TO: Members, Indiana Professional Standards Board
FROM: Bet J. Kotowski and Ray Graves
SUBJECT: Request for Licensure Review Committee - Action
DATE: November 15, 2000
In November 1999, the Indiana Professional Standards Board (IPSB) established the Standards Committee to maintain state-of-the-art standards for all Indiana education professionals. This maintenance is to be done through review and revision of the existing standards according to an established cycle and procedure. The process is to include consideration of creation of new standards, the modification of current standards, or the recognition of certificate areas, based upon assignments from the Executive Committee. Please see the enclosed Standards Committee Charge 2000-2001 for details.
The Standards Committee convened in January and February 2000 for orientation sessions. By March, the Committee was receiving an increasing number of requests from groups interested in certain content areas for licensure, not provided for in the new licensure framework adopted by the Board in June 1999. The Standards Committee Chair had discussion with the Executive Committee in March, regarding concerns about these requests.
In April 2000, the Executive Committee specifically assigned the Standards Committee to hear proposals from interested parties relative to recommendations from the Licensure Committee in June 1999, concerning 12 areas: 3 licensure areas and 9 certificate areas. On May 24, 2000, the Executive Committee made the assignment official. For details, please see the enclosed memorandum about Direction Regarding Licensure and Certificate Proposal Reviews.
The Standards Committee finalized invitation documents and began scheduling interested parties for proposal presentations. The Journalism group presented in September 2000, and two other groups are scheduled to present before the end of November. Detailed follow-up work by the Committee follows each presentation. Depending upon final decisions of the Executive Committee, subsequent groups may be appointed/approved to complete necessary design/development work. Under the current structure, the Standards Committee is responsible for these subsequent procedures and makes reports/recommendations back to the Executive Committee.
Under the present structure, the Standards Committee total charge is overwhelming for staff and committee members. In September 2000, staff originally assigned to the Standards Committee, approached the IPSB Transition Coordinator for assistance. While the Transition Coordinator is providing tremendous assistance to the Committee, the schedule of the Standards Committee is still lagging regarding the review/revision of existing standards. For example, the Department of Education has made changes in student academic standards for English Language Arts and Math. The IPSB educator standards in those areas need to be pulled from the cycle and updated in order to maintain proper alignment with the student standards.
Staff believes it is imperative that two separate committees be assigned to the important tasks at issue: 1) consideration/recommendations concerning proposals and issues regarding new licensure and certificate areas and 2) review/revision of existing standards. Staff supports action for the existing Standards Committee to become the Licensure Review Committee and appointment of a separate group to be known as the Standards Committee.
Staff Recommendation:
Staff recommends that the Executive Committee take action as follows:
1. change the name of the existing Standards Committee to that of Licensure Review Committee and charge it with: 1) addressing licensure-related needs, such as consideration and recommendations concerning proposals and issues regarding new licensure and certificate areas, and 2) overseeing subsequent expert groups (as noted to the Executive Committee concerning appointment and duration) that might be appointed to complete specific assignments; and
2. appoint a separate standing committee to be known as the Standards Committee and charge it with: 1) reviewing and revising existing standards for state-of-the-art maintenance, and 2) overseeing subsequent expert groups (as noted to the Executive Committee concerning appointment and duration) that might be appointed to complete specific assignments.
IPSB Action:
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Enclosures:
Standards Committee Charge 2000-2001
Direction Regarding Licensure and Certificate Proposal Reviews