Each year as part of the New Teacher Orientation Day, the Chair of the PLCSS will provide an overview of the PLCSS process and teacher responsibilities. The Chair will outline each of the following certificate types (provisional, conditional and targeted need) and requirements, roles and responsibilities. Additionally, the Chair will provide written resources and the names of PLCSS committee for each building. As part of the initial meeting each year, the Chair will confirm that each building representative has provided an orientation at their individual buildings for experienced staff for all certification types.
1. Initial Professional Teacher Certificate
Holders of conditional, targeted need, and provisional certificates: Using Maine’s Initial Teacher Certification Standards as a basis for self-evaluation, each candidate will identify his/her strengths and weaknesses and establish goals using the MSAD #15 Teacher Action Plan form. Each candidate for initial teacher certification will be assigned a mentor. Mentor assignments will be based on recommendations from the PLCSS, administration and the candidates themselves. The PLCSS will use all available data to make the best match. Mentees will meet with their assigned mentor to establish appropriate goals, activities and timelines. The assigned mentor will formally observe the new teacher at a minimum of three times annually over a two year period (6 total) for conditional, targeted need and provisional certification holders, and at a minimum of six observations for candidates of initial master certificate and renewal of master certificate and provide oral and written feedback to the candidate.
Additionally, mentors will formally meet at a minimum of twice per month with mentees to provide them the support needed to meet their goals. While we have outlined the minimums for the established mentor-mentee relationships, many pairs will meet on a much more frequent basis, especially in year one when the new teacher is getting to know the building, the district, curriculum etc. as well as establishing classroom academic and behavioral expectations.
The final recommendation of the steering committee regarding the candidate’s eligibility for certification shall be submitted to the Commissioner in the format required by the Commissioner (Form EF-C-300-R: Maine Department of Education, Application for Certification Renewal. The recommendation for the candidate will be one of the following:
• Recommendation that the professional certificate be issued if the candidate has satisfied the requirements for the certificate.
• Recommendation that the professional certificate be issued if the candidate has satisfied the requirements to be fast-tracked (See Chapter 115, Part 1, Section 2.22).
• Recommendation that the professional certificate be denied if the Professional Learning Community Support System determines that the candidate does not demonstrate eligibility for a professional certificate.
• Recommend that the provisional certification be extended if the Professional Learning Community Support System determines that the candidate needs additional time under a provisional certificate. This recommendation can be made if the candidate has only been employed in a Maine School unit for one school year under the provisional certificate, and/or fails to meet other criteria stated in the Professional Learning Community Support System Plan.
The Commissioner shall have access at any time to the Professional Certification Action Plan and to any and all mentor documents and reports pertaining to the candidate. Each certificate type has specific requirements:
2. Provisional:
Provisionally Certified Teachers are assigned a Mentor for 2 years. Provisionally certified teachers develop an Action Plan with goals and timelines. Professional Certification is achieved after the two-year provisional period and all paperwork and requirements being met by the teacher. A copy of your certification must be given to the Certification Steering Committee and a second copy to Central Office.
3. Conditional:
Conditional Certificates are awarded for 1 year. Conditional certificates may be renewed for 2 additional one-year periods.
Conditionally certified teachers must request a signed affidavit from the Superintendent EVERY year that they are employed as a conditional Teacher. Securing the affidavit and sending it to MDOE is the professional responsibility of the Teacher and must be done prior to the first day of school. Conditionally certified Teachers must meet all testing requirements assigned by Maine Department of Education. Conditionally certified teachers are assigned a mentor for their conditional period not to exceed two years. During this time the Conditionally certified teacher is required to create a Teacher Action Plan.
After all conditions for certification are met, the conditionally certified teacher will apply for a professional certificate through the Maine Department of Education. A copy of the credential Evaluation Letter from MDOE must be provided to the Certification Steering Committee and a second copy to Central Office.
4. Targeted Need
Targeted Need certificate is for teachers who are not eligible for a conditional endorsement; and for those teachers seeking employment in a teaching shortage area, and hold a four-year degree from an accredited institution. Targeted need certificates are for those who have not previously held Maine certification and have an offer of employment with a Maine School.
Target Needs certificates are renewable twice for additional one-year terms.
Teachers on Targeted Need certificates must request a signed affidavit from the Superintendent EVERY year that they are employed as a “targeted need” teacher. Securing the affidavit and sending it to MDOE is the professional responsibility of the teacher and must be done prior to the first day of school. Targeted Need teachers must file an application with the Department of Education along with the signed affidavit, create a teacher Action Plan and fulfill all requirements assigned by the Maine Department of Education.
Teacher on targeted need certificates will be assigned a mentor and are required to complete a Teacher Action Plan. Teachers with Targeted Need Certificates should make frequent contact with the Certification Building Representative to be sure all necessary requirements are being met. A copy of the credential Evaluation Letter from MDOE must be provided to the Certification Steering Committee and a second copy to Central Office.
5. Renewal of Professional Certificates
All professional staff holding professional certification will be required to submit a Professional Renewal Plan (PRP) no later than June 1st of the year prior to certification expiration. The PRP is list of courses, professional development workshops/conferences or academic study that the teacher plans to complete as their requirement to renew their certificate. All plans must be preapproved prior to implementation. All professional staff must complete a combination of activities that totals 90 Contact hour of professional development, 6 graduate credits or 9 CEUs. All PRPs must be submitted and approved by the PLCSS.
In March of the year of certificate expiration, the holders of professional certificates must submit the Completed Plan with documentation of activities completed.
Failure to submit the PRP or the Completed Plan in the specified time frames may result in the staff member being referred to MDOE for recertification. Recertification through MDOE may result in losing professional certification status and reverting to conditional certification.
The Professional Learning Community Support System for recertification will make one of the following recommendations to MDOE on behalf of the professional certified staff:
• Recommend that the professional certificate be renewed (if the applicant has satisfied the requirements for renewal of the certificate and no other evidence is shown to be a proper basis for denial).
• Recommend that the professional certificate not be renewed (if the steering committee determines that the candidate has not satisfactorily met the requirements for renewal of the certificate the steering committee shall forward a negative recommendation to the Commissioner with a rationale. If the Commissioner is satisfied that the recommendation is correct and that the correct procedures were followed, renewal of the certificate shall be denied.
6. Transitional to Full Endorsement:
Transitional Certificates are for teachers who hold a professional endorsement in K-8, 7-12 or 9-12 and are employed in an area outside of their certificate.
Transitionally certified teachers must request a signed affidavit from the Superintendent EVERY year that they are employed as a transitional teacher. Securing the affidavit and sending it to MDOE is the professional responsibility of the teacher, and must be done prior to the first day of school. Additionally, Transitionally certified teachers must follow the timeline set forth by the Maine Department of Education and submit all required documentation annually. All documents must be copied and given to Building Certification representative and Central Office.
Transitionally certified teachers must file an application with the Department of Education along with the signed affidavit, create a teacher Action Plan and fulfill all requirement assigned by the Maine Department of Education. A copy of the credential Evaluation Letter from MDOE must be provided to the Certification Steering Committee and a second copy to Central Office.
The support system shall make a recommendation to the Commissioner regarding the
issuance or renewal of a transitional endorsement or the conversion of a transitional
endorsement to a full endorsement. The recommendation shall be one of the following:
(a) Positive recommendation - if the candidate meets the criteria of Chapter 115,
Part I, or, the candidate has made satisfactory progress towards completion of the
requirements, and no other evidence is shown to be a proper basis for denial, a
recommendation for renewal or conversion of the transitional endorsement shall
be made to the Commissioner.
(b) Negative recommendation - if the PLCSS determines that the candidate has not satisfied the requirements for renewal or conversion of the transitional endorsement, the PLCSS shall forward a negative recommendation to the Commissioner. If the Commissioner is satisfied that the recommendation in is correct and that the correct procedures were followed, renewal or conversion of the transitional endorsement shall be denied. This denial shall be deemed tentative for purposes of Chapter 119.
7. Master Teacher
Initial Master Teacher Certificate PLCSS Recommendation
The Master Teacher Certification shall be awarded using the standards for the National Board Certified Teachers as developed by the National Board of Professional Teaching Standards as listed in section below. Initial or renewal of master teacher certificates must include 6 credits.The PLCSS shall make a recommendation to the Commissioner regarding the eligibility of the teacher candidate for issuance of an initial master teacher certificate. The recommendation shall be one
of the following:
(a) Recommendation that the initial master teacher certificate be issued. If the applicant Candidate has been awarded NBPTS certification through successful completion of all requirements for one or more NBPTS certification areas, the candidate shall be
deemed to have satisfied the requirements for the certificate, and if no other evidence
is shown to be a proper basis for denial, a recommendation for issuance of the initial certificate shall be made to the Commissioner.
(b) Recommendation that the initial master teacher certificate be issued. If the candidate has successfully demonstrated the standards for one or more NBPTS certification areas, the candidate shall be deemed to have satisfied the requirements for the certificate, and if no other evidence is shown to be a proper basis for denial, a recommendation for issuance of the initial certificate shall be made to the
Commissioner.
(c) Recommendation that candidacy for the initial master teacher certificate remain
active for an additional year. If the candidate has been deemed to have successfully
completed the NBPTS certification process, but has not yet achieved NBPTS
certification, the PLCSS may recommend to the Commissioner that professional
certification be renewed and that master teacher certification be awarded retroactively if and when an NBPTS certificate is awarded.
(c) The master teacher certificate shall be issued for a five-year period. All Maine educator endorsement areas deemed equivalent to the NBPTS certification will be considered active during the period of NBPTS and master teacher certification.
Standards for Professional Growth Leading to the Initial Master Teacher Certificate
The standards and procedures for National Board Certification as adopted by the NBPTS shall be the basis upon which PLCSS recommendations are made for purposes of master teacher certification. A list of these standards and procedures are found in the revised Chapter 118 document. A completely up to date list can be accessed and downloaded at: http://www.nbpts.org/the_standards/standards_by_cert
Renewed Master Teacher Certificate PLCSS Recommendation
Using the standards referenced in sections 7, the PLCSS shall make a recommendation to the Commissioner regarding the eligibility of the candidate for renewal of a master teacher certificate. The recommendation shall be one of the following:
(a) Recommendation that the master teacher certificate be renewed - if the applicant
has satisfied the requirements for renewal of certificate, NBPTS certificate as defined section 7.1(a) above, and no other evidence is shown to be a proper basis for denial, a recommendation for renewal of the certificate shall be made to the Commissioner.
(b) Recommendation that the candidate’s current master teacher certificate be extended for one year for reasons defined in section 7.1(b) above.
(b) Recommendation that the master teacher certificate not be renewed - if the
PLCSS determines that the candidate has not satisfied the requirements for renewal
of the certificate as provided in section 8.1(a)(b) above, PLCSS shall forward a
negative recommendation to the Commissioner. If the Commissioner is satisfied
that the recommendation is correct and that the correct procedures were followed,
renewal of the certificate shall be denied. This denial shall be deemed tentative for
purposes of Chapter 119.
