Vermont-NEA News

Public Comment for License Renewal Changes

Vermont teachers with whom Vermont-NEA has spoken are all happy to be finally at the last stage of the revisions for the license renewal process that Vermont-NEA has supported and the Vermont Standards Board for Professional Educators (VSBPE) endorsed.  This last step involves the public reading and commenting on the changes.  Read all the changes at http://education.vermont.gov/documents/EDU-VSBPE_2014_Rules_Draft_Changes.pdf.   It is important that your voices are heard.  Please note that there are several changes in addition to license renewal.  The changes to license renewal begin on page 19.

Public Comment

You may comment orally during the following sessions.  Note that the 4:30 time was added in order to accommodate educators in the classroom.

  • October 1, 2014 at 4:30 p.m. AOE Offices, Barre
  • October 7, 2014 at 2:30 p.m. AOE Offices, Barre
  • October 9, 2014 at 2:00 p.m. – online via goto meeting: https://www3.gotomeeting.com/join/320126374 Join the conference call: Call (877) 273-4202 Conference room #: 4990258

Written Comment

If you cannot make the oral comment times, you may submit your feedback via an online survey at:  http://education.vermont.gov/licensing/endorsement-areas.  Additionally, you can submit written comments now through October 20, 2014 directly to the VSBPE’s Administrative Assistant Rebecca Plude at: [email protected].

 

What is the Self-Assessment on the “Progressions”?

Teachers renewing their license will need to complete a self-evaluation on the InTASC Learning Progressions for Teachers.   The InTASC Learning Progressions describe the increasing complexity of each InTASC Core Teaching Standard and are a tool for teachers to use when developing professional goals.  Most school districts in the state are using Danielson's Framework For Teaching as part of teacher evaluation, which is aligned to the InTASC Standards.

 

The Progressions are an excellent resource for teachers as they create their professional goals and focus on the next step in their development as a professional educator, however, they are not meant to be a checklist for teachers to check off.  Each developmental progression moves from left to right, from less to more sophisticated with corresponding numbers 1-3.  The CCSSO did not name the levels because they wanted to avoid “confining teaching practice to a ‘box’ that labeled performance.” (p. 14)  The progressions are meant to be read holistically and Vermont-NEA believes  the checklist  included in the renewal process runs counter to the intent of the CCSSO.  As educators, we find ourselves working across the levels in each learning standard.  We use the progressions to determine where we next want to focus.  The Progressions honor the richness of teaching and the checklist narrows them to a series of checkmarks.  Vermont-NEA would like to see this aspect of the renewal process removed and the Progressions used as a resource for professional educators.

Thanks to all those who completed the Vermont-NEA survey and testified in the Montpelier on the license renewal process.   We all seek a renewal process that makes sense in today’s education climate.

Darren Allen Sep 03 2014
For Support Professionals