Initial Teacher Certification Application Instructions for Undergraduate Adolescence Candidates *

Transcription

1 Initial Teacher Certification Application Instructions for Undergraduate Adolescence Candidates * TEACH System * who have completed a registered undergraduate initial teacher certification program at St. John Fisher College and who are seeking institutional recommendation for an initial teacher certificate

2 Please Read The information contained herein is intended for those who have been admitted to a registered St. John Fisher College undergraduate initial teacher certification program and who are preparing to apply for an initial teacher certificate via the institutional recommendation pathway. Initial Teacher Certification Application Instructions Page 2

3 TEACH Review Process The New York State Education Department (NYSED) has instituted a new certification application process for candidates who are completing teacher preparation programs leading to a recommendation for an initial teacher certificate. This process is online using the TEACH system. An overview of the certification application process is pictured below, and the details follow on the forthcoming pages. Note: there is no particular order in which the components must be satisfied, but they must all be satisfied before NYSED can review the certification application and issue an initial teacher certificate. Candidate submits required documents to SoE. If all program requirements are met, SoE submits a certification recommendation to NYSED online via the TEACH system School of Education (SoE) candidate submits certification application online via the TEACH system NYSED Review Candidate submits fingerprint packet Candidate passes all required New York State Teacher Certification Exams NYSED issues an Initial Teacher Certificate Initial Teacher Certification Application Instructions Page 3

4 This information from the NYSED Office of Teaching Initiatives (OTI) describes the TEACH system process and candidate responsibilities regarding the submission of a complete certification application. Candidates completing teacher preparation programs leading to certification can now access the TEACH Online Services system. Teacher preparation program completers are the first public user group to access the online applications and other features of TEACH. The features include: 1. Online teacher certification application; 2. Online fingerprint clearance application; 3. Online payment of application fees using a credit card or printing a payment coupon to mail in with a money order or certified check for application fees; 4. Online check of the status of a teacher certification application; 5. Online viewing of all correspondence sent by OTI, including an evaluation history of certification applications filed online. Online application processes in general are likely to be very familiar to you. The system endeavors to make this application process as intuitive as possible, and it is similar to creating a hotmail account or making an online purchase. The TEACH system utilizes current online features such as a requirements search engine and filtered, applicant-specific dropdown menus to streamline and narrow options. Create User Login and Password In order to apply online you must create a TEACH login and password at the New York State Directory Services. Instructions are provided as you go through the self-registration process. To self-register and login to TEACH go to and follow the instructions provided. While the application process itself is easy, there is specific information that you, as candidates in an approved teacher preparation program, must know in order to ensure that your application and recommendation match, and TEACH issues the appropriate certificate. Self-reported Education Information To apply for certification, you first need to gather some basic information from your transcript and then use that information to submit your application using the New York State Education Department TEACH online system. To view your transcript: 1. Go to Fish R Net at 2. Click Enter Secure Area. 3. Log in with your user ID and PIN and click Continue. 4. Click Student Services and Financial Aid. 5. Click Student Records. 6. Click Academic Transcript (choose Undergraduate). 7. Click Submit. Your transcript will display. Initial Teacher Certification Application Instructions Page 4

5 You need the following information for the TEACH system: Institution Name: St. John Fisher College. Award Title: Obtain this information in Appendix A (see page 7-8); select appropriately in the TEACH system dropdown menu. Program Title/Code: Obtain this information in Appendix A (see page 7-8); select appropriately in the TEACH system drop-down menu. Major: Education: select Education in the TEACH system drop-down menu. Date Degree Received: This applies to those in the initial program who are receiving a Bachelor s degree prior to a recommendation for an initial certificate. St. John Fisher College confers degrees in May, August and December. Attended From: Obtain this date from your letter of admission to the College and verify it with your transcript. This does not include semesters prior to your admission to the College as a matriculated student. Attended To: Obtain this date from your transcript. This date is the final semester of coursework for the initial program that leads to a recommendation for an initial teaching certificate. Number of Credits Earned: Obtain from your transcript. This number is the total number of credits in the initial program that leads to a recommendation for an initial certificate. This is assumed to be the total number of credits listed on your St. John Fisher College undergraduate transcript. Selecting Your Program Code In the TEACH System, you will use the series of five drop down selections to choose the title and type of teaching certificate for which you will apply. Please contact the School of Education Office at ( ) if you have any questions. Once you have selected your certificate type and title and clicked the Add button, you will be asked if you have completed, or are you in enrolled in an Approved Teacher Preparation Program. As you are or have completed, you will be asked to enter a Program Code. Program Codes are found in Appendix A (pages 7-8) Follow the prompts to completion. In order to obtain an initial teacher certificate via institutional recommendation, in addition to submitting an application, you must: Meet all requirements of NYSED (including fingerprint clearance, the New York State Teacher Certification Exams, Child Abuse Identification, School Violence Intervention and Prevention (SAVE). Initial Teacher Certification Application Instructions Page 5

6 In order to be considered for an institutional recommendation for an initial teacher certificate, you must submit the following items to the School of Education Office, Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Building, Room 206 at St. John Fisher College: Completed Authorization for Release of Education Record form that authorizes the SoE to submit to NYSED a recommendation for an initial teacher certificate (the required form is located on the second to last page of this packet). Completed Verification of Intent to Apply for an Initial Teacher Certificate form (the required form is located on the final page of this packet). Upon receipt of all of the above, the SoE will review your record to determine if the College is able to submit a recommendation for an initial teacher certificate to NYSED. SoE Support Services If you have questions, please contact the SoE at: Phone: eatwell@sjfc.edu TEACH Support Services TEACH Online Services are available anytime so that you may enter your application online and check the status of your application at your convenience. TEACH Technical Support will be available by telephone Monday Friday from 8:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. at or 24/7 via at teachhelp@mail.nysed.gov. Technical Support can only supply technical assistance in accessing TEACH Online Services. NOTE: For questions concerning your certification(s), contact the St. John Fisher College SoE. If the SoE is unable to answer your questions, you may contact the OTI at tcert@mail.nysed.gov. Due to the large volume of received, the OTI may be unable to respond in a timely manner. Initial Teacher Certification Application Instructions Page 6

7 Award Title and Program Title/Code APPENDIX A For candidates completing the Undergraduate initial certification only program in adolescence (grades 7-12) program in English, Languages other than English (Spanish, French), Math, Sciences (Biology, Chemistry, Physics), and Social Studies or dual certification in adolescence and special education:* Biology AWARD: BS PROGRAM CODE/NAME: ADOLESCENCE EDUCATION: BIOLOGY CERTIFICATE Title and Type: Biology Initial Certification Chemistry AWARD: BS PROGRAM CODE/NAME: ADOLESCENCE EDUCATION: CHEMISTRY CERTIFICATE Title and Type: Chemistry Initial Certification English AWARD: BA PROGRAM CODE/NAME: ADOLESCENCE EDUCATION: ENGLISH CERTIFICATE Title and Type: English Language Arts Initial Certification French AWARD: BA PROGRAM CODE/NAME: ADOLESCENCE EDUCATION: FRENCH CERTIFICATE Title and Type: French Initial Certification Math AWARD: BA PROGRAM CODE/NAME: ADOLESCENCE EDUCATION: MATHEMATICS CERTIFICATE Title and Type: Mathematics Initial Certification Physics AWARD: BS PROGRAM CODE/NAME: ADOLESCENCE EDUCATION: PHYSICS CERTIFICATE Title and Type: Physics Initial Certification Social Studies AWARD: BA PROGRAM CODE/NAME: ADOLESCENCE EDUCATION: SOCIAL STUDIES CERTIFICATE Title and Type: Social Studies Initial Certification Spanish AWARD: BA PROGRAM CODE/NAME: ADOLESCENCE EDUCATION: SPANISH CERTIFICATE Title and Type: Spanish Initial Certification Initial Teacher Certification Application Instructions Page 7

8 Students with Disabilities AWARD: BS PROGRAM CODE/NAME: SPECIAL EDUCATION CERTIFICATE Title and Type: Pick one of the following Students with Disabilities - Grades Biology - Initial Certification Students with Disabilities - Grades 7-12 Chemistry Initial Certification Students with Disabilities - Grades 7-12 English Initial Certification Students with Disabilities - Grades 7-12 French Initial Certification Students with Disabilities - Grades 7-12 Mathematics Initial Certification Students with Disabilities - Grades 7-12 Physics Initial Certification Students with Disabilities - Grades 7-12 Social Studies Initial Certification Students with Disabilities - Grades 7-12 Spanish Initial Certification *If you are dual certification; you actually apply for both certifications Initial Teacher Certification Application Instructions Page 8

9 Authorization for Release of Education Records For The Purpose of New York State Certification Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. School of Education St. John Fisher College Background The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 ( FERPA ) is a federal law that affords students certain rights with respect to their education records. One part of FERPA focuses on confidentiality of education records. School officials (e.g., instructors, administrative and department staff, field experience and student teaching placement coordinators and supervisors, and other full-time and part-time college employees) must protect the privacy of education records and shall not disclose personally identifiable information about a student or permit inspection of the student s records without his or her written consent. The student s written signed consent must contain three elements, as described below: (1) Specify the records to be released Examples: grades; field experience placements; general assessment of performance of student in a course or in a field-based experience; workshop participation for Identification of Child Abuse or School Violence Prevention Training (2) Identify the party or class of parties to whom the records should be released Example: NYSED Office of Teaching Initiatives (3) Indicate the reason for the release Example: to authorize the College to disclose/release information to a third party as part of an application for certification Please note: Candidates are free to refuse to provide the consent; however, the certification application would then have to be processed through the transcript evaluation route, which still would require the candidate s social security number and date of birth. Applying without the College s recommendation will require an additional processing fee, individual transcript review, and may take additional time for processing. TO BE COMPLETED BY THE CANDIDATE (complete all information, sign and date the form, and deliver it to the School of Education Office, Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Building, Room 206 at St. John Fisher College): Name of Candidate Date of Birth Address Mailing Address City/State/Zip Phone SSN I AUTHORIZE the SCHOOL OF EDUCATION at St. John Fisher College, to disclose my social security number, date of birth, academic transcript, and any other information pertaining specifically to certification requirements in New York State to the OFFICE OF TEACHING INITIATIVES of the NEW YORK STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT for the purpose of endorsing my application for certification in New York State. This authorization will expire five (5) years from the date below. I am willing that a photocopy or fax copy of this form be accepted with the same authority as the original. (Candidate s Signature) (Date) Initial Teacher Certification Application Instructions Page 9

10 Verification of Intent to Apply for an Initial Teacher Certificate Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. School of Education St. John Fisher College This form is for an Undergraduate Candidate who has completed a degree program that leads to initial certification (BS Childhood, BS Childhood/Special Education, BA Adolescence, BA Adolescence/Special Education) Graduation Date: I, (Last, First, Middle), intend to apply for an initial teacher (please print) certificate in the following certification area(s). Check all that apply. Biology, 7-12 Chemistry, 7-12 Childhood, 1-6 English, 7-12 French, 7-12 Math, 7-12 Physics, 7-12 Social Studies, 7-12 Spanish, 7-12 Students with Disabilities Biology, 7-12 Students with Disabilities Chemistry, 7-12 Students with Disabilities Childhood, 1-6 Students with Disabilities English, 7-12 Students with Disabilities French, 7-12 Students with Disabilities Mathematics, 7-12 Students with Disabilities Physics, 7-12 Students with Disabilities Social Studies, 7-12 Students with Disabilities Spanish, 7-12 For questions, I can be reached at the following: Phone Initial Teacher Certification Application Instructions Page 10