Under the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 as the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) of 2015, Highly Qualified (HiQ) is no longer required or reported to the United States Department of Education (USDE). Instead, ESSA, under Title I, Part A, says that state education agencies (SEAs) and local education agencies (LEAs) must ensure teachers meet applicable state certification requirements. In Georgia, under the Official Code of Georgia Annotated (O.C.G.A.), state certification requirements are established by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission (GaPSC). However, Georgia law also allows LEAs to waive certification requirements in Title 20 if the LEA has an approved Charter or Strategic Waiver Application. LEAs that waive state certification must establish professional qualifications (PQ) for their teachers and report the requirements in their annual ESSA application - the Consolidated LEA Improvement Plan (CLIP). In Georgia, professional qualification requirements apply to all teachers in all local education agencies.
In addition, ESSA requires SEAs to report information on the qualifications of teachers including out-of-field. In Georgia, this is done at the close of each school year and is based on data submitted by LEAs (CPI, Teacher Course, Student Record) as cross-referenced with GaPSC certification records. In Georgia, out-of-field is determined using the GaPSC's in-field requirements as listed in the Certification/ Curriculum Assignment Policies System (CAPS). If certification is waived, teachers may meet in-field requirements using equivalent qualifications (degree, coursework, or content area assessment).
For more detailed information about professional qualifications and reporting requirements, please use the resources below.
* UPDATES*
Effective 02.10.2020 Georgia has adopted new state ESSA/IDEA professional qualification requirements for Special Education teachers. Please reference the resources below for more information. The In-Field and PQ Implementation Guide and Quick Guides have been updated to reflect the new requirements. This update does not impact In-Field reporting.
RESOURCES
Overview Documents
Guidance Documents
Data Collections Documents
FY22 Data Collections Summary of Collection Dates
FY22 CPI Data Element Detail
FY22 Student Class Delivery Models Document
FY22 Student Class Data Element Detail
FY22 Student Record Data Element Detail
Parents Right to Know Notification Documents
20 Day Notification Documents
20 Day Notification Quick Guide
20 Day Notification Decision Guide
Sample: 20 Day Notification - English and Spanish translation
In-Field Portal
Training
Please note that training materials are archived by
date. Presentations were prepared based on current guidance and
information at the time of posting. Guidance and legislation since that
time may have influenced the information contained in these materials.
Always utilize the most current posted materials to ensure access to the most recent
information.
09.30.2020 FY21 ESSA In-Field Reporting Updates and PQ Webinar
01.08.2021 FY21 PQ In-Field Back to Basics 101 Webinar
01.29.2021 FY21 PQ In-Field Resources and Portal Updates Webinar
08.27.2021 PQ In-Field Back to Basics 10109.01.2021 ESSA In-Field Reporting Updates and Professional Qualifications
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