Initial and/or Professional Teacher Certification Application Instructions for Special Education Graduate Candidates * TEACH System * who have completed a registered graduate initial/professional teacher certification program at St. John Fisher College and who are seeking institutional recommendation for an initial/professional teacher certificate
Please Read The information contained herein is intended for those who have been admitted to a registered St. John Fisher College graduate initial/professional teacher certification program and who are preparing to apply for an initial/professional teacher certificate via the institutional recommendation pathway. Initial/Professional Teacher Certification Application Instructions Page 2
TEACH Review Process The New York State Education Department (NYSED) has instituted a new certification application process for students who are completing teacher preparation programs leading to a recommendation for an initial/professional 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 your certification application and issue an initial/professional 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 or Professional Teacher Certificate Initial/Professional Teacher Certification Application Instructions Page 3
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 http://www.highered.nysed.gov/tcert/teach/teach.htm and follow the instructions provided. While the application process itself is easy, there is specific information that you, as graduates of 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 http://fishrnet.sjfc.edu/. 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 Graduate). 7. Click Submit. Your transcript will display. Initial/Professional Teacher Certification Application Instructions Page 4
You need the following information for the TEACH system: Institution Name: St. John Fisher College Award Title: Master of Science Program Title/Code: Students with Disabilities Major: Education Date Degree Received: May 5, 2009 (05052009) Attended From: September 1, 2007 (09012007) Attended To: May 5, 2009 (05052009) Number of Credits Earned: 30 Selecting Your Program Code In the TEACH System, you will be asked to provide a program code if you have successfully completed and approved teacher preparation program. Program Code: 30764 Follow the prompts to completion. If you are applying for your professional certification, you will need to have your application reviewed by a certification officer either through NYSED or BOCES. The SoE recommends that you select BOCES to review your application. Please contact the School of Education Office at (585-385-8387) if you have any questions? In order to obtain an initial/professional 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 and Intervention and Prevention (SAVE). Initial/Professional Teacher Certification Application Instructions Page 5
In order to be considered for an institutional recommendation for an initial/professional 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/professional 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/Professional 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 certifying official at the college is able to submit a recommendation for an initial/professional teacher certificate to NYSED. SoE Support Services If you have questions, please contact the SoE at: Phone: 585-385-8387 Email: 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 518-486- 6041 or 24/7 via email 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 e-mail received, the OTI may be unable to respond in a timely manner. Initial/Professional Teacher Certification Application Instructions Page 6
APPENDIX A Award Title and Program Title/Code Please note the following program information is for candidates who are already initially certified and are seeking an additional and or professional certification. MS Special Education 1-6 or 7-12 AWARD: MS PROGRAM CODE/NAME: 30764 SPECIAL EDUCATION CERTIFICATE Title and Type: Students with Disabilities (Grades 1-6) Initial/Professional Certificate Students with Disabilities Grades 7-12 Biology Initial/Professional Certificate Students with Disabilities Grades 7-12 Chemistry Initial/Prof Certificate Students with Disabilities Grades 7-12 English Initial/Prof Certificate Students with Disabilities Grades 7-12 French Initial/Prof Certificate Students with Disabilities Grades 7-12 Mathematics Initial/Prof Certificate Students with Disabilities Grades 7-12 Physics Initial/Prof Certificate Students with Disabilities Grades 7-12 Social Studies Initial/Prof Certificate Students with Disabilities Grades 7-12 Spanish- Initial/Prof Certificate Initial/Professional Teacher Certification Application Instructions Page 7
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 E-mail 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/Professional Teacher Certification Application Instructions Page 8
Verification of Intent to Apply for an Initial/Professional Teacher Certificate Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. School of Education St. John Fisher College This form is for a Graduate Candidate who has completed a degree program that leads to Initial and or Professional certification (MS Special Education Certificate) Graduation Date: I, (Last, First, Middle), intend to apply for an initial/professional teacher certificate in the following certification area(s). Check all that apply. Students with Disabilities Childhood, 1-6 Students with Disabilities English, 7-12 Students with Disabilities French, 7-12 Students with Disabilities Spanish, 7-12 Students with Disabilities Biology, 7-12 Students with Disabilities Chemistry, 7-12 Students with Disabilities Physics, 7-12 Students with Disabilities Mathematics, 7-12 Students with Disabilities Social Studies, 7-12 For questions, I can be reached at the following: Address: Phone: E-mail: Signature: Date: Initial/Professional Teacher Certification Application Instructions Page 9