La. Admin. Code tit. 28 § CXXXI-553

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 9, September 20, 2024

Section CXXXI-553 - Mentor Teacher (MT) Ancillary Certificate

A. Beginning September 1, 2020, the mentor teacher ancillary certificate will be required for individuals who serve as a mentor of undergraduate or post-baccalaureate teacher residents.

B. Provisional MT Certification. Individuals serving as mentors who have not successfully completed a BESE-approved mentor training program or mentor assessments will be issued a nonrenewable provisional mentor teacher ancillary certificate, valid for a period of two years from the date of issuance while the holder completes a BESE-approved mentor training program or mentor assessments.

C. Provisional certification eligibility requirements:

1. hold, or be eligible to hold, a valid type C, level 1 or higher Louisiana teaching certificate; or

2. if teaching in a charter school without a valid type C, level 1 or higher certificate, have at least two years of successful teaching in accordance with LAC 28:CXLVII (Bulletin 130) and R.S. 17:3902; or

3. if teaching in a nonpublic school without a valid type C, level 1, or higher certificate earn at least two years of effective ratings per local personnel evaluations; and

4. all out-of-state experience must be verified as successful by the out-of-state employing authority or SEA; and

5. enrolled in or have completed a BESE-approved mentor training program.

6. An application for Ancillary Provisional Mentor Teacher may be submitted by the individual for applicants holding a valid type C, level 1, or higher Louisiana teaching certificate.

D. MT Ancillary Certification. Individuals who have completed a BESE-approved mentor teacher training program and earn a passing score on the Louisiana mentor teacher assessment series will be issued a mentor teacher ancillary certificate. For teachers holding a valid type C, Level 1 or higher Louisiana teaching certificate, see §1369 of this Part. The LDE will begin issuing mentor teacher ancillary certificates no later than July 1, 2019.

E. MT Ancillary certification eligibility requirements:

1. if teaching in a charter school without a valid type C, level 1 or higher certificate, have at least two years of successful teaching in accordance with LAC 28:CXLVII (Bulletin 130) and R.S. 17:3902; or

2. if teaching in a nonpublic school without a valid type C, level 1, or higher certificate earn at least two years of effective ratings per local personnel evaluations; and

3. all out-of-state experience must be verified as successful by the out-of-state employing authority or SEA;

4. successfully complete a BESE-approved mentor teacher training program; and

5. earn a passing score on the Louisiana mentor teacher assessment series.

6. Individuals who successfully complete LDE mentor teacher training from November 1, 2017 through July 31, 2020, are eligible for the mentor teacher ancillary certificate after passing the Louisiana mentor teacher assessment series.

7. Individuals who hold National Board certification are eligible for mentor teacher ancillary certification after passing the coaching-related components of the Louisiana mentor teacher assessment series.

8. Individuals who currently hold National Institute for Excellence in Training (NIET) Teacher Evaluator Training Certification may apply for the ancillary certificate, which makes the individual eligible to serve as a mentor of undergraduate or post-baccalaureate teacher residents.

9. Certified CLASS observers may apply for the ancillary certificate and upon issuance are eligible to serve as mentors of undergraduate or post-baccalaureate residents.

10. Individuals who currently hold Louisiana Educator Evaluator certification may apply for the certification, which makes the individual eligible to serve as a mentor of undergraduate or post-baccalaureate teacher residents.

F. MT Ancillary Certificate Renewal Guidelines. Mentor teacher ancillary certificates are valid for five years and may be renewed at the request of the employing authority.

1. Teachers in charter schools who do not hold a type C, level 1, or higher certificate must successfully meet the standards of effectiveness for at least three years during the five-year renewal period in accordance with LAC 28:CXLVII (Bulletin 130) and R.S. 17:3902.

2. Teachers in nonpublic schools who do not hold a level 1, 2, or 3 certificate must earn effective ratings per local personnel evaluations for at least three years during the five-year renewal period in order to renew the mentor teacher ancillary certificate.

G. The requirement that all undergraduate residents and post-baccalaureate candidates be placed with mentor teachers holding the mentor teacher certification or the ancillary provisional mentor teacher certificate, may be waived with the following contingencies:

1. Mentor teacher waivers will be granted on an annual case-by-case basis through the application process established by the LDOE and at no fee to the applicant, school system, or teacher preparation provider;

2. The waiver will be issued by the LDOE for educators highly recommended by the mentor's principal and who possess one or more of the following qualifications:

a. two years of highly effective evaluations;

b. National Board Certification;

c. statewide or national distinction for excellence in teaching;

d. experience as a TAP mentor, master teacher, executive master teacher or certified TP evaluator;

e. content leader experiences, as evidenced by participation in content leader training or redelivery of professional development; or

f. master's or doctorate in education and exemplary experience hosting student teachers.

3. An individual mutually agreed upon by the LEA and the teacher preparation program provider who does not meet one of the waiver criteria listed in this Subsection may be approved for the waiver for a period of not more than two years.

La. Admin. Code tit. 28, § CXXXI-553

Amended LR 48442 (3/1/2022), Repromulgated LR 481046 (4/1/2022), Amended LR 482099 (8/1/2022), Amended LR 491375 (8/1/2023), Amended LR 50664 (5/1/2024), Amended LR 501150 (8/1/2024).

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 17:6 and 17:3902.