* All certificated personnel must meet the technology requirement by June 30, 2006

Legal Reference: Code Section 20-2-211; Subsection (e)(1)

(e)(1) All personnel employed by a local unit of administration after July 1, 2000, ..Teachers, principals, and other certificated personnel whose employment in a local unit of administration is renewed pursuant to this subpart after July 1, 2000, shall have a criminal record check made as required by this subsection upon any certificate renewal application to the Professional Standards Commission.

Professional Standards Reference: Rule 505-2-.13 Standard Renewal Requirements; Subsection (6)

(6) A criminal record check shall be required of any educator employed in a local unit of administration who applies for renewal of a certificate expiring after July 1, 2000

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1. Does every Georgia public school educator have to get a criminal record check in order to renew his or her certificate?
	1	This requirement applies to all certificated educators employed in a Georgia school/system (public or private). The requirement does not apply to employees of state agencies
2. Is fingerprinting also required for certificate renewal?
	2	Yes, fingerprinting is also required for all certificated educators, if they were not fingerprinted when employed in their current Georgia school/system.
3. When do I have to get the criminal record check?
	1	The criminal record check and fingerprinting, if required, can be done anytime during the school year in which the certificate expires. Your Georgia employer may apply for renewal of your certificate, if they certify that the criminal record check and fingerprinting have been requested from the appropriate authorities.
4. Can PSC do the criminal background check ?
	3	To date, the PSC has been unsuccessful at being approved by state law authorities to do the criminal record check for educators who are renewing their certificates; therefore, both the criminal record check and fingerprinting, if required, are the responsibilities of the certificated educator, unless the school employer advises otherwise.
5. I am Georgia certificated but I am not currently employed in a Georgia school. What type of criminal background check applies to me?
		If you are not employed in a Georgia school, you are exempt from both the criminal record check and fingerprinting until such time that you resume such employment in the state.
6. When is this requirement effective?
		This requirement is effective for educators whose Georgia certificates expire as of 6/30/01, or after.
7. Who determines if I pass the criminal record check?
		For educators employed in Georgia schools, your school employer will review the criminal record check to determine if there are offenses and refer such cases to the PSC for investigation.
8. I am employed by a public school system but I want to renew my own certificate. Is this possible?
		No, as a public school employee, your renewal must be handled by your school system employer who will maintain all renewal records.
9. Who pays for the criminal record check?
		It is the responsibility of the employee to pay for them, unless your school employer advises you otherwise.

Legal Reference: Code Section 20-2-200; Subsection (b)(2)

(b)(2) Before granting a renewable certificate to an applicant, the commission is authorized to require the applicant to demonstrate satisfactory proficiency on a test of computer skill competency,. Successful completion of the phase one InTech model training at a state educational technology center or by a State Board of Education approved redelivery team shall be acceptable for certificate renewal purposes.

Professional Standards Reference: Rule 505-2-.13 Standard Renewal Requirements; Subsection (7)

(7) Effective July 1, 2001, an applicant for renewal shall have either demonstrated satisfactory proficiency on a PSC-approved test of computer skill competency or completed a PSC-approved training/course equivalent.

Professional Standards Reference: Rule 505-2-.08 Special Georgia Requirement; Subsection (1)(f)

(1)(f) Computer Skill Competency. Effective July 1, 2001, any person certified in any field shall demonstrate satisfactory proficiency on a PSC-approved test of computer skill competency or complete a PSC-approved training/course equivalent. Holding National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) valid certification will satisfy the computer skill competency requirement.

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1. Are any Georgia certificated educators exempt from this requirement?
		No, this is a Special Georgia Requirement that must be met by all certificated persons in order to renew their Clear Renewable certificate. Such persons who are not currently employed or are teaching out-of-state will only be eligible for a one-year nonrenewable certificate, until such time that they meet this requirement. Procedures will be in place for a PSC-approved training/course option to allow such persons to be compliant.
2. When is this requirement effective?
	6	All certificated personnel must meet the technology requirement by June 30, 2006. Each school system will be required to certify to the PSC that all of its professionally certificated personnel meet this technology requirement as of June 30, 2006.
3. When will the test and the PSC-approved technology competency course be available?
	4	The PSC has adopted standards criteria that will be applied to development of both the test-out option and the technology training course that school systems, RESAs, and other approved PSC providers want to consider offering. The test-out option is an electronic portfolio and an on-the-job performance assessment, rather than a paper-pencil test or a commercially prepared software test. Applications for this option are now available and may be downloaded by going to http://www.gapsc.com/TeacherEducation/Documents/Tech_App.pdf. The technology standards upon which all courses and tests must be based may be downloaded by going to http://www.gapsc.com/TeacherEducation/Documents/TechStandards.pdf.
4. The law says InTech is an acceptable alternative to passing the Test of Computer Competency Skill test. How does this work?
		Phase one InTech model training is by law acceptable for meeting this requirement. Documentation (certificate issued by technology training center) must be provided to your school system personnel office for their certification renewal records.
5. Does this requirement have to be met every time I renew my certificate?
		No, once you have satisfied this requirement, you do not have to do it again.

Legal Reference: Code Section 20-2-200; Subsection (b)(8)

(8) An individual who has received two unsatisfactory annual performance evaluations in the previous five-year period pursuant to Code Section 20-2-210 shall not be entitled to a renewable certificate prior to demonstrating that such performance deficiency has been satisfactorily addressed, but such individual may apply to the commission for a nonrenewable certificate.

Professional Standards Reference: Rule 505-2-.13 Standard Renewal Requirements; Subsection (8)

(8) For certificates that expire June 30, 2005, or after, an educator with two unsatisfactory annual performance evaluations during the previous five-year validity cycle that have not been satisfactorily addressed shall not be entitled to a renewable certificate in any field.

(a) At the request of an employing Georgia school system/agency, the individual may apply to the Commission for a one-year nonrenewable certificate. During the one-year validity, the individual must demonstrate that the performance deficiency has been satisfactorily addressed as verified by the employer.

(b) When the performance deficiency has been satisfactorily addressed, as verified by the employer, the individual may apply for clear renewable certification.

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1. What certificated persons must meet this requirement?
	2	Any employed Georgia school system educator who holds a Clear Renewable teaching, leadership, or service field certificate must meet this requirement. It does not apply to employees of state agencies.
2. When is this requirement effective?
		It is effective for all certificates that expire as of 6/30/05, or after.
3. What if I have one unsatisfactory annual performance evaluation that has not been satisfactorily addressed at the time my certificate expires?
		You can still renew your certificate. The law says that you are not eligible for a renewable certificate with two unsatisfactory annual performance evaluations in the previous five-years that have not been satisfactorily addressed.
4. If I hold Clear Renewable certification in several fields and receive two unsatisfactory annual performance evaluations in only one field without satisfactorily addressing the deficiencies, am I eligible to renew my other fields?
		No, you are not eligible to renew any fields of certification as Clear Renewable until you have satisfactorily addressed all deficiencies. Your Georgia school employer may, however, apply to the PSC for a one-year nonrenewable certificate. During that year you must address the performance deficiencies to the satisfaction of your employer in order to apply for a Clear Renewable certificate.
5. What if I move to another school system without satisfactorily addressing two unsatisfactory annual performance evaluations?
		A central PSC clearinghouse is being established for Georgia school employers to report unsatisfactory annual performance evaluations. Any Georgia school employer that might be considering you for employment should check that clearinghouse to determine your eligibility for certificate renewal. You will not be eligible for renewal of your Georgia Clear Renewable certificate until you have satisfactorily cleared all deficiencies.
6. In previous years, my certificate was renewed prior to completion of my annual performance evaluation. How is this going to work now?
		Georgia school employers will be expected to flag and hold on the certificate renewal of any employee who is in danger of receiving two unsatisfactory annual performance evaluations without the opportunity to satisfactorily address them prior to the end of the year.

Legal Reference: Code Section 20-2-200; Subsection (b.1)

(b.1) Upon certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, an applicant shall be deemed to have met state renewal requirements for the life of the teacher's national certificate."

Professional Standards Reference: Rule 505-2-.13 Standard Renewal Requirements; Subsection (1)(b)

(1)(b)Achieving National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) certification will renew all clear renewable fields during the validity of the educator's NBPTS certificate.