Pennsylvania Department of Education

Transcription

1 Pennsylvania Department of Education Professional Educator Certification Letter of Equivalency for Master s Degree Revised July 2010

2 Dear Educator: Thank you for your interest in the Letter of Equivalency for Master s Degree (MEQ). The MEQ was created to provide educators with the opportunity to tailor graduate coursework to specific professional needs. However, an MEQ is issued for salary purposes and does not reward the holder the entitlements of an earned Master s degree. This booklet is designed to assist you in understanding MEQ requirements, as well as the application process. Please carefully read the booklet and the application instructions so that the Bureau may process your application as quickly as possible. Please note, normal application processing takes approximately eight weeks. During high volume seasons, processing time will increase. The Bureau can not be responsible for meeting school district deadlines. Please plan ahead accordingly. In addition, missing or inaccurate information can significantly delay the processing of your MEQ application. To ensure that your application is processed in a timely manner: Carefully review and follow all directions specified in this booklet and send all required application materials together in one envelope. The policies and procedures outlined in this booklet are anticipated to remain in effect for the foreseeable future. Should any changes occur, notification of the changes will be sent to all Pennsylvania public school entities. For additional education information regarding MEQs, you may wish to browse the Pennsylvania Department of Education web page located at:

3 LETTER OF EQUIVALENCY FOR MASTER S DEGREE BEFORE YOU BEGIN... Please read through this packet and carefully follow the instructions. This section is intended to provide general background on Pennsylvania requirements and procedures. Step-by-step instructions and a checklist are included at the end of the booklet to ensure your application is submitted correctly. COMMONLY ASKED QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS These questions and answers are based on current regulations as of September 1999, and are subject to change by the Pennsylvania State Board of Education and/or the General Assembly. 1. What is a Letter of Equivalency for Master s Degree (MEQ)? The Letter of Equivalency for Master s Degree is issued as verification that the candidate has earned at least thirty-six (36) hours of graduate-level credit in accordance with Chapter (1) State Board of Education regulations. It will not satisfy certification regulations which require an earned master s degree. 2. Who qualifies for an MEQ? The MEQ may be issued to those persons who hold a valid Level I or Level II Pennsylvania certificate and have completed the necessary credit requirements as stated below. 3. What are the credit requirements for an MEQ? Candidates for a MEQ must have earned 36 graduate semester credits with a grade of C or better. On a Pass or Fail basis, Pass is acceptable. A minimum of 18 academic graduate credits must be earned in the content area of the applicant s primary teaching assignment at a college/university approved by its respective state department of education to offer graduate work. The credits may be in one of the following distributions: All graduate semester credits earned in a college/university approved for granting graduate credit; A minimum of 18 graduate semester credits earned in a college/university approved for granting graduate credit, with the remaining 18 earned through Pennsylvania in-service programs approved after October 1, 1972, by the Secretary of Education or A minimum of 18 graduate semester credits earned in a college/university approved for granting graduate credit with the remainder being a combination of graduate college/university and Pennsylvania in-service credits. 4. How do I determine if my credits are graduate level? Credits must be clearly listed as graduate level on the transcript. 5. Are Pennsylvania in-service credits acceptable? A maximum of 18 of the credit requirement may be satisfied through in-service programs approved by the Secretary of Education for meeting master s equivalency requirements. Official PDE, 3

4 in-service letters with raised seal are issued by the in-service coordinator at a Pennsylvania Intermediate Unit. 6. Are community college credits and continuing education units (CEUs) accepted toward the Letter of Equivalency for Master s Degree? No. Community college credits and continuing education units (CEUs) are not accepted toward the Letter of Equivalency for Master s Degree. 7. Are correspondence courses and courses taken as independent study acceptable? Credits from such courses may be acceptable only if they meet the criteria as outlined in Question Are quarter credit hours equivalent to semester credit hours? No. A quarter credit hour is only equal to two-thirds of a semester credit hour. If quarter credit hour courses are submitted for evaluation, the credits will be converted to semester credit hours. 9. May I use the credits which were accepted for issuance of the Level II toward the MEQ? Yes, if they meet the criteria as outlined in Question How can I be certain that my school district s MEQ deadline will be met? The Bureau cannot be responsible for meeting school district deadlines. Applications are processed in order of receipt by the Bureau. 11. How do I contact the? You may contact the Bureau by mail at the following address: Pennsylvania Department of Education 333 Market Street, 3 rd Floor Harrisburg, PA You may contact the Bureau by telephone at (717) ; text telephone TTY (717) PDE, 4

5 HOW TO APPLY... STEP 1: STEP 2: Read through the MEQ booklet and familiarize yourself with the process. Forms may be obtained at: Complete the General Application, Form PDE 338 G. Follow all instructions included with the Form PDE 338 G. IMPORTANT NOTE: In Section II-Certification Information, list the subject area as MEQ, and in the 4-digit code box enter MEQ applicants are not required to complete Section III-Health Certificate. STEP 3: STEP 4: Complete the Letter of Equivalency for Master s Degree, Form PDE 338 M. Follow all instructions included with the Form PDE 338 M. Collect documentation to support your application. Transcripts. Official transcripts are required for all college/university graduate level course work. You must contact each college/university attended and have them send you an official transcript in a sealed college/university envelope. DO NOT open this envelope when you receive it. Forward all transcripts in college-sealed, unopened envelopes with your packet. Official in-service letters. A maximum of 18 Pennsylvania in-service credits may be submitted with the application. (Official in-service letters with raised seal are issued by the in-service coordinator at a Pennsylvania Intermediate Unit.) Copies of in-service letters are not accepted for MEQ evaluation. Copies of any Pennsylvania Professional Certificates held. If you are unsure of whether a graduate level course will meet the requirements for content credit for your certificate area and current assignment, please submit an official course description from the college/university course catalog of the course in question. The course description should include the front of the catalog cover sheet corresponding in year and semester to the course taken. STEP 5: Assemble your application materials in the order listed in Step 4. STEP 6: STEP 7: Place the $ U.S. Money Order made payable to Commonwealth of Pennsylvania on top of the application materials. Submit all application materials together in one envelope to: Pennsylvania Department of Education 333 Market Street, 3 rd Floor Harrisburg, PA PDE, 5

6 CHECKLIST MISSING OR INACCURATE INFORMATION MAY SIGNIFICANTLY DELAY THE PROCESSING OF YOUR MEQ APPLICATION. BEFORE YOU SEAL THE ENVELOPE... Ensure you have included the following: $ U.S. Money Order fee made payable to Commonwealth of Pennsylvania General Application, Form PDE 338 G Letter of Equivalency for Master s Degree, Form PDE 338 M College transcripts (graduate) in college-sealed, unopened envelope Course descriptions as noted in Step 4, if applicable Official Pennsylvania IU in-service credit letters with raised seal, if applicable Copies of professional PA certificates held All application materials become the property of the Pennsylvania Department of Education. PDE, 6