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THE
STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT / THE UNIVERSITY
OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK / ALBANY, NY 12234 |
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TO: |
The Honorable the Members of the Board
of Regents |
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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: |
June 27,
2005
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STRATEGIC
GOAL: |
Goals 2
and 3
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AUTHORIZATION(S): |
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SUMMARY
Issue for
Decision (Consent Agenda)
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 being submitted for
approval at the July 2005 meeting of the Board of
Regents.
Procedural
History
The proposed amendment was discussed at the
June 2005 meeting of the Board of Regents.
A Notice of Proposed Rule Making concerning the proposed amendment 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
I recommend that the Board of Regents take
the following action:
VOTED: That subparagraph (v) of paragraph (4)
of subdivision (b) of section 52.21, paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of section
80-4.1, and subdivision (d) of section 80-4.3 of the Regulations of the
Commissioner of Education be amended, as submitted, effective August 11,
2005.
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) . . .
