Ala. Admin. Code r. 290-3-2-.01

Current through Register Vol. 42, No. 12, September 30, 2024

Section 290-3-2-.01 - Definitions

(1)30/18. The semester hours required in a teaching field, including at least 30 semester hours of credit with at least 18 semester hours of upper-division credit.

(2)Academic Major. Refer to the definition in the Educator Preparation Chapter of the Alabama Administrative Code.

(3)Administrator. When "administrator" is used in conjunction with "superintendent," "administrator" is defined as the chief administrative officer of a nonpublic school or nonpublic school system.

(4)Administrative Experience. Experience as a superintendent or assistant superintendent, principal or assistant principal, career and technical administrator or assistant career and technical administrator in a P-12 school system(s).

(5)Alabama Council for Leadership Development (ACLD). The ACLD provides advice for the development of a system of professional development for Alabama's instructional leaders. The Council approves professional studies that fully address the Alabama Standards for Instructional Leaders and are aligned with the Alabama Standards for Professional Development.

(6)Alabama Educator Certification Assessment Program (AECAP). The statewide testing program required by the Alabama State Board of Education for educators as a precondition for initial certification in each teaching field or area of instructional support. Official score reports must be submitted electronically from the testing service to the Alabama State Department of Education. Applicants must meet the requirements of the AECAP in effect at the time an application and nonrefundable fee are received in the Educator Certification Section. Additional information is in Rule 290-3-2-.02(9).

(7)Applicant. An individual who meets one of the following definitions:

(a) An individual who submits an application or for whom an educator preparation institution or a prospective or current employer submits an application to the Section for any certificate, substitute license, or other license issued by the Alabama State Superintendent of Education.

(b) An individual employed by a local education agency or nonpublic school to act in any capacity in which she or he will have unsupervised access to children in an educational environment.

(c) An individual applying for admission to a State-approved educator preparation program at an Alabama regionally accredited senior institution for the purpose of earning a certificate after completing that program and meeting other current requirements.

(8)Application for Certification. Completed, current official forms and supporting documents, including official transcripts and documentation of compliance with the requirements of the AECAP, to substantiate a request for certification. Application for certification includes initial certification, renewal, changing to a higher level of certification, and adding a teaching field and/or an area of instructional support. All requests for certification must include at least the current application form(s), the nonrefundable application fee(s) as indicated on the current application form(s) and the completion of the criminal history background check. A request for certification will not be assigned for review until at least these items are received. The application receipt date is the day on which the current application form(s) is received in the Educator Certification Section. The Section reserves the right to request an updated application form(s) if the application was signed by the applicant more than six months prior to receipt in the Section.

(9)Area. Any teaching field and grade level(s) or instructional support area and grade level(s).

(10)Candidate. A pre-service or in-service person enrolled in a senior institution for the purpose of earning initial or advanced certification in a teaching field or area of instructional support or for professional development purposes.

(11)Certificate. The official document issued by the Alabama State Department of Education to an applicant who has been deemed to meet all requirements for the issuance of the document. Printed information on the document includes the name of the applicant to whom it was issued, the date each area was issued, the degree level(s), valid period(s), and the specific teaching field(s) and/or area(s) of instructional support and grade level(s). Information on proper certification is in Rule 290-3-2-.01(40).

(12)Certification Officer. One person, designated by the head of the educator preparation unit at an Alabama regionally accredited senior institution of higher education with State-approved educator preparation programs, who is authorized to represent the unit. Responsibilities of the certification officer include but are not limited to:

(a) Verifying to the Alabama State Department of Education that an applicant for a certificate has successfully completed the State-approved program for the certificate sought and is recommended for certification.

(b) Verifying whether an applicant for a Special Alternative Certificate has met State requirements for unconditional admission to a State-approved program in the teaching field or area of instructional support for which the certificate is sought.

(c) Responding to requests for information from the Alabama State Department of Education.

(13)Child Abuse Crime. As defined in Act 2002-457, any crime committed under the law of the state that involves the physical or mental injury, sexual abuse or exploitation, or maltreatment of a child. Conviction of this crime shall cause an applicant to be deemed unsuitable for employment. Additional information about suitability determinations is in Rule 290-3-2-.01(54).

(14)Church-related/Parochial School. Includes only schools which offer instruction in Grades P-12, or any combination thereof, through on-site or home programs and are operated as a ministry of a local church, group of churches, denomination, and/or association of churches which do not receive any state or federal funding. Refer to Code of Ala. 1975, § 16-28-1.

(15)Criminal History Background Check. Information received from the Alabama State Bureau of Investigation (ASBI) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), resulting from a fingerprint review. Additional information is in Rule 290-3-2-.02(8).

(16)Department. Alabama State Department of Education.

(17)DoDEA. Department of Defense Education Activity.

(18)Educational Administrator. When used in this chapter or in applying Rules of the Alabama State Board of Education, the term applies to a person who holds a previously issued or current Alabama certificate as a career and technical administrator, educational administrator, instructional leader, principal, superintendent, or superintendent-principal.

(19)Educator Preparation Program. A State-approved program at an Alabama senior institution, a state-approved program at a senior institution in another state, or a program in another country leading to professional educator certification within grades P-12 as a teacher or as a provider of instructional support (administrator, counselor, librarian, psychologist, psychometrist, speech language pathologist, sport manager, and/or supervisor).

(20)Form. Official, required document(s) completed by or for applicants for a variety of purposes. Any reference to a form in this chapter means the current version of the form.

(21)GPA (Grade Point Average). In this chapter, all GPA requirements pertain to calculations on a four-point scale. Appropriate adjustments shall be made for other scales. GPAs may not be rounded. For example, a GPA of 2.74 cannot be rounded to 2.75. The official overall GPA is the GPA posted on the official transcript of the degree granting institution that was used as the basis for granting the degree.

(22)Initial Certificate. The first Alabama certificate in each specific teaching field or area of instructional support issued to an educator.

(23)Instructional Leader. When used in this chapter or in applying the Rules of the Alabama State Board of Education, the term applies to a person who holds a previously issued or current Alabama certificate as a career and technical administrator, educational administrator, instructional leader, principal, superintendent, superintendent-principal, or supervisor.

(24)Instructional Support Areas. The area(s) and grade level(s) printed on the certificate to which a person may be assigned and deemed properly certified. Area(s) include career and technical administrator, educational administrator, instructional leader, library media specialist, principal, school counselor, school psychologist, school psychometrist, speech language pathologist, sport manager, superintendent, superintendent-principal, and supervisor.

(25)Issuing Authority. The official state agency responsible for awarding educator credentials for grades P-12, or DoDEA.

(26)K (Kindergarten). In Alabama schools and as used in this chapter, kindergarten refers to programs for five-year olds.

(27)Levels of Professional Educator Certificates.

(a) Class B: Bachelor's degree level.

(b) Class A: Master's degree level program of at least 30 semester hours of graduate credit in a teaching field or instructional support area. Coursework used to meet Class B certification or bachelor's degree requirements may not be used toward the issuance of higher level certification in any area. Coursework for which credit was applied toward the issuance of a previous level of certification, in any area, may not be used toward the issuance of higher level certification in any area.

(c) Class AA: Planned sixth-year program of at least 30 semester hours of graduate credit, which results in an education specialist degree. Coursework used to meet Class A certification or master's degree requirements may not be used toward the issuance of higher level certification in any area. Coursework for which credit was applied toward the issuance of a previous level of certification, in any area, may not be used toward the issuance of higher level certification in any area.

(28)Levels of Professional Leadership Certificates.

(a) Class A: Master's degree level program of at least 30 semester hours of graduate credit. Coursework used to meet Class B certification or bachelor's degree requirements may not be used toward the issuance of higher level certification in any area. Coursework for which credit was applied toward the issuance of a previous level of certification, in any area, may not be used toward the issuance of higher level certification in any area.

(b) Class AA: Planned sixth year program of at least 30 semester hours of graduate credit, which results in an education specialist degree. Coursework used to meet Class A certification or master's degree requirements may not be used toward the issuance of higher level certification in any area. Coursework for which credit was applied toward the issuance of a previous level of certification, in any area, may not be used toward the issuance of higher level certification in any area.

(29)Mentor. When used in this chapter in regard to an Alternative Baccalaureate-Level Certificate, Career and Technical Alternative Baccalaureate-Level Certificate, Special Alternative Certificate, Preliminary Certificate, Preliminary Certificate Through Exception, Business and Industry to Educational Administration Certificate, Provisional, or Interim Employment Certificate the term "mentor" is defined as a teacher or instructional support employee of a P-12 public school or a P-12 nonpublic school who has at least three full years of professional educational work experience; has demonstrated effectiveness in the performance of his or her work; has demonstrated excellence in communicating and collaborating with colleagues; and is designated by the superintendent or administrator to provide guidance, support, and assistance in the development and improvement of the professional skills and understanding to a beginning teacher or instructional support person. The mentor should hold a valid certificate in the same teaching field or area of instructional support for which the individual to be mentored is seeking certification.

(30)Nonpublic School. Includes P-12 schools that are church-related/parochial, federally operated, special schools that are supported by the state, and schools that are not public. Additional information is in the definition of church-related/ parochial school in Rule 290-3-2-.01(14).

(31)Official Transcript. A college or university transcript that has been received directly from the issuing institution or from a Department approved electronic transcript delivery agent that bears the college/university seal, date of transcript issuance, and the signature of the Registrar.

(32)P (Preschool or Pre-K). Any level prior to kindergarten.

(33)Professional Development. Sustained and collaborative activities for teachers and instructional support personnel designed to increase the academic achievement of all students. The activities must strengthen pedagogical knowledge and promote the acquisition of research-based strategies. For currently employed Alabama educators, the need for such activities must be supported by data from local schools. Professional development plans must be approved by the employing superintendent or administrator.

(34)Professional Educational Work Experience. Acceptable employment in a teaching field or an area of instructional support. Additional information is in Rule 290-3-2-.02(10).

(35)Professional Educator Certificate. A certificate to teach in grades P-12 that is issued by the Alabama State Department of Education based on at least an earned bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited senior institution except as prescribed in Rule 290-3-2-.02(7)(c). A certificate to provide instructional support (counselor, librarian, psychologist, psychometrist, speech-language pathologist, sport manager) in grades P-12 that is issued by the Alabama State Department of Education based on at least an earned master's degree from a regionally accredited senior institution. Issuance of the Professional Educator Certificate is based on completion of a State-approved approach to certification. Since January 2010, administrative and supervisory certificates are no longer printed on the certificate entitled Professional Educator Certificate.

(36)Professional Educator Certificate. A certificate to teach in grades P-12 that is issued by the certificate issuing authority in another state or DoDEA based on at least an earned bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited senior institution. A certificate to provide instructional support (administrator, counselor, librarian, psychologist, psychometrist, sport manager, supervisor) in grades P-12 that is issued by the certificate issuing authority in another state or DoDEA and is based on at least an earned master's degree.

(37)Professional Leadership Certificate. A certificate to provide leadership (career and technical administrator, educational administrator, instructional leader, principal, superintendent, superintendent-principal, and supervisor) in grades P-12 that is issued by the Alabama State Department of Education and is based on at least an earned master's degree from a regionally accredited senior institution and completion of a State-approved approach to certification. Since January 2010, administrative and supervisory certificates are printed on the certificate entitled Professional Leadership Certificate. Prior to January 2010, administrative and supervisory certificates were printed on the certificate entitled Professional Educator Certificate.

(38)Professional Learning Unit. A Professional Learning Unit (PLU) is a content driven, long-term unit of professional study for instructional leaders that fully addresses all knowledge and ability indicators under an Alabama Standard for Instructional Leaders. Professional study that constitutes a PLU requires multiple professional development experiences over time and will always be aligned with the Alabama Standards for Professional Development. A PLU is earned at the completion of professional study which fully addresses the knowledge and ability indicators under an Alabama Standard for Instructional Leaders. The professional study must include comprehensive coverage and evaluation of effectiveness in the school setting. Professional study that earns a PLU must be approved either by the Alabama Council for Leadership Development (ACLD) or approved by an Alabama city or county superintendent or an administrator of an Alabama nonpublic school.

(39)Program Checklist. An official document identifying all courses required to complete a State-approved educator preparation program. Program checklists are submitted by an institution and approved by the Alabama State Board of Education following a review. The official State-approved checklist will be used as the basis for issuing a certificate. Additional information on program approval is in the current Educator Preparation Chapter of the Alabama Administrative Code. If institutions modify the format of the State-approved program checklist to facilitate advisement, all requirements on the official program checklist must be included on the modified forms.

(40)Proper Certification. Proper certification is defined as having a valid Alabama certificate in the teaching field(s) and/or area(s) of instructional support in which the person is assigned throughout the school day. The current edition of the Subject and Personnel Codes of the Alabama State Department of Education shall be used to determine whether an individual holds proper certification for his or her assignments throughout the school day.

(41)Reasonable Suspicion. Reasonable articulable grounds to believe that a crime has been committed by the individual.

(42)Receipt Date. The date a document is received and date stamped by the Educator Certification Section. The date a fee is received in the Educator Certification Section.

(43)Regional Accrediting Agency. The six regional accrediting agencies recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and the Department are:

(a) Middle States Commission on Higher Education for institutions of higher education in Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

(b) New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Commission on Institutions of Higher Education for institutions of higher education in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont.

(c) Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Universities, for institutions of higher education in Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming, including schools of the Navajo Nation.

(d) Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities for institutions of higher education in Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Washington.

(e) Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges for institutions of higher education in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia.

(f) Western Association of Schools and Colleges, Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities for institutions of higher education in California, Hawaii, the United States territories of Guam and American Samoa, the Republic of Palau, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the Republic of the Marshall Islands.

(44)Regionally Accredited. Refers to action taken by one of the regional accrediting agencies in Rule 290-3-2-.01(43) and is specific to the status of the institution at the time credit or degrees were earned.

(45)Renewal. The continuation of a valid certificate with a new valid period or the reinstatement of an expired certificate with a new valid period. Additional information is in Rule 290-3-2-.29.

(46)Revocation. The process of taking adverse action against a certificate, substitute teacher license, or other license.

(47)Scholastic Year. Begins with the first day of July and ends with the thirtieth day of June each year. Refer to Code of Ala. 1975, § 16-1-1.

(48)Section. The Educator Certification Section of the Office of Teaching and Leading of the Alabama State Department of Education.

(49)Senior Institution. A college or university that confers at least the bachelor's degree.

(50)State. Any state or commonwealth, the District of Columbia, the Department of Defense Education Activity, or territory of the United States of America.

(51)State-approved Approach. The various methods of obtaining a Professional Educator Certificate or a Professional Leadership Certificate that have been approved by the Alabama State Board of Education.

(52)State-approved Program. An educator preparation program at an Alabama regionally accredited senior institution of higher education that has been formally approved by the Alabama State Board of Education on the basis of Alabama standards. All of the courses in an approved educator preparation program shall be indicated on an Alabama State Department of Education form called a program checklist.

(53)State-approved Program. An educator preparation program at a college or university in another state that has been approved by the Department of Education in that state based on its standards.

(54)Suitability Determination. Determination issued by the Alabama State Superintendent of Education to employing superintendents, administrators, or applicants in response to a criminal history background check indicating an applicant's or current employee's fitness for employment as prescribed in Act 2002-457.

(55)Superintendent. In this chapter, the Alabama State Superintendent of Education shall be designated as the Superintendent.

(56)Superintendent. In this chapter, an Alabama city, county, or other public school superintendent shall be designated as a Superintendent.

(57)Supervisor. When used in this chapter or in applying Rules of the Alabama State Board of Education, the term applies to a person who holds a previously issued or current Alabama certificate as a supervisor.

(58)Supervisory Experience. Experience directing an educational program at the central office level of a P-12 school system(s).

(59)Teacher. When used in this chapter or in applying the Rules of the Alabama State Board of Education, the term applies to a person who holds a previously issued or current Alabama certificate for a teaching field.

(60)Teaching Field. Subject(s) and grade level(s) printed on a certificate to which a person may be assigned and deemed properly certified. Additional information about proper certification is in Rule 290-3-2-.01(40).

(61)Upper-Division. Coursework designated by an institution of higher education to be at the junior or senior level of undergraduate study.

(62)Valid. In effect; not expired.

(63)Valid Period. The dates during which a certificate or license is in effect.

Ala. Admin. Code r. 290-3-2-.01

New Rule: Filed December 19, 1978. Repealed: Filed December 8, 1994; effective December 31, 1996. New Rule: Filed December 8, 1994; effective January 1, 1997. Repealed: Filed November 14, 1996. Amended repealed date of original chapter to June 30, 1997. New Rule: Filed February 20, 1997; operative March 27, 1997; effective July 1, 1997. Amended: Filed June 14, 1999; effective July 19, 1999. Amended: Filed September 9, 1999; effective October 14, 1999. Repealed and New Rule: Filed August 8, 2002; effective September 12, 2002. Repealed and New Rule: Filed December 12, 2002; effective January 16, 2003. Repealed and New Rule: Filed September 11, 2003; effective October 16, 2003. Amended: Filed June 9, 2005; effective July 14, 2005.

Adopted by Alabama Administrative Monthly Volume XXXIV, Issue No. 06, March 31, 2016, eff. 4/24/2016.

Amended by Alabama Administrative Monthly Volume XXXVIII, Issue No. 11, August 31, 2020, eff. 10/15/2020.

Rule was previously .06 and renumber to .01 as per certification file August 4, 2008.

Author: Dr. Eric G. Mackey

Statutory Authority:Code of Ala. 1975, Ala. Const. Amend. 2 84, §§ 16-3-11, 16-23-1, 16-23-2.