Ala. Admin. Code r. 290-3-3-.53

Current through Register Vol. 43, No. 1, October 31, 2024

Section 290-3-3-.53 - Class AA (Education Specialist Level) Programs For Teaching Fields

(1)Purposes of Class AA Programs for Teaching Fields. The purposes of a Class AA program shall be to prepare educators on the education specialist level to serve effectively in teaching positions. Persons who complete Class AA programs shall have acquired knowledge and skill above the level required for completion of a Class A program. Class AA programs must meet Advanced CAEP standards.

(2)Institutional and Program Requirements.

(a) The provision of Class AA programs shall be limited to institutions that meet the standards for accreditation at the education specialist's degree or higher level by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

(b) Institutions must have and enforce policies that preclude a candidate who took a course for master's degree credit from taking the same course for education specialist's degree credit.

(c) Completion of a Class AA program for a teaching field requires at least 30 semester hours of graduate credit not used for prior-level certification or degree in any teaching field or area of instructional support.

(3)Unconditional Admission to a Class AA Program for Teaching Fields. Each institution shall establish and enforce a policy that specifies when the candidate must meet criteria for unconditional admission to the program. Admission to the graduate school is not equivalent to unconditional admission to an approved program. Requirements for unconditional admission shall include:

(a) A criminal history background check. Additional information is provided in Rule 290-3-3-.03(6)(d).

(b) A valid master's-level professional educator certificate in the same teaching field(s) in which the Class AA Professional Educator Certificate is sought, except as prescribed below:

1. Special circumstances:

(i) A teacher with a valid bachelor's-level professional educator certificate in early childhood education and a valid master's-level professional educator certificate in reading may be unconditionally admitted to a Class AA program in early childhood education. A teacher with a valid bachelor's-level professional educator certificate in elementary education and a valid master's-level professional educator certificate in reading may be unconditionally admitted to a Class AA program in elementary education.

(ii) A teacher with a valid bachelor's-level professional educator certificate in any teaching field and a valid master's-level professional educator certificate in English for speakers of other languages may be unconditionally admitted to a Class AA program in the same teaching field for which the teacher holds a valid bachelor's level professional educator certificate.

(iii) A teacher with a valid bachelor's-level professional educator certificate in English language arts and a valid master's-level professional educator certificate in reading may be unconditionally admitted to a Class AA program in English language arts.

(iv) A teacher with a valid master's level professional educator certificate in a teaching field may be unconditionally admitted to a Class AA program in special education or English for Speakers of Other Languages.

2. If an individual is unconditionally admitted to an Alabama Class AA program based on a valid master's-level professional educator certificate from another state, completes a Class AA program, and subsequently applies for Alabama certification at the Class AA level, then the individual must hold at least a valid Class A Professional Educator Certificate before applying for Class AA certification.

(4)Curriculum of Class AA Programs for Teaching Fields. The curriculum shall be in work approved by the graduate school or division of the institution as meeting its standards of quality for study at the education specialist level.

(a) A Class AA program for a teaching field must require at least 30 semester hours of graduate credit not used for prior-level certification or degree in any teaching field or area of instructional support.

1. At least one-third of the program shall consist of teaching field courses.

2. English language arts, general science, and general social studies programs shall require at least one course in two areas within the broader field.

(b) Institutions must have and enforce policies that preclude a candidate who took a course for credit in a Class A program from taking the same course for credit in a Class AA program.

(5)Requirements for Class AA Certification in aTeaching Field.

(a) A valid Class A Professional Educator Certificate in the same teaching field(s) which was used as a basis for admission to the Class AA program, as provided for in Rule 290-3-3-.53(3)(b)1. (i) -(iv) or for teacher leader as provided in Rule 290-3-3-.54(2)(a)1.

(b) An official transcript from a regionally accredited institution documenting an earned education specialist degree.

(c) A survey of special education course is required unless that course was taken for prior level certification. [See Rule 290-3-3-.01(51)] . An individual who completed a survey of special education course prior to the semester when the individual met requirements for unconditional admission to a Class AA program July 1, 2017, and thereafter, must take a course focused primarily on one of the following categories: methods of accommodating instruction to meet the needs of students with exceptionalities in inclusive settings, multicultural education, teaching English language learners, rural education, or urban education. A diversity course used to meet this requirement for one level of certification may not be used to meet the requirement for a higher level of certification.

(d) Satisfactory completion of a State-approved program with a minimum GPA of 3.25 on all courses in the Alabama State Board of Education approved educator preparation program as verified on an official transcript. For candidates who meet requirements for unconditional admission to a Class AA educator preparation program July 1, 2017, and thereafter, satisfactory completion of a State-approved program with a minimum GPA of 3.50 on all courses in the Alabama State Board of Education approved educator preparation program.

(e) Successful completion of a practicum shall be required for initial certification in a special education teaching field. For programs that meet rules for Grades K-6 and 6-12 or Grades P-12, the practicum must include both elementary and secondary placements.

(6)Testing for Class AA Certification for a Teaching Field. At the present time, there is no testing requirement for Class AA certification for teachers except for teachers who earn initial Class AA certification in a special education teaching field. Such teachers must meet the Praxis requirements of the Alabama Educator Certification Assessment Program (AECAP) as a precondition for certification. Additional information is provided in Rule 290-3-3-.01(3).

(7)Interim Employment Certificate. An Interim Employment Certificate (IEC) allows a superintendent or administrator to employ an applicant who is completing requirements for initial Class AA certification in a special education teaching field through a State-approved Class AA program at an Alabama institution. Additional information, including requirements and restrictions, is provided in the current Educator Certification Chapter of the Alabama Administrative Code.

Ala. Admin. Code r. 290-3-3-.53

New Rule: December 19, 1978. Amended: December 13, 1990; effective February 1, 1991. Repealed and Replaced: January 9, 1997; effective February 13, 1997; operative July 1, 1997. Amended: Filed March 14, 2002; effective April 18, 2002. Repealed and New Rule: Filed September 11, 2003; effective October 16, 2003. Repealed and New Rule: Filed July 13, 2004; effective August 17, 2004. Repealed and New Rule: April 14, 2005; effective May 19, 2005. Repealed and New Rule: Filed August 6, 2007; effective September 10, 2007. Repealed and New Rule: Filed August 3, 2009; effective September 7, 2009; operative October 1, 2009. Amended: Filed June 15, 2012; effective July 20, 2012.

Amended by Alabama Administrative Monthly Volume XXXIII, Issue No. 11, August 31, 2015, eff. 9/17/2015.

Amended by Alabama Administrative Monthly Volume XXXVI, Issue No. 12, September 28, 2018, eff. 10/28/2018; operative 6/1/2019.

Amended by Alabama Administrative Monthly Volume XXXIX, Issue No. 11, August 31, 2021, eff. 10/15/2021.

Previous Rule.52 was renumbered.53 per certification published August 31, 2021; effective October 15, 2021.

Author: Dr. Eric G. Mackey

Statutory Authority:Code of Ala. 1975, §§ 16-3-16, 16-23-14, 16-39-5.