Source: http://www.nysut.org/resources/all-listing/2014/february/fact-sheet-14-1-certification-requirements-for-teaching-assistants
Timestamp: 2015-04-19 21:11:17
Document Index: 59620024

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 100', 'art 100', '§ 80', 'art80', '§ 80', 'art80']

Fact Sheet 14-1 Certification Requirements for Teaching Assistants
No. – 14-1 Updates and Replaces Fact Sheet No. 12-20 - August 2014
This Information Bulletin covers the following topics: NYS laws and regulations governing the employment, job duties, and certification of teacher aides and teaching assistants;
A chart of certification requirements;
Professional development for teaching assistants;
NYSUT Education & Learning Trust programs and resources;
Excerpts from Commissioner’s Regulations
Download complete document (pdf) Background
In February 2004, the NYS Education Department implemented new regulations governing the certification of Teaching Assistants in NYS to reflect the policy initiatives of the Board of Regents. These policy initiatives increased the preparation requirements for teaching assistants and created a career ladder for teaching assistants. This Fact Sheet focuses on certification requirements for teaching assistants post February 2004. It also summarizes the duties of teacher aides and teaching assistants in the areas of employment, job duties, licensing and certification, including New York State laws and regulations governing each area. Finally, it addresses the most frequently asked questions related to certification and licensure.
Supervising students, and performing such other non-teaching duties which support teaching when such services are determined and supervised by the teacher. Teacher aides are classified employees, whose employment rights are governed by Civil Service Law. They are not subject to licensure and certification requirements under Education Law.
According to the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education, Section 80-5.6: A teaching assistant “is appointed by a board of education to provide, under the general supervision of a licensed or certified teacher, direct instructional service to students” (emphasis added). The teaching assistant is provided “general” (as contrasted with direct or personal) supervision by the certified teacher(s) who are responsible for the student’s instruction.
Post 2004 Certification Requirements for Teaching Assistants
The requirements for teaching assistant certification will apply to a candidate who applies on or after February 2, 2004 for a credential to work as a teaching assistant. Among the changes are new certificate levels culminating in a pre-professional certificate leading to teacher preparation, increased collegiate study, and passing the New York State Assessment of Teaching Assistant Skills (ATAS) test or the Liberal Arts and Sciences test (LAST). Please note, the LAST will not be offered after April 30, 2014.
Level I teaching assistant certificate: A candidate must have a high school diploma or its equivalent, complete the 6-hour Harassment, Bullying and Discrimination Prevention and Intervention training, and pass the New York State ATAS or the LAST (only ATAS available after 4/31/14). The ATAS is arranged into four subareas which address the central knowledge and understanding that teaching assistants are expected to possess in Reading, Writing, Mathematics and Instructional Support.
The certificate is valid for three years and can be renewed for three years, one time only with a commitment for employment. If an individual has already renewed their Level I credential under previous regulations for an additional one year term; the certificate can be renewed once more for three years if there is a commitment for employment. The commitment for employment must be verified by the district/BOCES using superintendent statements via TEACH online services.
Level II teaching assistant certificate: In addition to meeting the requirements for a Level I certificate, the candidate must also complete nine semester hours (credits) of collegiate study towards meeting the requirements for an associate’s or baccalaureate degree for applications submitted after February 1, 2007. Candidates must also have one year of experience as a licensed or certified teaching assistant.
The Level II certificate is valid for three years and is not renewable.
Level III teaching assistant certificate: In addition to meeting the requirements for a Level II teaching certificate, the candidate must complete a total of at least 18 semester hours of collegiate study.
The certificate is continuously valid, provided that the professional development requirements – 75 hours every five years – are met.
It is possible to move from Level I to Level III directly after one year if the appropriate course work is in place.
Pre-professional teaching assistant: In addition to the requirements for a Level III teaching certificate, the candidate must be matriculated in a program leading to teacher certification or its equivalent, or in a program with an articulation agreement with such a program.
The certificate is valid for five years and can be renewed with the completion of 30 semester hours of coursework.
Pre-professional teaching assistants assist teachers by performing additional duties such as:
Working with small groups of children so the teacher can work with a large group or individual children;
Helping a teacher construct lesson plans;
Presenting segments of lesson plans as directed by the classroom teacher;
Communicating with parents of students; and
Helping in training of other teaching assistants.
NEW SPRING 2014: All applicants for a school service certificate (this includes all teaching assistant titles) on or after January 1, 2014, must complete six clock hours of training in Harassment, Bullying and Discrimination Prevention and Intervention. Approved providers can be found at http://www.highered.nysed.gov/tcert/certificate/dasa-applicant.html. Individuals can also check with local BOCES, colleges/universities that offer teacher education programs, and teacher centers. Previous Teaching Assistant Certification Titles
Teaching assistants who obtained their certificates no later than February 1, 2004 were issued one of the following:
Temporary License: issued to a person who has completed a four-year high school program or its equivalent, supplemented by training and experience appropriate to the position in question. The temporary license is valid for one year from the date of issuance. No more than two temporary licenses may be issued.
Continuing Certificate: issued to a person who has completed six semester hours of college study in a field related to elementary or secondary education, and who has completed one year of experience as a licensed teaching assistant or as a certified teacher. The continuing certificate is valid continuously, except when the holder has not been regularly employed as a teaching assistant for five consecutive years.
Summary of Commissioner’s regulations for Teaching Assistant Certification Requirements on or after February 2, 2004
9 semester hours of collegiate study for applicants after February 1, 2007
work for one year as teaching assistant
18 semester hours of collegiate study
continuously valid with 75 hours of professional development every five years
may be renewed if individual has taken 30 semester hours in the previous five year period
*New York State Assessment of Teaching Assistant Skills Test Portability of Teaching Assistant Credential
A teaching assistant is no longer required to obtain a new certificate if they choose to seek employment in another school district or BOCES. A continuing certificate as well as a Level I, II or III certificate or a Pre-Professional certificate is portable across school district and BOCES boundaries, in the same way a teaching certificate is portable.
Commissioner’s Regulations 80-.36(b)(ii) states that Level III Teaching Assistants are required to successfully complete 75 hours of professional development every five years to maintain the Level III certificate. The Professional Development Plan (PDP) as defined in Part 100. 2(dd) of Commissioner’s Regulations requires that each school district and BOCES develop a professional development plan that ensures that “holders of Level III teaching assistant’s certificates… are provided the opportunity to participate in the professional development program of the district or BOCES.”
In addition, Part 100. 2(dd) of Commissioner’s Regulations specifies that “a school district or BOCES may include the local special education Comprehensive System of Personnel Development (CSPD) plan… as part of its professional development plan.”
According to Commissioner’s Regulations 200.2(h), a local CSPD plan shall include, but not be limited to:
“a description of the professional development activities provided to all professional and paraprofessional staff who work with students with disabilities to assure that they have the skills and knowledge necessary to meet the needs of students with disabilities.”
NYSUT’s Education & Learning Trust (ELT) offers a variety of professional development opportunities to assist teaching assistants in meeting their certification requirements. These include:
Undergraduate Courses: The Education & Learning Trust has partnered with a number of colleges throughout New York State to offer online, face-to-face, and CD-based undergraduate courses. The courses are designed for teaching assistants seeking NYS certification, and those interested in furthering their education, including pursuing a degree in teaching. Professional Development Workshops: To maintain their certification, Level III teaching assistants are required to complete 75 hours of professional development every five years. The ELT offers over 15 workshops to meet the professional development needs of our members. Topics include: Helping Students Succeed; Disability Awareness; Dealing with Difficult Students; Supporting Students with Autism; Strategies for Struggling Readers, and Using the IEP to Support Student Instruction.
For additional information on courses, workshops and other programs available through NYSUT’s Education & Learning Trust, please call 1-800-528-6208 or visit the website at www.nysut.org/elt.
The changes will apply only to those who apply for certification on or after February 2, 2004. Those holding a continuing certificate will retain it indefinitely. It remains valid unless the individual has not been regularly employed as a teaching assistant in a public school for five consecutive years.
According to Commissioner’s Regulations, the description of job duties contained in Section 80-5.6 (b) (1) (ii) (a), applies to all teaching assistants, whether they hold a Level I, II or III certificate. However, the job duties of pre-professional certificate holders are more specialized (see p. 4 of this Fact Sheet). It will be left up to the local union and school district to negotiate the job duties and commensurate pay assigned to each level, should they choose to do so.
All Level III teaching assistants will be required to complete 75 hours of professional development over five years in order to maintain their certificate. Who is responsible for providing the professional development and will it be available to Level I and Level II teaching assistants?
The district is required to make professional development available during the normal school day and school year. Professional development taking place outside of the normal school day and school year needs to be negotiated by the union local and the school district. The regulation does not specifically state that all teaching assistants (including continuing certificate holders) are to receive substantial professional development. What are the requirements for certified teachers to be hired as teaching assistants?
Certified teachers may be hired as teaching assistants based upon their classroom teaching certificate. Please note that some districts may require certified teachers to obtain a teaching assistant certificate for employment. Resources
Commissioner’s Regulations § 80-5.6 Supplementary school personnel. This section of regulations provides definitions and duties for Teacher Aides, Teaching Assistants, as well as licensure and certification requirements.
http://www.highered.nysed.gov/tcert/part80-5.html
Commissioner’s Regulations § 80-3.6 Professional development requirement.
This section of regulations provides specific information related to the professional development requirement for Level III teaching assistants, including adjustments to the requirement and reporting responsibilities. http://www.highered.nysed.gov/tcert/part80-3.html
This section of regulations provides specific information related to the development and adoption of a PDP, measuring the impact of a PDP, and reporting and recordkeeping requirements. http://www.highered.nysed.gov/tcert/regulations.html
Only the State Education Department’s (SED) Office of Teaching Initiatives can officially interpret certification regulations and make determinations regarding the certification status of individual applicants. New York State Education Department
from 9:00-4:30 p.m. (Monday through Friday)
Web: http://www.highered.nysed.gov/tcert
E-mail: tcert@mail.nysed.gov
The Office of Teaching Initiatives maintains a FAQ site that is current and can be a valuable resource: http://www.highered.nysed.gov/tcert/faq.html. Download complete document (pdf) Aug 2014