Meetings

M E M O R A N D U M


TO:  Members, Indiana Professional Standards Board 
FROM:  Jeff Doebler, Chair 
Licensure Committee
DATE:  June 17, 1999  
RE:   Approval of Framework for Initial Licensure of Professional Educators 


In June, 1997, the Licensure Committee began its work based on the charge to design a framework for initial licensure that is congruent with the standards for preparation and licensure previously approved by the Board and that meets real world applicability criteria.

In June, 1998, the committee was asked to recommend a dissemination process and to propose any changes in the committee's composition for 1998-99 should the committee require another year to complete its charge. In addition, critical issues emerged that appeared outside the purview of the committee's original charge or could not be addressed within the constraints of the original time line. Therefore, the Licensure Committee recommended that the Board approve recommendations included in the Draft Framework for Initial Licensure for 1) continuation and composition of the Licensure Committee; 2) a dissemination process and a time line; 3) issues to be addressed by the committee, 1998-99; and 4) issues to be referred to the Standards Review Cycle Committee for consideration. The staff suggested that as part of the dissemination process, at least three (3) regional focus groups should be convened by October 1998.

Following the June, 1998, presentation and recommendations to the Board, the Licensure Committee made revisions based on Board comments and accepted comments from stakeholders, expert testimony, written suggestions, and five focus groups.

In January, 1999, the Licensure Committee received its revised charge, which was to make a final recommendation to the IPSB in June, 1999, on a new state initial teacher licensure framework which requires the committee: (a) to continue to solicit responses to the Draft Licensure Framework from various interest groups; (b) to make recommendations on the Licensure Framework in the areas of speech and language disorders; majors, minors, and endorsements; vocation-career education category; district administrators; school services personnel; developmental levels; and to define "certificate" and "license"; (c) to test recommendations for real world applicability; and (d) to adjust the framework as necessary.

In April, 1998, the Licensure Committee presented to the Board, during the Discussion Session, the Draft Licensure Framework. Following this presentation, the Draft Licensure Framework, a memorandum from Chair Philip Metcalf, and a survey form for stakeholder reaction were disseminated to about 500 education stakeholders. Also, the document was available via e-mail and web site feedback, which was summarized for the Board by Indiana University and mailed to the Board prior to June 16 under separate cover. Editing changes were made in the Draft Licensure Framework only for the sake of clarity. On June 17, the Licensure Committee will present its revised version of the the Recommended Licensure Framework (enclosed), reflecting the latest comments, for Board consideration and action.

Licensure Committee Recommendation:
The Licensure Committee recommends approval of the Recommended Framework for Initial Licensure of Professional Educators in the State of Indiana. 

Professional Standards Board Action:

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Enclosures:
1. The Recommended Licensure Framework  
2. Changes since the April Board Presentation 
3. Memorandum from IPSB Chair Philip Metcalf to Education Stakeholders 
4. Disseminated Framework (printed on white) 
5. The Appendices (printed on blue) 
6. Survey Form for Stakeholder Reaction  
7. Summary of the Recommended Framework