Virginia Administrative Code › Title 8 - EDUCATION › Agency 20 - STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION › Chapter 23 - LICENSURE REGULATIONS FOR SCHOOL PERSONNEL › Part III - Licensure › Section 8VAC20-23-110 - Requirements for renewing a license

Current through Register Vol. 40, No. 24, July 15, 2024
A. The Division Superintendent, Postgraduate
				  Professional, Collegiate Professional, Technical Professional, Pupil Personnel
				  Services, Online Teacher, and School Manager Licenses may be renewed upon the
				  completion of 270 professional development points within a 10-year validity
				  period based on an individualized professional development plan that includes
				  ongoing, sustained, and high-quality professional development. Individuals
				  renewing a five-year renewable license must complete 180 professional
				  development points. Every person seeking renewal of a license shall complete
				  all renewal requirements, including professional development in a manner
				  prescribed by the Virginia Board of Education, except that no person seeking
				  renewal of a license shall be required to satisfy any such requirement by
				  completing coursework and earning credit at an institution of higher
				  education.
B. An individual seeking
				  renewal shall submit a completed licensure application at the time a renewal
				  request is submitted.
C. Any
				  individual licensed and endorsed to teach (i) middle school civics or economics
				  or (ii) high school government or history who is seeking renewal of such
				  license is required to demonstrate knowledge of Virginia history or state and
				  local government by completing a module or professional development course
				  specifically related to Virginia history or state and local government that has
				  a value of five professional development points.
D. Every person seeking renewal of a license
				  shall provide evidence of completion of certification or training in emergency
				  first aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and the use of automated external
				  defibrillators. The certification or training program shall (i) be based on the
				  current national evidence-based emergency cardiovascular care guidelines for
				  cardiopulmonary resuscitation and the use of an automated external
				  defibrillator, such as a program developed by the American Heart Association or
				  the American Red Cross, and (ii) include hands-on practice of the skills
				  necessary to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation. The Virginia Board of
				  Education shall provide a waiver for this requirement for any person with a
				  disability whose disability prohibits such person from completing the
				  certification or training.
E. Every
				  person seeking renewal of a license with an endorsement as a school counselor
				  shall complete training in the recognition of mental health disorder and
				  behavioral distress, including depression, trauma, violence, youth suicide, and
				  substance abuse.
F. Every person
				  seeking renewal of a license shall complete awareness training, provided by the
				  Virginia Department of Education, on the indicators of dyslexia, as that term
				  is defined by the Virginia Board of Education pursuant to regulations, and the
				  evidence-based interventions and accommodations for dyslexia.
G. Every person seeking renewal or initial
				  license shall complete a study in child abuse recognition and intervention in
				  accordance with curriculum guidelines developed by the Virginia Board of
				  Education in consultation with the Virginia Department of Social
				  Services.
H. Every person seeking
				  renewal of a license with an endorsement in history and social science shall
				  complete instruction in African American history, which shall include (i) an
				  understanding of African origins; (ii) the African diaspora; (iii) developments
				  of the Black experience in North America; (iv) the institution of slavery in
				  the United States, including historical perspectives of the enslaved; and (v)
				  how African Americans helped shape and have been shaped by American
				  society.
I. Every person seeking
				  renewal of a license as a teacher shall complete training in the instruction of
				  students with disabilities that includes (i) differentiating instruction for
				  students depending on their needs; (ii) understanding the role of general
				  education teachers on the individualized education program team; (iii)
				  implementing effective models of collaborative instruction, including
				  co-teaching; and (iv) understanding the goals and benefits of inclusive
				  education for all students.
J. When
				  provided by the state, individuals shall complete other professional
				  development activities prescribed by the Virginia Board of Education.
K. Professional development points may be
				  accrued by the completion of professional development activities to improve and
				  increase instructional personnel's knowledge of the academic subjects the
				  teachers teach or the area assigned from one or more of the following eight
				  options, in accordance with Virginia Board of Education guidelines set forth in
				  the Virginia Licensure Renewal Manual.
1.
				  College credit. Acceptable coursework offers content that provides new
				  information and is offered on campus, off campus, or through extension by any
				  regionally accredited two-year or four-year college or university. College
				  coursework shall develop further experiences in subject content taught,
				  teaching strategies, uses of technologies, leadership, and other essential
				  elements in teaching to high standards and increasing student learning. No
				  person seeking renewal of a license shall be required to complete coursework
				  and earn credit at an institution of higher learning.
2. Professional conference. A professional
				  conference is a workshop, institute, or seminar of four or more hours that
				  contributes to ongoing, sustained, and high-quality professional
				  development.
3. Curriculum
				  development. Curriculum development is a group activity in which the license
				  holder contributes to the improvement of the curriculum of a school, a school
				  division, or an educational institution in the teaching area assigned. This
				  includes the alignment of curriculum frameworks, instructional materials, and
				  assessments to provide a system with clear expectations of what is to be taught
				  and learned.
4. Publication of
				  article. The article shall contribute to the education profession or to the
				  body of knowledge of the license holder's teaching area or instructional
				  position. This article shall be published in a recognized professional journal.
				  Grant reports that present the results of educational research are acceptable
				  provided the license holder had an active role in planning, analyzing,
				  interpreting, demonstrating, disseminating, or evaluating the study or
				  innovation.
5. Publication of book.
				  Books shall be published for purchase and shall contribute to the education
				  profession or to the body of knowledge of the license holder's teaching area or
				  instructional position. The published book shall increase the field of content
				  knowledge; provide information on planning and assessment for evaluating and
				  providing students with feedback that encourages student progress and measures
				  student achievement; reference instruction, safety, and learning environment;
				  expand upon and communication and community relations working with students,
				  parents, and members of the community to promote broad support for student
				  learning. Points will not be awarded for self-published books.
6. Mentorship. Mentoring is the process by
				  which an experienced professional who has received mentorship training provides
				  assistance to one or more persons for the purpose of improving their
				  performance. Assistance may involve role modeling, direct instruction,
				  demonstration, observation with feedback, developing of plans, and consultation
				  to promote instructional excellence and increased student achievement.
				  Mentoring may include the supervision of a field experience of a pre-service
				  student teacher or an intern in an approved teacher or principal preparation
				  program, as well as mentoring as part of the induction process for a beginning
				  teacher or a first-year administrator. Individuals serving in this role and
				  submitting documentation for license renewal based on the mentorship option
				  shall receive training as a mentor prior to the assignment and at least once
				  during the 10-year renewal cycle.
7. Educational project. Educational projects
				  shall be planned, focused projects based on high standards of teaching and
				  learning. Projects shall result in a written report or other tangible product.
				  Projects shall contribute to the education profession or to the body of
				  knowledge of the license holder's teaching area or instructional position. A
				  project could include participation in new professional responsibilities, such
				  as leading a school improvement initiative.
8. Professional development activity.
				  Professional development activities shall focus on student learning and
				  achievement, schoolwide educational improvement, leadership, subject content,
				  teaching strategies, and use of technologies or other essential elements in
				  teaching to high standards. Activities shall be planned, rigorous, systematic,
				  and promote continuous inquiry and reflection. Local employing educational
				  agencies are encouraged to design professional development activities that are
				  conducted in school settings and linked to student learning and
				  achievement.