Ala. Admin. Code r. 290-3-3-.55

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

Section 290-3-3-.55 - Class AA (Education Specialist Level) Programs For Areas Of Instructional Support Other Than Instructional Leadership

(1)Purpose of Class AA Programs for Areas of Instructional Support Other than Instructional Leadership. The purpose of a Class AA program shall be to prepare educators on the education specialist level to serve effectively in instructional support 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 an area of instructional support 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 Instructional Support Personnel Other than Class AA Instructional Leadership.

(a) Requirements for unconditional admission shall include:

1. A criminal history background check. Additional information is provided in Rule 290-3-3-.02(6)(d).

2. A valid master's-level professional educator certificate in the instructional support field in which the Class AA Professional Educator Certificate is sought, except for programs in school psychology as prescribed in Rule 290-3-3-.54(2).

3. At least two full years of full-time acceptable P-12 professional educational work experience.

(b) 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. Individuals who hold an out-of-state professional educator certificate from another state must meet all requirements for the Class A Professional Educator Certificate, including experience requirements described in the current Educator Certification Chapter of the Alabama Administrative Code.

(c) 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.

(d) Requirements for admission to a Class AA program in instructional leadership are in Rule 290-3-3-53.01(2).

(4)Curriculum of a Class AA Program for Instructional Support Personnel.

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

(b) 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.

(5)Requirements for Class AA Certification Other than Instructional Leadership. Readiness to serve in an instructional support capacity at the Class AA level shall include:

(a) A valid Class A Professional Educator Certificate in the instructional support field, except as prescribed in Rule 290-3-3-.57(2)(a).

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

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

(6)Testing for Class AA Certification of Instructional Support Personnel. Applicants for initial certification in an instructional support area through the completion of a Class AA program 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).

Ala. Admin. Code r. 290-3-3-.55

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. 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.

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.53 was renumbered.55 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.