Rule 505-2-.40 - In-Field Assignment(1)Purpose. The assignment of educators to positions for which they have been prepared and certified (in-field) is essential for providing the best possible educational programs for the children and youth of Georgia. It is the responsibility of the local unit of administration (LUA) to assure that personnel assigned to certificated positions hold appropriate Georgia certification and are assigned only within the field (subject area) and grade level associated with the certificate held for each assignment during the school day.(2)Certification/Curriculum Assignment Polices (CAPS). All Georgia state-approved curriculum courses have been reviewed jointly by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission (GaPSC) and the Georgia Department of Education (GaDOE) to determine the certificates which are considered in-field for each approved course. This information is available through the Certification/Curriculum Assignment Policies (CAPS) found on the GaPSC web site at www.gapsc.com. (3)Endorsements. Endorsements recognize additional expertise that supplements base certificates and enables the holder to be assigned in-field in these additional endorsement areas. Specific information on endorsements is found in GaPSC Rule 505-2-.14 ENDORSEMENTS.(4)Areas Not Requiring Specific Certificates. Several areas of assignment do not require a specific field in order to meet in-field requirements, although a certificate in some field is required. These fields include: (a) Computer Science - An optional Computer Science Endorsement (6-12) is available to provide strengthened and enhanced competency levels for teaching computer science skills in grades 6-12. However, at the discretion of the employing Georgia LUA, an educator with a professional, valid teaching certificate in any field is in-field to teach computer science in grades P-12. Note: This use of the term computer science relates to general computer labs, etc., but does not include the technology education courses associated with Career, Technical and Agricultural Education outlined in GaPSC Rule 505-2-.90 CAREER AND TECHNICAL SPECIALIZATIONS.(b) Hospital/Homebound - At the discretion of the employing LUA, an individual with a professional, valid teaching certificate in any field is in-field to teach hospital/homebound students in grades P-12. However, if a student is absent from school for twenty (20) consecutive days or more, a "highly qualified" teacher must be identified for the core academic subject(s) and must be available as the student's "teacher of record" for content instruction. The "highly qualified" teacher(s) must supervise content instruction through the use of a collaborative model.(c) In-School Suspension - Because in-school suspension is typically short term, the student's regularly assigned content teacher is considered the "teacher of record" and would be expected to supervise instruction through the use of a collaborative model. At the discretion of the employing Georgia LUA, a licensed Paraprofessional or an educator with a professional, valid certificate in any field is in-field to teach in-school suspension students in grades P-12. (5) Areas Not Requiring Any Certificate. For areas in which the GaPSC does not issue or require a specific certificate, LUAs may employ individuals without certification. Individuals who serve in positions of leadership over support functions in the local unit of administration must be appropriately certified. If a certificate is held in any field, the individual can be listed on the Georgia Department of Education Certified Personnel Information (CPI) Report.(6)Pre-Kindergarten Programs. Pre-kindergarten regular education programs are administered by Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning (See http://decal.ga.gov/Prek/Teachers.aspx).(7)Discontinued Certificate Fields. Pre-existing certificate fields for permits and Career, Technical and Agricultural Education no longer issued by the GaPSC will continue to be valid and renewable. For certificate types discontinued on July 1, 2014, all requirements outlined at the time of issuance must be completed within the designated validity period. If all requirements are not completed by the expiration date, policies established by the current rules must be met. In-field educational services authorized by all certificates must meet guidelines established by current rules and the Certification/Curriculum Assignment Policies (CAPS) found on the GaPSC web site at www.gapsc.com.Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 505-2-.40
O.C.G.A. 20-2-200.
Original Rule entitled "Certificates Issued on Earned Degrees" adopted. F. Dec. 18, 1991; eff. Jan. 7, 1992.Repealed: New Rule entitled "Experience Requirements for Certification Purposes" adopted. F. Dec. 16, 1992; eff. July 1, 1993, as specified by the Agency.Amended: Jun. 21, 1996; eff. July 11, 1996.Repealed: Rule Reserved F. Feb. 20, 2004; eff. Mar. 15, 2004, as specified by the Agency.Amended: New Rule entitled "Adjunct License" adopted. F. Apr. 20, 2009; eff. May 15, 2009, as specified by the Agency.Amended: Dec. 26, 2013; eff. Jan. 15, 2014.Repealed: New Rule entitled "In-Field Assignment" adopted. F. Jun. 11, 2014; eff. July 1, 2014, as specified by the Agency.Amended: F. May 22, 2015; eff. June 15, 2015, as specified by the Agency.