Education Certification Policy Changes Due to COVID-19 Crisis
The Office of Certification has implemented flexible policies for coaching authorizations, additional coaching clarifications, professional/CTE renewal flexibilities, COVID waiver considerations, and initial professional/CTE license flexibilities in response to the COVID-19 crisis. Coaches and educators facing challenges due to the pandemic are provided with guidance on renewals, form submissions, and waiver processes. Applicants affected by closures and test availability issues can seek temporary certificates and waivers. Stay informed to navigate the certification process during these unprecedented times.
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Offi c e o f Certi fic a ti o n l exi b i l i ti es a nd P o l i c y 5 2 0 2 Cha nges COVI D- 19 F July 14, 2020
Coaching Authorization Flexibilities Coaching Authorization Flexibilities Coaches approved for the Spring, 2020 season may be renewed for the Spring, 2021 season without a renewal fee in some circumstances due to the emergency closure of schools. Please use the form 39F for coaches falling under this exception. Please contact Jamea Brinckman in the Office of Certification for further details.
Additional Coaching (Form 39) Clarification Additional Coaching (Form 39) Clarification When counties are approving a Form 39, please be very specific when filling out information. The employment begin date refers to the date the employee will begin serving this school year. It is not the original employment date or 7/1 unless the applicant will begin coaching on that day. Please keep in mind that applications are not received in our office until the applicant has paid the fee and that we do not backdate approvals. If Coach Jill Smith submits her application 3/5/20 and you approve it 3/8/20 but Jill doesn t pay until 8/15/20, the effective date can only be 8/15/20 or later and Coach Smith is not legally allowed to work with students until the application has been actually approved which could technically be up to 90 days (or even longer if the applicant has legal disclosures).
Professional or CTE Renewal Flexibilities Professional or CTE Renewal Flexibilities If required coursework for renewal was partially completed or unavailable to the applicant due to the COVID-19 crisis, apply with: The renewal form required for the credential (form 4T, 4S, 4A, V7R, V9, etc., see the application forms page,) choosing the option for a one-year certificate. A waiver form and waiver letter from the employing county (only if no coursework has been completed by the applicant due to the COVID-19 Crisis.)
COVID Waiver Considerations COVID Waiver Considerations COVID waivers are to be completed the same as any waiver. Please submit both the specific COVID waiver form and a letter addressed to Superintendent Burch along with the application. COVID waivers do NOT count toward the one waiver limit but a 2.5 GPA is still required.
Initial Professional or CTE License Flexibilities Initial Professional or CTE License Flexibilities If a praxis exam, or CTE credential test, was unavailable to eligible applicants due to the COVID-19 crisis, applicants should apply with: The form required for the certificate (marking test requirements as completed or unavailable; see the application forms page.) All completed praxis score reports or CTE credentials. Upon approval, the applicant will receive a Temporary Certificate which must then be converted to a full Professional or CTE License within a year, after the test is passed and all requirements are met.
Conversion of Temporary Certificates Conversion of Temporary Certificates The one-year Temporary Professional Certificates may be converted to the normal three-year, five-year, or permanent Professional Certificate with the paper form 8F. The one-year Temporary CTE Certificate may be converted using the usual forms for renewal or initial licenses (form V9, V7, V7R, etc.) (See the forms page.)
Student Teaching and Clinical Experience Student Teaching and Clinical Experience Permit Flexibilities Permit Flexibilities (Also see the Office of Educator Development and Support web page.) If a required content praxis was unavailable to eligible student teaching applicants due to the COVID-19 crisis, counties may still sign and approve of the placement. Clinical Experience Permits may be approved without content praxis exams if the IHE states the applicant was affected by testing unavailability. The form required for the credential should be marked to show testing as completed or unavailable (forms 24, 24A, etc., on the application forms page). Applicants submit all completed praxis score reports to this office with the application.
Alternative and Provisional Certification Alternative and Provisional Certification Currently, Alternative and Provisional Certificates are not affected by the COVID-19 crisis. If an applicant has not completed the required praxis tests to convert from the Alternative to the Provisional Certificate, please submit a form 25R for renewal of the Alternative Certificate. Once required tests are passed, the forms 20P and 25C may be submitted for Provisional Certification as usual.
Substitute Permit Flexibilities Substitute Permit Flexibilities Per Policy 5202, initial or renewal substitute trainings may be offered by counties who have an approved training program. The WV e-LEARNING substitute training courses were available during the COVID-19 crisis and will continue. Please send questions to Christina Haymaker.
Authorizations for ECCAT or Community Authorizations for ECCAT or Community Programs Lead Teacher Programs Lead Teacher Flexibilities for ECCAT authorizations are granted due to unavailability of coursework in the Spring, 2020 during the COVID-19 closure. Applicants may have authorizations extended based on county or employer recommendation. (Please send questions to Christina Haymaker.) Community Programs Lead Teacher Authorizations are not affected, as courses continued and were available through the WVDE during the Spring, 2020. Applicants must submit 6 semester hours (or two required WV e- LEARNING courses) for renewal as usual. Applicants beginning a new position with a new employer may be eligible for renewal without coursework per Policy 5202.
Salary Supplement Renewal Extension for Salary Supplement Renewal Extension for Eligible Recipients Eligible Recipients Salary supplement recipients who are eligible, based on the documentation our office has received from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, will have their state salary supplement extended without needing to apply for renewal at this time due to COVID-19. The extension will be done automatically by our office for all those affected, and their county of employment will be notified with their new expiration date. These individuals must renew their supplement during the upcoming 2020-21 year according to NBPTS and WVBE Policy 5202 renewal process. Please send questions to Scottie Ford.
Form 1T Form 1T Restricted Pre-Professional Certificate (one-time extension of First Class/Full Time Permit): The applicant must have been on a First Class/ Full Time Permit and must have completed all requirements except for praxis exams. See Policy 5202, Section 10.11.a.
Form 1R Form 1R Restricted First Class/ Full Time Permit: The applicant must meet all requirements for the permit except for the minimum GPA of 2.50. This permit allows applicants one year to raise the GPA to the required level. See Policy 5202, Section 11.1.g.
Form 1/1A and Out Form 1/1A and Out- -Of Of- -State Programs State Programs Please caution individuals that are completing programs out-of-state to be sure their program meets the requirements for licensure. We have recently been made aware of programs at Grand Canyon University that are being promoted as leading to licensure, but do not qualify for a West Virginia Teaching Certificate. They may qualify for an out-of-state licensure which may then transfer through reciprocity. Please contact Brad Fittro for information about applicants who may be affected by this institution or other institutions out-of-state that may or may not lead to licensure.
Form 8 Form 8 Additional endorsements on Professional Licenses (now electronic applications): Form 8 - adding endorsements through coursework Form 8A- adding the Autism Endorsement with coursework Form 8C- adding endorsements with praxis tests Form 8F- converting Temporary Professional Licenses to Full Professional Licenses Form 8R- adding endorsements with a valid and transferrable out-of-state Professional License
Forms 65, 4NT, 4NS, 4NA Forms 65, 4NT, 4NS, 4NA Non-U.S. citizens may hold Professional Licenses with the change in West Virginia Code as of February 2020. The form 65 may be used to convert from a non-U.S. citizen permit to a Professional License. These forms beginning with 4 are for renewals of Non-U.S. citizen Professional Teaching Certificates, Student Support, and/ or Administrative Licenses. West Virginia Code 18A-3-1.
Form 10 Form 10 Collegiate Instructor Part-Time Permit This permit allows full time higher education instructors to teach within an endorsement area in the WV public school system. A master s degree within the endorsement area is required. A minimum of three years of experience as a collegiate instructor is required. The county superintendent signature confirms recommendation that the individual is the most qualified applicant. See Policy 5202, Section 11.7.i.
Form 11 Form 11 Contractor/Volunteer or Other School Personnel Permit: This one-year permit may be granted to an individual who will be providing any services to students or any individual who may have unaccompanied contact with students or unaccompanied access to school grounds when students are present. This permit is optional for counties. This permit requires a yearly background check for renewal. See Policy 5202, Section 11.7.j.
Form 24 Form 24 Student Teaching and Clinical Experience Permits for superintendent signature: *NEW* Form 24R- For Yearlong Residency Permits only Form 24- Initial Student Teaching/ Clinical Experience Permits Form 24A- Conversion, change, or renewal of Clinical Experience Permits Form 24B- Out-of-state Student Teaching/ Clinical Experience Permits See Policy 5100, Section 8. All forms are recently updated with more clearly defined options showing testing completion and exemptions.
Form V8 Form V8 Authorization for CTE Administrator: This permanent authorization requires: the following criteria on or before June 30, 2021: Currently have the principal endorsement on professional license; A minimum of three years (of the last five years) CTE administrator level experience; and receive recommendation from the employing county superintendent. For a temporary authorization leading to permanent, applicants must: Provide evidence of the following after July 1, 2019- currently have the principal endorsement on professional license; commit to completing the state-approved CTE Administrator coursework to include two specialized CTE Administrator courses for a total of six credit hours and a CTE Administrator Specialized Seminar training; a minimum of three years teaching or school level administrator experience; and receive recommendation from the employing county superintendent. See Policy 5202, Section 11.9.z.
Changes to Testing and Exemptions Changes to Testing and Exemptions Policy 5202 now allows for praxis test scores beyond the 10-year limit. Exemption from the Core Academic Skills Exams for Educators: An ACT score of 17 in both English and Reading (equal to a total of 34) and a math score of 21 will now exempt applicants from these tests. See Policy 5202 sections 10.2.d. and 10.2.c.1.a.
Form 4 On Form 4 On- -Line System Error Line System Error Individuals who apply for a Permanent Teacher or Student Support Certificate, who currently have a Five-Year Certificate (22-1 or 22-2), master s degree, five years of experience, and completion of the Beginning Educator Internship (or exemption) currently must select an option to request permanent status outside of the normal expiration date. Please have them select the six hours of coursework option if they do not have an MA+30 or age of 60, even though they may not have current coursework as it would not be required. Administrators who have two years of experience as an administrator have the same issue and will select the six hours of coursework option or MA+30 or age of 60 if they qualify. We are working with the developer to have this issue corrected.
On On- -Line Application System Line Application System All additional endorsements to the Professional Teaching, Student Support, and Administrative Certificates have been converted to the On-Line Application System. Please do not submit paper copies for the Form 8. The only exception is the new CTE Administrator Authorization, as that is a paper form V8. The Long-Term and Short-Term Substitute applications are in development for the On-Line System for the professional endorsements only.
On On- -Line Application System Line Application System (Continued) (Continued) Please do not use SEND BACK. If the application was submitted with the following incorrect information, these are reasons to use REJECT/DENY: Applicant submitted wrong application. Application not needed. Duplicate Application. Applicant does not qualify. Not employed in position (we see that one on the form 39 many times.) Applicant did not enter their experience correctly. Counties may add/change/delete this experience at any time, but applicants may not. Please check your pending applications and if any of these reasons apply to pending applications in your county, please recall them and REJECT/DENY the applications.
Reminders of Procedure Reminders of Procedure WVEIS portal uploads: All applicants employed by a county must have forms and supplemental materials submitted through the WVEIS portal with the help of the county certification officer. Our office cannot accept forms mailed or emailed directly from county- employed applicants. This ensures that counties are aware of all items sent by their employees to the Office of Certification. A paper copy Form 7 is required for processing of the initial teaching application for first-time applicants. Currently, should a notary be unavailable due to the COVID-19 crisis for the form 7 or for the form V10, a notary signature is not required.
Reminders of Procedure Reminders of Procedure Official Transcripts: Transcripts for most applications must be official and may be submitted: From the IHE by e-script to: cert.transcripts.wvde@k12.wv.us . From the county certification officer, uploaded and verified as original. From the IHE, county, or applicant through the U.S. Mail, if the transcript can be verified as official by our office personnel. Transcripts emailed directly from an applicant cannot be accepted as official.
Reminders of Procedure Reminders of Procedure Please be sure that legal disclosure questions are fully completed by the applicant before form submission. Affirmative answers to any legal question require a narrative and documentation from the applicant. Questions about legal disclosures may be directed to Emily Curry.
Certification Notebook on OneNote Certification Notebook on OneNote The Certification Notebook on OneNote is always available online as a quick guide regarding application types, requirements, and Policy 5202 excerpts. If you do not have access to this notebook, please send your request to Julie Morris so that we may share this with you.
Q & A Q & A We welcome your questions.
