Teacher-candidate Screening, Selection, and Placement

Procedures for determining teacher-candidate eligibility GaTAPP teacher-candidates must meet the following minimum criteria for admission:

1. Admission Requirements. Candidates at the Bachelor's degree level must:
   1. Hold a Bachelor's degree or higher from a PSC-approved accredited college or university;
   2. Pass the GACE Basic Skills Assessment (or qualifying exemption). Candidates with Master's Degrees or higher are exempt from the GACE Basic Skills assessment;
   3. Candidates for Early Childhood Education, Special Education, Middle Grades math, science, reading, Language Arts, and Social Science, and Secondary English, math, science, all Social Studies areas, Foreign Language, and fine arts (art, music, band and chorus) who are teachers of record must meet the requirements for Highly Qualified teacher:
      • Early Childhood Education and Special Education candidates teachers of record must have a passing score on the corresponding GACE Content Assessment TO BE HIGHLY QUALIFIED;
      • Middle Grades math, science, reading, Language Arts, and Social Science must have a Bachelor's degree or higher with a major in a concentration in the assigned teaching field or a transcript assessment confirming successful completion of 15 semester hours in the assigned teaching field or a passing score on the appropriate GACE Content Assessment OR must have a passing score on the appropriate GACE Content Assessment TO BE HIGHLY QUALIFIED;
      • Secondary English, math, science, all Social Studies areas, Foreign Language, and Fine Arts (art, music, band and chorus) must have a Bachelor's degree or higher with a major in the assigned teaching field or a transcript assessment confirming successful completion of 21 semester hours in the assigned teaching field OR a passing score on the appropriate GACE Content Assessment TO BE HIGHLY QUALIFIED;
      • Candidates who are not in the Core Curricular teaching fields listed in Middle Grades and Secondary information are not required to pass the GACE Content Assessment for entry, but must pass the appropriate assessment to be recommended for Clear Renewable Certification;
   4. Pass a criminal background check (usually provided by employing system).
2. Procedures for screening and placing teacher-candidates for employment
   1. Employing school system follows usual hiring practices within the requirements listed
   2. Candidates are assigned teaching responsibilities that align with their degrees.

Orientation and Individual Counseling

1. For the Comprehensive GaTAPP path, instruction on the Essentials of Effective Teaching or equivalent
2. Individual assessment of teacher-candidates' content background to determine appropriate path to Clear Renewable Certification
3. Development of individualized induction plan (IIP) for each teacher-candidate, including scheduling of any required Georgia Special Requirement classes
4. Assignment of a 3-person support team, including a school-based mentor and school-based administrator with one of the members a content specialist or, if not, a content specialist must be added to the team
5. Completion of required PSC candidate information form
6. Assistance with appropriate path certification applications:

Minimum of One Year of Mentoring/Coaching Internship/Induction

1. Intense mentoring and coaching by the CST;
2. Candidates should expect seminars and/or other professional learning opportunities during the internship. Seminars and instruction are based on Charlotte Danielson's Enhancing Student Achievement: A Framework for Teaching and teacher-candidates' identified problems and interests;
3. Completion of course work required to meet Georgia Special Requirements including the identification and education of children and youth with special needs. The teaching of reading (and writing, middle grades, only) and the integration of technology in the classroom are met through content standards requirements.
4. If a GACE Content assessment is not required for entrance to meet Highly Qualified Teacher requirements, taking the appropriate GACE® Content Assessment by the end of the first semester of teaching (If teacher-candidate passes, no further action is necessary. If teacher-candidate fails, test results may be used to modify individualized plan of study.) Note exceptions to this timeframe!
5. Collection of evidence for achievement portfolio
6. Assessment by teacher-candidate's support team, using Danielson's Framework for Teaching.
7. Recommendation for certification, continuation in the program for a second year, or termination from the program

If a Second or Third Year of Internship/Induction is recommended:

1. Continued mentoring/coaching and assessment by teacher-candidate's support team
2. Completion of any remaining required course work for the Georgia Special Requirements
3. Completion of the achievement portfolio, and evaluation by the teacher-candidates' support team using Danielson's Framework for Teaching
4. Successful completion of GACE® Content Assessment