Meetings

Indiana Professional Standards Board

External Committee for District Administrators

Selections

April 21, 2000

 

Members Present: Fred Bechtold, Larry Gambaiani, Becky Libler, Earlene Holland, Dan Grayson, Sue Switzer, Gary Collings

Members Absent: Peggy Hinckley, Walter Harrison, Mike Horvath

Others Present: Shawn Sriver, Ann England

Guest Speaker: Thomas Hansen, IPSB Director of Legal and External Affairs

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The External Committee for District Administrators of the Indiana Professional Standards Board (IPSB) convened at 9:00a.m. on April 21, 2000, at the Administrative Service Center of MSD Washington Township Schools located at 3801 East 79th Street, Indianapolis.

 

Fred Bechtold called the session to order and asked that the March 17, 2000, selections be accepted as presented.

 

1. Portfolio Pilot Project - Gary Collings distributed notes from both the March 23 and April 12 joint sessions with members of the Building Administrators Standards Committee. Shawn Sriver suggested that this Joint Committee may need to be extended beyond June 2000 to address governance issues and perhaps serve as the Pilot Study oversight group. He asked the question whether or not the Joint Committee should disseminate its frameworks before the completion of the pilot project? How is the committee to reconcile the differences between the assessment plans of the District and Building Administrators, e.g., a university advisor being optional in some and required in others? Will the Joint Committee serve in the oversight function for the two-year pilot study? Sriver noted that Stage 2 in the second year goes beyond the portfolio to the mentoring process. The IPSB has not formally adopted the Stage 2 proposal. A recommendation for Stage 2 will need to be prepared and submitted to the IPSB. Sriver presented the following items that will need to be addressed by the joint committee: governance system for implementing and operating pilot study; timelines; monitoring process; selection of candidates, mentors, alternates to be forwarded to IPSB; determination of a process for reporting both candidates' success and outcomes of pilot study; plans for meetings with mentor teams; a support system of contacts for pilot participants with questions/concerns; a final assessment plan for both stages of the two-year pilot; a problem-solving component to address unanticipated issues; a record-keeping mechanism for the pilot process; incentives for participants; initiation of first Professional Growth Plans at [the] end of the pilot study; and a system to show individual progress by participants in each standard; Forty-nine representatives with two to five years experience in their current positions were invited to the April 12 session. Doug Bohrer, the representative from Educational Testing Service (ETS), gave an overview of the project including the six portfolio components. The Indiana pilot test will run from April 12, 2000 to April 15, 2002. Participants who successfully complete the field test will receive a certificate of completion but no scores will be provided. [Note: In the January 21, 2000 Selections it was confirmed that "the fifty participants (from Indiana) will have any license renewal requirements waived based on their portfolio development. Indiana will be allowed to set its own cut scores." Fred Bechtold is to confirm with Roger Thornton the Indiana Association of Public School Superintendents (IAPSS') endorsement of the two year pilot project and the ex officio representation from the District Administrators' external committee.

 

2. Dialogue with the IPSB Director of Legal and External Affairs - Tom Hansen, Director of Legal and External Affairs for the Indiana Professional Standards Board, attended the session to discuss aspects of the proposed District Administrators frameworks. It was noted that all educators will be accountable to the new standards in 2006. Hansen addressed the concept of legal defensibility. Courts give leeway to new standards that are reasonably related to the state's responsibility for a comprehensive educational system that address the general welfare of children. Where this committee has differences from other parts of the overall system, members should present a rationale for the deviations. Other sources of challenge might come from: (a) the public which might assert that threshold levels are not high enough to weed out those who might do harm to children; (b) other administrators who might claim that the District Administrator standards are too subjective and the peer review opens the door to favoritism or even unrelated bias; and (c) other licensed educators who might allege they have a different assessment system which is a more objective evaluation. Hansen commented that the IPSB system is one based on standards from which we can measure the competency of candidates. IPSB is moving away from inputs such as licensing patterns to assessing what a candidate knows and can demonstrate. In regard to the teaching versus school services issues in the Director of Exceptional Needs framework, Hansen suggested that this committee focus less on licensure patterns of the past and more on the knowledge and skills necessary to perform in the position. If, for example, this committee insists on teaching experience, members should describe why teaching is important as a prerequisite to the position. In regard to proposed stipends for mentor team members Hansen emphasized that the committee should make whatever recommendations the members believe are important. He noted the proposal for teacher team stipends is $750 per person. He suggested the committee clarify whether the proposal is one amount to be shared by team members or a per person amount. Besides a stipend for team members another standards committee has also proposed an additional amount per team, e.g. $400, in any school building to offset the costs of related activities. For example, if a building has eight teams, the proposed amount for that building would be $3200.

 

3. Licensure Work Group - Shawn Sriver presented the recent discussion this work group had on provisions for emergency permits which would replace the current limited licenses. A "permit" by current IPSB description is not a license but is a limited-duration, non-renewable document issued by the IPSB that allows an individual to do particular work. This group is considering that a permit would be issued to a professional with a proficient practitioner license or a standard license with two years experience. The permit would only be granted for one-year and could be extended annually up to four years maximum. Sriver raised the question whether provisions for an emergency permit might be applicable to the District Administrator license? Might there be district personnel who may have expired licenses or no licenses for which a permit might be advisable? CONSENSUS: Members of the District Administrators Committee expressed a sentiment in support of emergency permit provisions for only the three (3) district director licensed positions but not for the superintendent licensure level.

 

4. Prerequisites for the Director of Exceptional Needs Licensure - Gary Collings reviewed the dilemma of requiring two years of experience in the teaching field and not allowing experience in the school services areas of speech pathology or school psychology. Members also discussed the desirability of including experience as a school counselor under the school services area. MOTION: Becky Libler moved that the current career groups including special education teachers, speech pathologists, and school psychologists continue to be eligible to seek licensure as directors of exceptional needs. She further recommended that IPSB conduct a pilot test for inclusion of school counselors in the school services area as an additional career group to be eligible for licensure as directors of exceptional needs. After a second by Gary Collings, the motion was unanimously approved.

 

5. Third Reading of the Four Frameworks - Members reviewed the refinements that had been made to the frameworks at last month's meeting. CONSENSUS: Each of the frameworks should note that two years teaching experience and a license are required, not as input measures, but as a foundation of assurance that the prerequisite performances of candidates do not have to be re-assessed.

 

6. Certificates - The current definition of certificate, however, will not encompass school business officials and personnel directors since they will not possess an IPSB license. The IPSB definition of certificate is "a document issued jointly by the IPSB and another entity that authorizes the individual to teach in a content area not licensed by the IPSB. As a prerequisite, the individual must possess a valid Indiana Professional Educator license.

 

7. Other Business - The next meeting of the District Administrators' committee will be held at the IPSB offices to present the four (4)frameworks as final documents to the IPSB Executive Committee. Committee members were also encouraged to attend the June 21 session with the full IPSB when Roger Thornton presents the annual report from IAPSS. The Annual Report will also include a vote on the four frameworks from the full Board.

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NEXT MEETING: May 24, 2000 (9:00 a.m.)

LOCATION: IPSB offices (Suite 200) - 251 East Ohio Street (Indianapolis)

 

 

Selection Highlights

External Standing Committee for District Administrators

 

 

April 21, 2000 - The Indiana pilot test will run from April 12, 2000 to April 15, 2002. Participants who successfully complete the field test will receive a certificate of completion but no scores will be given.

 

Permits - Consensus: Members of the District Administrators Committee expressed support of emergency permit provisions for only the three (3) district director licensed positions but not for the superintendent licensure level.

 

Director of Exceptional Needs Licensure - Motion: Becky Libler moved that the current career groups including special education teachers, speech pathologists, and school psychologists continue to be eligible to seek licensure as directors of exceptional needs. She further recommended that the IPSB conduct a pilot test for inclusion of school counselors in the school services area as an additional career group to be eligible for licensure as directors of exceptional needs. After a second by Gary Collings, the motion was unanimously approved.

 

Frameworks - Consensus: Each of the frameworks should note that two years teaching experience and a license are required, not as input measures, but as a foundation of assurance that the prerequisite performances of candidates do not have to be re-assessed.

 

Certificate - The current definition of certificate will not encompass school business officials and personnel directors since they will not possess an IPSB license.

 

March 17, 2000 - Consensus: Members agreed that "direct supervision" encompasses all implied responsibilities including, but not limited to, personnel evaluation.

 

Pilot Program Proposal with Building Administrators - Shawn Sriver reported that the Standing External Committee for Building Level Administrators recommended a two-stage pilot program for the initial building principal's license to the IPSB Executive Committee on February 16, 2000.... In an effort to work in concert with the Standing External Committee for District Administrators, it was also recommended that the following three (3) ex officio members be named by the Indiana Association of Public School Superintendents (IAPSS) to represent superintendents (Dr. John Hill), directors of exceptional needs (Dr. Gary Collings), and directors of career and technical education (Dan Grayson).... Consensus: Members endorsed the appointment of the three ex-officio members and the pilot process as outlined.

 

Consensus: Members agreed that Dr. Bechtold, in collaboration with Shawn Sriver, would forward a letter to both representatives of school business managers and directors of human resources encouraging them to submit certificate petitions to the IPSB Standards Committee.

 

January 21, 2000 - Becky Libler noted that on October 29, 1999 the IPSB approved the committee's recommendation that "the district administrator will be required to complete one two-year administrative induction period during his/her professional life."

 

Joint Portfolio Project - the fifty participants (from Indiana) will have any license renewal requirements waived based on their portfolio development. Indiana will be allowed to set its own cut scores.

 

Reciprocity - Shawn Sriver presented four relevant questions for which the members reached the following conclusions:

(a.) If an applicant holds an Indiana administration and supervision license under any other rules, but has never used it, the applicant would be responsible for completing the two-year induction program upon entrance into the profession unless he/she holds a life license.

 

(b.) If an applicant has completed an administration and supervision program at a college/university that has not achieved NCATE accreditation and is not a state with which we share in the Compact Agreement, but has a valid license from that state, a reciprocal license would be issued and the applicant will be held to the two-year induction period. The induction period may be waived if the applicant has two or more years of experience (in the same licensure area) and a proficient practitioner license may be granted.

 

(c.) If an applicant has completed an administration and supervision program in another state but has not completed the appropriate teaching experience to gain a proficient practitioner license, the applicant may NOT be issued an initial district administrator license.

 

December 17, 1999 - Consensus: Members agree that "director licensure" in each of the three frameworks would apply to all those with various titles and who have responsibilities for direct supervision of other licensed personnel.

NOTE: A professional may also hold the position of Director of Curriculum and Instruction with either a Building Administrator or District Administrator - Superintendent level licensure.

 

November 17, 1999 - Edit Team Report: No substantive changes were made in response to public comment. Upon analysis of public comment, the Edit Team determined that the set of Draft Standards for District Administrators was favorably received. The Edit Team Report was reviewed by the full committee on June 18, 1999 and approved by a motion to accept the report with only minor editorial revisions.

 

September 28, 1999 - Response letter from David Kinman to Roger Thornton regarding the IPSB's new system for renewing teacher licenses.

 

September 17, 1999 - Consensus: Mirror the induction period for building administrators for those candidates who do not have a building administrators license (see draft framework for Superintendent licensure).

 

September 17, 1999 - Draft Recommendation for Assessment Framework from Becky Libler: Any individual receiving licensure as a district administrator must complete a two-year administrative induction period. A candidate who has served a two-year induction period for the building level administrator initial license has met this requirement and is eligible for a Proficient Practitioner license. An administrator will only be required to complete one two-year induction period during his/her professional life.

 

June 18, 1999 - Consensus: Members agreed to maintain the position of director of curriculum and instruction under the District Administrator standards and licensure.

 

May 21, 1999 - After discussion of the April 16 selections members concluded that it would be more acceptable if the criterion was re-stated to emphasize that the candidate must hold a proficient teaching license prior to being granted the District Administrators license. Consensus: Since this revised statement is in the realm of assessment not licensure, the committee members request this change be documented.

Consensus: Members agreed that a master's degree should be required for all district administrative positions.

Consensus: The superintendent (associate, assistant, deputy) level, however, would require a post master's terminal degree (Ed.S., Ed.D., Ph.D.) from an NCA (institutional)/NCATE (professional) approved program for superintendent preparation.

Consensus: Members agreed that the superintendent level would be evidenced by a single Proficient license periodically renewable with evidence of professional growth.

 

April 16, 1999 - Continuing education will effect all educators regardless of what provisional or professional teaching licenses they currently hold (except for Life license holders). The report (Peggy Hinckley) regarding the presentation to the Licensure Committee on April 7, 1999 was discussed. The following content areas for licensure recommendation were submitted:

 

Administration - Superintendent, Associate Superintendent, Assistant Superintendent,

Deputy Superintendent

Administration - Exceptional Needs Director

Administration - Vocational Director

Administration - Curriculum and Instruction Director

 

Members agreed that the primary question for future consideration is what differentiates the Superintendent designation from directors of exceptional needs, vocational, curriculum and instruction. It was proposed that each of these positions would require a different assessment framework under the District Standards.

 

March 19, 1999 - Motion: Peggy Hinckley moved that there should be no licensing requirements for either directors of finance (business managers) or directors of personnel. After a second by Dan Grayson and no further discussion, the motion was unanimously approved. The following may not be included in the framework but would be submitted to the Licensure Committee as part of the (April 7) recommendation:

1. In order to enroll in a program for the Superintendent's license, the candidate would be required to hold a proficient practitioner teaching license.

2. In order to enroll in a program for the Exceptional Needs Director's license, the candidate would be required to hold a proficient practitioner teaching license in either Exceptional Needs or School Services (school psychologist or speech pathologist only).

3. In order to enroll in a program for the Career/Technical Director's license, the candidate would be required to hold a proficient practitioner teaching license in Career/Technical Education.

4. In order to enroll in a program for the Curriculum and Instruction Director's license, the candidate would be required to hold a proficient practitioner teaching license.

 

February 12, 1999 - One committee member questioned whether these levels and the Standards had any implications for the private sector. The response was that if a private school seeks to be accredited, they will comply with the State standards, licensure, and assessment policies.

The committee members agreed unanimously that these Standards apply to all Superintendent and Deputy/Associate/Assistant Superintendents. Other District Administrator positions under deliberation are Director of Special Education, Director of Vocational Education, and Director of Curriculum and Instruction. It is recognized, however, that some of the Standards do not necessarily concern these positions and that, in addition, these positions require field specializations.

 

December 18, 1998 - (During the assessment and licensure discussion) a distinction was made between licensure (granted by the state upon meeting minimal standards) and certification (granted by the profession upon completion of specialty training). The committee members agreed that the standards should not apply to all district-wide positions. They should apply to the positions of special education directors, vocational directors, curriculum directors, and all superintendents.

 

November 21, 1997 - The group agreed that a position is considered District Level Administrator if it supervises licensed personnel and no decision was made regarding the need for a teaching license in these positions.

 

October 27, 1997 - Charge: The IAPSS Standing External Committee will make recommendations to the Indiana Professional Standards Board concerning: