance
with Part 142 of this Title for three years in the period between September 1,
1998 and August 31, [2005] 2006, may be issued a statement of continued
eligibility pursuant to which such person may continue to teach in such a
program without the extension prescribed in this subdivision, provided such
person holds a permanent or professional certificate in the classroom teaching
service.
(ii) . .
.
(iii) . . .