Rule 505-2-.153 - Educational Leadership Certificate(1)Summary: Educational Leadership is part of Georgia's tiered certification system and provides a statewide structure to ensure that leaders meet minimum certification requirements and satisfy state leadership effectiveness requirements as defined in the state evaluation system. Georgia issues two (2) tiers of Educational Leadership certificates: Tier I and Tier II, and two (2) titles: Standard and Performance-Based. This rule outlines the requirements for certification at each tier and for each title.(2)Professional Requirements.(a) Standard Professional Educational Leadership - Tier I (Georgia Educator / GaPSC-approved program). 1. Georgia educators completing GaPSC-approved Tier I certification programs must meet the following requirements for a Standard Professional Educational Leadership - Tier I certificate. (i) Complete a GaPSC-approved Tier I educator preparation certification-only or master's degree level program. (I) If a certification-only program is completed the educator must hold a level five (5) or higher certificate prior to enrollment.(ii) Meet the following Special Georgia requirements as outlined in GaPSC Rule 505-2-.24 SPECIAL GEORGIA REQUIREMENTS: (I) Pass the GACE Content assessment.(II) Satisfy the Special Education requirement with a grade of B or better.(III) Pass the GACE Ethics for Educational Leadership assessment.(IV) Meet Standards of Conduct.(iii) Apply for certification following procedures outlined in Rule 505-2-.27 CERTIFICATION AND APPLICATION PROCEDURES. (b) Standard Professional Educational Leadership - Tier I (Reciprocity). 1. Prior to becoming a Georgia educator, individuals applying for initial certification must meet the following requirements for a Standard Professional Educational Leadership - Tier I certificate:(i) Complete a state-approved Educational Leadership certification program at the master's degree level or higher from a GaPSC-accepted accredited institution.(ii) Hold renewable, professional certification in another state or country in a field that is comparable to the GaPSC field of Educational Leadership - Tier I or verify completion of a state-approved Educational Leadership certification program by submission of the Approved Program Completion form.(iii) Have less than three (3) years of successful out-of-state experience in an educational leadership position;(iv) Meet the following Special Georgia requirements as outlined in GaPSC Rule 505-2-.24 SPECIAL GEORGIA REQUIREMENTS: (I) Pass or exempt the GACE Content assessment.(II) Satisfy the Special Education requirement with a grade of B or better. A. Certificate may be issued prior to completion of this requirement; however, the course must be satisfied as part of requirements to renew or convert the certificate.(III) Pass the GACE Ethics for Educational Leadership assessment.(IV) Meet Standards of Conduct.(v) Apply for certification following procedures outlined in Rule 505-2-.27 CERTIFICATION AND APPLICATION PROCEDURES.2. A Performance-Based certificate is not issued in the field of Educational Leadership - Tier I.(c) Performance-Based Professional Educational Leadership - Tier II (Georgia Educator / GaPSC-approved program). 1. Educators completing GaPSC-approved Performance-Based Tier II certification programs must meet the following requirements for a Performance-Based Educational Leadership - Tier II certificate. (i) Hold an Educational Leadership - Tier I certificate or Educational Leadership - Tier II Standard Professional certificate.(ii) Complete a GaPSC-approved Educational Leadership - Tier II educator preparation certification-only, specialist or doctoral degree level program. (I) If a certification-only program is completed the educator must hold a minimum of an Educational Specialist degree prior to enrollment.(iii) Meet the following Special Georgia requirements as outlined in GaPSC Rule 505-2-.24 SPECIAL GEORGIA REQUIREMENTS: (I) Pass the GACE Content assessment.(II) Pass the Performance Assessment for School Leaders (PASL) if completing a Performance-Based program on or after 7/1/17. A. This assessment is not required for individuals completing Building or System -Level Performance-Based Programs.(III) Satisfy the Special Education requirement with a grade of B or better.(IV) Pass the GACE Ethics for Educational Leadership assessment.(V) Meet Standards of Conduct.(iv) Apply for certification following procedures outlined in Rule 505-2-.27 CERTIFICATION AND APPLICATION PROCEDURES.(d) Standard Professional Educational Leadership -Tier II (Reciprocity). 1. Prior to becoming a Georgia educator, individuals applying for initial certification must meet the following requirements for a Standard Professional Educational Leadership - Tier II certificate: (i) Meet one of the following requirements:(I) Complete a state-approved Educational Leadership certification program at the master's degree level or higher from a GaPSC-accepted accredited institution and have three (3) years of successful out-of-state experience in an educational leadership position while holding a professional leadership certificate.(II) Complete a state-approved educational leadership certification program at the specialist or doctoral degree level from a GaPSC-accepted accredited institution and verify completion of the certification program by submission of the Approved Program Completion form or a professional out-of-state certificate.(ii) Meet the following Special Georgia requirements as outlined in GaPSC Rule 505-2-.24 SPECIAL GEORGIA REQUIREMENTS: (I) Pass or exempt the GACE Content assessment.(II) Satisfy the Special Education requirement with a grade of B or better. A. Certificate may be issued prior to completion of this requirement; however, the course must be satisfied as part of requirements to renew or convert the certificate.(III) Pass the GACE Ethics for Educational Leadership assessment.(IV) Meet Standards of Conduct.(iii) Apply for certification following procedures outlined in Rule 505-2-.27 CERTIFICATION AND APPLICATION PROCEDURES.(e) Standard Professional Educational Leadership -Tier II (Legacy). 1. Georgia educators certified prior to September 30, 2009 who completed a state-approved certification program in Educational Leadership at the master's degree level or higher prior to this date, but has never held renewable, professional GaPSC certification in any Educational Leadership field, must meet the following requirements for a Standard Professional Educational Leadership Tier II certificate: (i) Verify completion of a state-approved Educational Leadership certification program at the master's degree level or higher from a GaPSC-accepted accredited institution by submission of a professional out-of-state certificate or the Approved Program Completion form.(ii) Meet the following Special Georgia requirements as outlined in GaPSC Rule 505-2-.24 SPECIAL GEORGIA REQUIREMENTS: (I) Pass or exempt the GACE Content assessment.(II) Satisfy the Special Education requirement with a grade of B or better.(III) Pass the GACE Ethics for Educational Leadership assessment.(IV) Meet Standards of Conduct.(iii) Apply for certification following procedures outlined in Rule 505-2-.27 CERTIFICATION AND APPLICATION PROCEDURES.(3)Non-Renewable Professional Requirements.(a) One (1)-Year Non-Renewable Professional Educational Leadership - Tier I or Educational Leadership - Tier II (Issued to individuals who have not completed renewal requirements).1. Issuance. (i) Hold an expired professional Georgia certificate in the field.(ii) Have the certificate requested by the employing Georgia local unit of administration following procedures outlined in Rule 505-2-.27 CERTIFICATION AND APPLICATION PROCEDURES.2. Conversion. (i) Verify completion of requirements outlined in the renewal rule. (See GaPSC Rule 505-2-.36 RENEWAL REQUIREMENTS).(ii) Apply for conversion following procedures outlined in Rule 505-2-.27 CERTIFICATION AND APPLICATION PROCEDURES.(b) One (1)-Year Non-Renewable Professional Educational Leadership - Tier I or Educational Leadership - Tier II (Issued to individuals who meet initial Georgia certification requirements based on reciprocity, but must satisfy the GACE content assessment). 1. Issuance. (i) Hold a professional out-of-state certificate in the field of Educational Leadership.(ii) Pass the GACE Ethics for Educational Leadership assessment.(iii) Have the certificate requested by the employing Georgia local unit of administration following procedures outlined in Rule 505-2-.27 CERTIFICATION AND APPLICATION PROCEDURES.2. Conversion. (i) Pass or exempt the GACE Content assessment.(ii) Apply for conversion following procedures outlined in GaPSC Rule 505-2-.27 CERTIFICATION AND APPLICATION PROCEDURES.(c) Three (3)-Year Non-Renewable Professional Educational Leadership - Tier I (Issued to individuals who have not completed a GaPSC-approved program and assigned out-of-field in a leadership position). 1. Issuance. (i) Hold a minimum of a bachelor's degree from a GaPSC-accepted accredited institution.(ii) Pass the GACE Ethics for Educational Leadership assessment.(iii) Have the certificate requested by the employing Georgia local unit of administration following procedures outlined in Rule 505-2-.27 CERTIFICATION AND APPLICATION PROCEDURES.2. Conversion. (i) Complete a GaPSC-approved Educational Leadership - Tier I educator preparation program at the master's degree level. (I) If a certification-only program is completed, the educator must hold a minimum of a master's degree from a GaPSC-accepted accredited institution prior to enrollment.(ii) Meet the following Special Georgia requirements as outlined in GaPSC Rule 505-2-.24 SPECIAL GEORGIA REQUIREMENTS: (I) Pass the GACE Content assessment.(II) Satisfy the Special Education requirement with a grade of B or better.(III) Pass the GACE Ethics for Educational Leadership assessment.(IV) Meet Standards of Conduct.(iii) Apply for certification following procedures outlined in Rule 505-2-.27 CERTIFICATION AND APPLICATION PROCEDURES.(d) Three (3)-Year Non-Renewable Professional Educational Leadership - Tier II (Issued to individuals who have not completed a GaPSC-approved program and are assigned out-of-field in a leadership position). 1. Issuance. (i) Hold a minimum of a master's degree from a GaPSC-accepted accredited institution or hold a Standard Professional certificate in Educational Leadership - Tier I.(ii) Have the certificate requested by the employing Georgia local unit of administration following procedures outlined in GaPSC Rule 505-2-.27 CERTIFICATION AND APPLICATION PROCEDURES.2. Conversion. (i) Complete a GaPSC-approved Tier II educator preparation at the Specialist or Doctoral degree level. (I) If a certification-only program is completed the educator must hold a minimum of an Educational Specialist degree from a GaPSC-accepted accredited institution prior to enrollment.(ii) Meet the following Special Georgia requirements as outlined in GaPSC Rule 505-2-.24 SPECIAL GEORGIA REQUIREMENTS: (I) Pass the GACE Content assessment.(II) Pass the Performance Assessment for School Leaders (PASL) if completing a Performance-Based program on or after 7/1/17. A. This assessment is not required for individuals completing Building or System - Level Performance-Based programs.(III) Satisfy the Special Education requirement with a grade of B or better.(IV) Pass the GACE Ethics for Educational Leadership assessment.(V) Meet Standards of Conduct.(iii) Apply for certification following procedures outlined in Rule 505-2-.27 CERTIFICATION AND APPLICATION PROCEDURES.(e) An educator working in a Tier II position who does not hold Tier I certification will be issued a Non-Renewable Professional certificate in each tier. If the Tier I certificate is converted to a Standard Professional certificate, the Non-Renewable Performance-Based Professional certificate in Educational Leadership - Tier II may be extended for an additional three (3) years to meet Tier II certification requirements.(4)Additional Certificate Title Issued in the Field.(a) Retired Educator (See GaPSC Rule 505-2-.44 RETIRED EDUCATOR).(5)To Add the Field (See GaPSC Rule 505-2-.34 ADD A FIELD).(a) To add a renewable, professional certificate in Educational Leadership (Tier I or Tier II) to a valid or expired Georgia certificate in any field, an educator must complete a GaPSC-approved certification program in Educational Leadership to include all applicable Special Georgia Requirements (See GaPSC Rule 505-2-.24 SPECIAL GEORGIA REQUIREMENTS). Georgia educators who complete out-of-state programs not approved by the GaPSC will not be eligible for Georgia certification in Educational Leadership.(6)To Upgrade the Level (See GaPSC Rule 505-2-.33 CERTIFICATE UPGRADE):(a) In accordance with O.C.G.A. 20-2-212, an educator may be assigned a leader level at the time of initial certification in an Educational Leadership field. This leader level applies only to any Educational Leadership fields held, and is used for placement on the State Salary Schedule only when the educator is employed in a position requiring Educational Leadership certification (See Section (6) of GaPSC Rule 505-2-.02 CLASSIFICATION).(b) An upgrade that is earned by completion of an advanced degree that is in-field with an Educational Leadership certificate field will be applied to the leader level of the educator's certificate unless the certificate has not previously been assigned a leader level. If there is no previously assigned leader level, the upgrade will be applied to the general level (See GaPSC Rule 505-2-.33 CERTIFICATE UPGRADE).(c) Educators completing a GaPSC-approved Educational Leadership - Tier II program at the doctoral level will not qualify for leadership certification or an upgrade to level six (6) based on achieving All But Dissertation (ABD) status during the doctoral program. A New-Field upgrade requires completion of the GaPSC-approved program in Educational Leadership. An educator enrolled in a doctoral program will not qualify for leadership certification or a New-Field upgrade until completion of the Educational Leadership - Tier II doctoral program and meeting all requirements to add the field.(7)Renewal Requirements (See GaPSC Rule 505-2-.36 RENEWAL REQUIREMENTS).(8)Exceptions.(a) Educational Leadership (Field 704): Prior to January 15, 2016, this field was issued to some out-of-state educators earning initial Georgia certification through interstate reciprocity, and to Georgia educators who completed a state-approved certification program in Educational Leadership at the master's degree level or higher prior to September 30, 2009. Educators holding this field were able to serve in any Educational Leadership position. Certificates in this field were converted to the Standard Professional Educational Leadership -Tier II on January 15, 2016.(b) Educational Leadership Building-Level (Field 706): Prior to January 15, 2016, this field was issued to individuals who completed a GaPSC-approved performance-based certification program in the field. Educators holding this field were able to serve in Educational Leadership positions at the school building level, such as Principal. Certificates in this field were converted to the Standard Professional Educational Leadership -Tier II on January 15, 2016.(c) Educational Leadership System-Level (Field 707): Prior to January 15, 2016, this field was issued to individuals who completed a GaPSC-approved performance-based certification program in the field. Educators holding this field were able to serve in Educational Leadership positions at the school system level. Superintendents were required to hold Educational Leadership certification in both System-Level and Building-Level. Certificates in this field were converted to the Standard Professional Educational Leadership -Tier II on January 15, 2016.(d) Pre-Service Leadership (Field 705): Prior to December 15, 2010, this non-renewable field was issued to individuals who held a master's degree or higher and passed the GACE Educational Leadership assessment. Holding this field indicated an educator's eligibility for a Non-Renewable Educational Leadership certificate upon employment in an Educational Leadership position, but did not allow the holder to serve in any type of Educational Leadership position. Certificates in this field were not eligible for conversion to any other type of Educational Leadership certificate.(e) A Georgia educator who earned an initial Georgia teaching and/or service certificate through interstate reciprocity prior to January 15, 2016, and was denied Georgia Educational Leadership certification at that time, may reapply under the reciprocity requirements outlined in this rule, subject to the following conditions: 1. Only the degrees, experience, out-of-state certifications, and out-of-state test scores held at the time the initial Georgia certificate was issued may be evaluated under reciprocity requirements.2. If a general certificate level was assigned based on a degree that was not accepted for Educational Leadership certification at the time of initial application, the general level will remain intact.(f) Upon meeting requirements for Educational Leadership - Tier II certification as outlined in (2)(c) above, the Educational Leadership - Tier I certificate previously held with be invalidated.(9)Restrictions.(a) Georgia educators who complete out-of-state programs that are not GaPSC-approved will not be eligible for Georgia certification in Educational Leadership or an upgrade to the certificate level based on the degree in educational leadership unless the degree meets In-Field Upgrade requirements as outlined in the Upgrade Rule ( 505-2-.33 CERTIFICATE UPGRADE).(b) The One (1)-Year Non-Renewable certificate is not available to individuals who held/hold a Non-Renewable certificate in Educational Leadership to complete a GaPSC-approved program and did not meet requirements for Professional certification.(10)Alternative Preparation for Educational Leadership Program (See Rule 505-3-.76 ALTERNATIVE PREPARATION FOR EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP PROGRAM). (a) Educators enrolled in the Alternative Preparation for Educational Leadership Program must meet degree and admission requirements outlined in the Educator Preparation Program Rule, be employed by a local unit of administration, and have the certificate requested following procedures outlined in GaPSC Rule 505-2-.27 CERTIFICATION AND APPLICATION PROCEDURES.(b) Educators completing the Alternative Preparation for Educational Leadership Program must meet minimum degree requirements outlined in Rule 505-3-.76 Alternative Preparation for Educational Leadership Program and requirements for issuance of the Educational Leadership Tier I certificate outlined in (2)(a)1 and Educational Leadership Tier II certificate outlined in 2(a)c.(11)Superintendent (See GaPSC Rule 505-2-.154 SUPERINTENDENT). (a) A Superintendent certificate is required for an individual who is selected to serve as a Superintendent and meets the requirements outlined in GaPSC Rule 505-2-.154 SUPERINTENDENT.(12)In-Field Statement.(a) Educational Leadership - Tier I is the entry-level Standard Professional Educational Leadership certification. Educators certified in this field may work in school-level leadership positions below the principal and district-level leadership positions that do not supervise principals.(b) Educational Leadership - Tier II (Standard or Performance-Based) is the advanced-level Educational Leadership certification. Educators certified in this field may work in any leadership position, including school-level principal, superintendent, or another type of position that supervises principals.Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 505-2-.153
O.C.G.A. § 20-2-200.
Original Rule entitled "Probational/Accelerated In-Field Leadership Certificate" adopted. F. Dec. 18, 1991, eff. Jan. 7, 1992.Repealed: F. Dec. 16, 1992; eff. July 1, 1993, as specified by the Agency.Amended: New Rule entitled "Coordinator of Vocational Academic Education Endorsement (CVAE)" adopted. F. Oct. 22, 2004; eff. Nov. 15, 2004, as specified by the Agency.Repealed: New Rule entitled "Coordinated Career Academic Education Endorsement (CCAE)" adopted. F. Feb. 16, 2009; eff. Mar. 15, 2009, as specified by the Agency.Repealed: New Rule entitled "Educational Leadership" adopted. F. Jun. 11, 2014; eff. July 1, 2014, as specified by the Agency.Amended: F. Jun. 13, 2014; eff. July 3, 2014.Repealed: New Rule entitled "Educational Leadership Certificate" adopted. F. Dec. 21, 2015; eff. Jan. 15, 2016, as specified by the Agency.Note: Correction of non-substantive typographical error in History, 'Repealed: New Rule of same title adopted. F. Dec. 21, 2015; eff. Jan. 15, 2016, as specified by the Agency.' corrected to 'Repealed: New Rule entitled "Educational Leadership Certificate" adopted. F. Dec. 21, 2015; eff. Jan. 15, 2016, as specified by the Agency.' Effective Oct. 15, 2016.Amended: F. Sep. 26, 2016; eff. Oct. 15, 2016, as specified by the Agency.Amended: F. Oct. 4, 2017; eff. Oct. 15, 2017, as specified by the Agency.Repealed: New Rule of same title adopted. F. June 11, 2020; eff. July 1, 2020, as specified by the Agency.Amended: F. Dec. 11, 2020; eff. Jan. 1, 2021, as specified by the Agency.