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Board
looks to future actions on high school tracks, requirements for teacher and
principal certificates
Discussion at March’s South Dakota Board of Education meeting
set the stage for upcoming actions on high school curriculum and certification
requirements. Review of 2004 legislative actions as well as presentations of
proposed rule changes began the board’s deliberations on the topics. A
summary of the board’s work includes:
·
Two-track
high school curriculum
Secretary Rick Melmer
informed the board that the 2004 Legislature passed a bill that sets up a
two-tiered system of curriculum for high schools, “advanced” and “basic.” All
accredited high schools will be required to offer the courses necessary for
students to complete either track.
He explained that students
will be enrolled by default into the advanced track; in order to move into the
basic track, a student’s parent(s) will have to sign off on the change after
being informed by the high school of its impact on meeting university and/or
tech institute entrance requirements. Melmer noted that the goal of the bill
is to get parents more directly involved in their children’s educational lives
and preparation for life after high school. He believes the bill will
increase the expectations so that students will be better-prepared for
postsecondary options and will have fewer surprises related to not having
chosen the right courses during high school.
The board is authorized by
the legislature to promulgate administrative rules establishing the
requirements for each track; it is expected to review draft rules at its next
meeting.
·
Teacher
certification requirements being revamped
The Department of Education, the Board of Regents’ Education
Discipline Council, and the Board of Education reported on initial work with
groups of practicing educators to revamp teacher certification requirements in
South Dakota to more closely align them to the “highly qualified teacher”
requirements of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 and to add
consistency throughout the system. Among the proposed changes the Board will
be deliberating in the future are:
►ARSD 24:16:02:03 Certification program only –
Requested by the Education Discipline Council, the rule change would allow a
teacher candidate with a previous content specific major to take additional
coursework in pedagogy to complete an education degree. The passing of a
content test would serve as verification of their content knowledge.
Currently, requirements regarding the amount of content specific coursework
vary among institutions; the rule would eliminate confusion and recognize
knowledge and coursework that has been earned through a previous content
specific degree.
►ARSD 24:15:05 Teacher preparation endorsements -
Requested by the Department of Education, the proposal moves all teacher
preparation endorsements out of ARSD 24:16:08 Requirements for basic
teaching programs and into ARSD 24:15:05 Teacher preparation
endorsements. This move would give the department, rather than individual
universities, the authority to grant endorsement level approval. Endorsement
requirements often vary from institution to institution, and thus create
confusion for both the students and the department. Additionally, under the
requirements that become effective
July 1, 2005, students will
be required to pass a state test for each of their content areas in order to
obtain certification in those areas. The certification will be based on the
students’ test scores, rather than on their coursework.
►Article 24:16:08 Teacher preparation program approval
- As the result of a small task force and a large advisory group, a revision
of the administrative rules for elementary teacher preparation programs
throughout section 24:16:08 has been proposed. These teacher preparation rules
have not been revised for over five years and due to the new requirements with
the licensure test, it is essential that the preparation standards address the
testing requirements.
·
Change
proposed to principal certification to ease requirements for K-12 assignments
ARSD 24:16:09:01 K-12 Principal certification program
- The Department of Education worked with the Alternative Certification
Advisory Council to determine ways to help administrators meet current K-12
principal certification requirements. With declining enrollments leading to
fewer administrators in many small districts, administrators are increasingly
being asked to serve as K-12 principals, even though they may not qualify for
both principals’ certificates (K-8 and 7-12). The troublespot for persons who
hold one of the certificates is often the current requirement for completion
of a specific program for each level of certification (i.e. K-8; 7-12).
Additionally, there are numerous cases in which administrators from other
states have earned a K-12 principal certification, come to
South Dakota to work, but
find that their preparation does not fit SD requirements. In such cases, the
person will need to complete additional coursework or be recognized as an
uncertified “building manager” for one of the assignments. The proposed rule
would allow preschool-12 certification to be granted to administrators who
meet certain standards that will be spelled out in new language. |
