La. Admin. Code tit. 28 § CXXXI-507

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 5, May 20, 2024

Section CXXXI-507 - Professional Level Certificates

A. Level 1 is the entry-level professional certificate, valid for three years. The level 2 and level 3 certificates are valid for five years.

B. Louisiana Graduate Eligibility. Level 1 professional certificate requires successful completion of a state-approved traditional or alternate teacher preparation program, in accordance with LAC 28:XLV.Chapter 7.

1. Alternate preparation completers completing a one-year in-state residency as teacher of record must hold a practitioner's license (PL) in the certification area in which the teacher preparation program was completed and receive mentoring, as outlined in LAC 28:XLV.996, during the first year on a PL by a school-based mentor teacher in accordance with §553 of this Chapter.

2. Alternate preparation candidates completing a one-year residency out-of-state must hold a resident teacher certificate in accordance with LAC 28:XLV.996. If the candidate completed the residency as teacher of record, holding a practitioner's license above is not required.

3. Undergraduate program completers and alternate preparation completers completing a one-year in-state residency must hold a resident teacher certificate in accordance with §535 of this chapter and receive mentoring by a classroom-based mentor teacher in accordance with §553 of this Chapter.

4. Undergraduate program completers completing a one-year out-of-state residency must hold a resident teacher certificate in accordance with LAC 28:XLV.996 and §535 of this Chapter.

5. Grade Point Average Requirements:

a. minimum 2.20 undergraduate grade point average (GPA) on a 4.00 scale for entry into a teacher preparation program;

b. if an applicant does not meet the GPA requirement, certification may be issued if the following requirements are met:

i. if the program awards credit hours, the applicant shall achieve a minimum GPA of 3.00 on a 4.00 scale in the alternate teacher preparation program courses by the end of the first 12 credit hours and successfully complete the program.

ii. if the program does not award credit hours, the applicant shall demonstrate mastery of competencies as required by the program administrator and by the school system in which the applicant completes required clinical practice; and

c. minimum 2.50 GPA on a 4.00 scale upon completion of teacher preparation program, or if the program does not award credit hours, the applicant shall demonstrate mastery of competencies as required by the program administrator and by the school system in which the applicant completes required clinical practice;

d. satisfactorily complete all program requirements as set forth by BESE, including any requirements for clinical practice, at graduation or program completion;

e. an applicant who does not have the required program GPA shall demonstrate mastery of competencies as required by the program and by the school system in which the applicant completes required clinical practice and may be issued a TEP.

6. Exam Requirements. Passing scores on appropriate pedagogy, certification area, and specialty area exams in accordance with §303 of this Part, and in alignment with the content area in which the program was completed.

7. Applicants must be recommended by a state-approved university or private program provider for certification.

8. Applicants must have the required number of semester hours in the teaching of reading and literacy:

a. 9 semester hours for certification in Birth-K, PK-3, 1-5, general special education 1-5, and mild/moderate special education 1-5;

b. 6 semester hours for certification in middle grades 4-8, general special education 4-8, and mild/moderate special education 4-8;

c. 3 semester hours for certification in secondary 612 content areas, all-level K-12 areas, general special education 6-12, and mild/moderate special education 6-12;

d. 9 semester hours for certification in special education areas of early interventionist, hearing impaired, significant disabilities, and visually impaired.

e. Alternate preparation completers are required to complete the same number of semester hours or equivalent contact hours, or pass the adopted Teaching of Reading exam.

f. Repealed.

9. Beginning September 1, 2024, completers must earn the required number of semester hours or contact hour equivalent in the teaching of reading and literacy in alignment with the science of reading competencies for certification.

a. Birth-K, PK-3, Grades1-5: 9 semester hours.

b. Middle Grades 4-6: 6 semester hours.

c. Secondary 6-12 content areas, all-level K-12 areas: 3 semester hours.

d. General and Special Education Integrated to Merged (Grades 1-5, 4-8, or 6-12), Early Interventionist, Hearing Impaired, Significant Disabilities, and Visually Impaired: 9 semester hours.

10. Beginning January 1, 2024, an applicant for initial certification in kindergarten through third grade shall pass the BESE-approved Teaching of Reading: Elementary or Teaching of Reading: Elementary Subtest exam in accordance with §303 of this Part. Candidates already enrolled in the year-long residency and holding either the PL or R credential prior to January 1, 2025, are not subject to this provision.

11. Beginning September 1, 2028, literacy requirements include a minimum of three credit hours or contact hour equivalent regarding teaching students with dyslexia.

12. Beginning September 1, 2028, an applicant for initial certification must have earned coursework or equivalent contact hours in alignment with the adopted foundational numeracy competencies.

C. Out-of-state (OS) Graduate Eligibility and Foreign Applicant Eligibility. Level 1 professional certificate requires a minimum of a baccalaureate degree from a college or university accredited in accordance with 34 CFR 602 . Credentials awarded from an institution outside of the United States and not accredited by one of the U.S. accrediting agencies may be submitted to a credentialing agency that is an endorsed member or a member in good standing with either the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) or the Association of International Credential Evaluators (AICE) with the original course-by-course evaluation including a statement verifying the comparability of the baccalaureate or graduate degree in the field of education; and

1. hold a standard out-of-state teaching certificate, or if no certificate was issued, a letter from the state education agency (SEA) or teacher preparation program provider in the state of origin verifying eligibility in that state for a certificate in the certification area(s); and

2. pass all parts of exams required for Louisiana certification in accordance with §303 of this Part for the area(s) of certification, and the specialty area or content area exam in the certification area in which the teacher preparation program was completed or in which initial certification was issued;

3. complete student teaching, internship, residency, or year(s) of successful teaching experience as required by teacher preparation program provider or SEA; and

4. has not been out of teaching in the five year period immediately preceding first employment or application for a Louisiana educator credential.

5. An applicant who has not taught successfully for at least one year in the five years prior to date of application may be issued a one-year non-renewable OS1 certificate during which time the holder must earn an effective rating in accordance with §103 of this Part for issuance of a three-year non-renewable OS certificate.

6. National Board Certification fulfills exam requirements in corresponding areas for educators holding out-of-state certification/licensure.

7. Three years of successful teaching experience in another state, prior to first employment in or licensure application in Louisiana, as verified by the employing authority or SEA, fulfills exam requirements.

8. The employing authority must recommend applicant for further employment, and request issuance of a valid Louisiana educator credential.

9. Active military or military spouse applicants holding a standard professional certificate in another state, serving in Louisiana on a five-year OS, must earn effective ratings in accordance with §103 of this Part for at least three years during the five-year OS period to advance to a higher level professional certificate.

D.Repealed.

E. Level 2 Professional Certificate eligibility requirements:

1. hold or meet eligibility requirements for a level 1 certificate;

2. earn effective ratings for three years in accordance with §103 of this Part; and

3. accrue three years of teaching experience in an approved educational setting.

4. If the level 2 certificate is the initial certificate, a state-approved teacher preparation program provider must submit the request.

5. If the level 1 certificated teacher qualifies for advancement to a level 2 certificate, the request for the higher certificate must be submitted directly to the LDE by the employing authority.

F. Level 3 Professional Certificate eligibility requirements:

1. hold or meet eligibility requirements for a level 2 certificate;

2. earn a graduate degree from a college or university accredited in accordance with 34 CFR 602; and

3. have five years of teaching experience in an approved educational setting with any out-of-state experience verified as successful by the out-of-state employing authority or SEA.

4. If the level 3 certificate is the initial certificate, a state-approved teacher preparation program provider must submit the request.

5. If the level 2 certificated teacher qualifies for advancement to a level 3 certificate, the request for the higher certificate must be submitted directly to the LDE by the employing authority.

G. Renewal/Extension Guidelines for Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3 Certificates:

1. Level 1 certificate is valid for three years initially and may be extended thereafter for a period of one year at the request of a Louisiana employing authority with extensions of Level 1 certificates being limited to two such extensions.

2. Level 2 and level 3 certificates are valid for five years initially and may be renewed thereafter for a period of five years at the request of a Louisiana employing authority, contingent upon candidates being found effective in accordance with §103 of this Part for at least three years during the five-year initial or renewal period.

H. Temporary Employment Permit (TEP) Applicant Eligibility. Level 1 professional certificates require a minimum of a baccalaureate degree from a college or university accredited in accordance with 34 CFR 602. The Louisiana employing authority must submit the application recommending certification to the LDOE including a signed affidavit verifying there is no other available applicant meeting certification requirements for the specific teaching position.

1. Candidates serving on a TEP must successfully meet the standards of effectiveness by earning highly effective or effective proficient for five years in accordance with LAC 28:CXLVII (Bulletin 130) while serving on the TEP.

a. - b. Repealed.

2. Upon successful passage of required examinations, a candidate serving on a TEP Option 1 is eligible for a Level 1 teaching certification.

a. - c. Repealed.

3. The candidate must participate in a school-based mentor program for at least three years.

La. Admin. Code tit. 28, § CXXXI-507

Promulgated by the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, LR 32:1813 (October 2006), amended LR 35:2752 (December 2009), LR 36:2843 (December 2010), LR 38:2366 (September 2012), LR 40:1331 (July 2014), Amended LR 461381 (10/1/2020), Amended LR 48430 (3/1/2022), Repromulgated LR 48430 (4/1/2022), Amended LR 481273 (5/1/2022), Amended LR 482554 (10/1/2022), Amended LR 4937 (1/1/2023), Amended LR 49, 8/23/2023, exp. 2/19/2024(Emergency), Amended LR 5024 (1/1/2024), Amended LR 50488 (4/1/2024), Amended LR 50660 (5/1/2024).

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 17:6(A)(10), (11), and (15), 17:7(6), 17:10, 17:22(6), 17:391.1-391.10, and 17:411.