Alternative 5: Site-Based Certification Plan
HISTORY
Effective Nov. 20, 1990.
MOTIVATION
Response to growing number of adults who already have a bachelor's
degree in a field other than education and who want to become
licensed to teach.
GRADE LEVELS AND/OR SUBJECT AREA(S) COVERED
Elementary and secondary content areas.
WHO OPERATES
State determines eligibility; LEA recommends candidate for
certification.
REQUIREMENTS TO ENTER
The candidate shall possess a bachelor's degree from an institution
approved by the New Hampshire Post Secondary Education Commission
or a regional accrediting agency such as, but not limited to,
the Northeast Regional Association of Schools and Colleges;
and the candidate shall meet one of the following criteria:
a. For secondary education, candidates shall possess the equivalent
of a 30 credit collegiate major in the subject to be taught
and an overall grade point average of 2.5 or equivalent.
b. For elementary education, candidates shall possess a four-year
arts and sciences background, including a major, and an overall
grade point average of 2.5 or the equivalent.
An individual who fails to meet the grade point average requirement
may still qualify for the provisional certification plan providing:
a. All other requirements are met; and
b. Collegiate graduation occurred more than five years prior
to application for the provisional plan, and
c. Five years of occupational experience directly related to
the area to be taught is documented.
Candidates who meet the requirements of part (b) of this section
shall be issued a letter of eligibility by the Bureau of Credentialing,
Division of Program Support. The Bureau of Credentialing shall
maintain a list of individuals who have been issued letters
of eligibility.
Equivalence of credits shall be determined through analysis
of such information as number of contact hours, course titles,
course syllabi, required projects, and data of official transcripts.
The required level of academic performance shall be equivalent
to a 2.5 in a 4.0 system and shall be determined by mathematical
computation or by analysis of such documents as academic recommendations.
Documentation of experience may consist of, but not be limited
to, letters from previous employers, employment contracts and
letters of commendation and recommendations from parties knowledgeable
about the candidate's background and experience.
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
Superintendents or their designees may hire those individuals who possess a letter of eligibility, provided that the employing district agrees to the following conditions:
1. The site-based certification plan shall be developed collaboratively and agreed to by the applicant and the superintendent of schools.
2. The mentor shall be appointed by the superintendent of schools.
3. The mentor shall be certified in the same subject area that the applicant will be teaching and hold a valid experienced educator credential with the appropriate endorsements in the same subject area in which the applicant is seeking to obtain a credential.
4. The mentor, building principal, teacher candidate, and others who may be designated by the Superintendent to be responsible for the work of the candidate shall develop the candidate's education plan;
5. The plan shall include professional education requirements, content area standards, and contain a description of how the applicant plans to meet these competencies.
6. The superintendent shall file with the bureau of credentialing a copy of the completed site-based plan and a description of the candidate's teaching assignment.
7. The site-based certification plan shall be completed during the period of the intern license.
8. The site-based certification plan shall be developed and filed with the bureau at the end of the school year. The plan may be modified by those responsible for the work of the applicant, but any modifications shall be filed with the bureau.
9. Upon completion of the site-based certification plan, the superintendent shall submit a statement to the bureau verifying that all portions of the plan have been implemented by the district and satisfactorily completed by the applicant. This statement shall include a recommendation for certification.
10. A positive recommendation shall not obligate a school district to continue the employment of an applicant.
11. Failure by a candidate to complete the site-based certification plan shall result in a negative certification recommendation by the superintendent.
12. Upon successful completion of the site-based certification plan and the superintendent's positive recommendation, the bureau shall issue the credential with the endorsement sought by the applicant.
NUMBER OF CREDIT HOURS TO COMPLETE
N/A
WHO EVALUATES
State and LEA
LENGTH OF TIME
Two Years.
