Current through Rules and Regulations filed through March 20, 2024
(1)
Summary: Montessori education has over 100 years of history and is
practiced in more than 500 public schools across the United States. Both
child-centered and highly structured, Montessori education has been shown to
increase student achievement while reducing the impact of economic inequity.
The Montessori certificate is part of a modified tiered teacher certification
system that provides a statewide structure to recognize Montessori teachers,
and ensure students in Montessori classrooms have access to fully-implemented
Montessori education.
(2)
Definitions.
(a) Montessori
Accreditation Counsel for Teacher Education (MACTE) is the international
standard setting and accrediting body for Montessori teacher education. The
Montessori teacher education program, not the college, school, department, or
other administrative unit of the institution, receives MACTE accreditation.
MACTE is a member of the Association of Specialized and Professional
Accreditors (ASPA) and is recognized by the United States Department of
Education (ED).
(b) Acceptable
Montessori credentials:
1. Professional
certificate issued by another state, country or jurisdiction that has signed
the National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and
Certification (NASDTEC) Interstate Agreement.
2. Montessori certificate or credential
issued by a MACTE-accredited education program provider.
3. Verification letter from a
MACTE-accredited program documenting credential level, teacher education
program, and date of completion.
4.
Letter of Equivalency is issued to an individual by a MACTE-accredited teacher
education program and verified by MACTE, confirming after a review of the
candidate's transcripts and records that the individual's Montessori teaching
credential is equivalent to the credential offered by the MACTE-accredited
program issuing the letter. A letter of equivalency may be submitted by a
Montessori teacher whose credential was earned before the Montessori teacher
education program was accredited.
(3)
Montessori Fields.
(a) Infant Toddler (ages birth - 3)
(b) Preschool- K (ages 2 1/2 - 6)
(c) Elementary I Grades
1st- 3rd (ages 6 - 9)
(d) Elementary I- II Grades
1st - 6th (ages 6 - 12)
(e) Secondary I Grades
7th - 9th (ages 12 - 15)
1. Secondary I Language Arts & Social
Studies
2. Secondary I Science
& Mathematics
(f)
Secondary I - II Grades 7th-
12th (ages 12 - 18)
1. Secondary II English
2. Secondary II Social Studies
3. Secondary II Science
4. Secondary II Mathematics
(4)
Provisional
Requirements (For Individuals Transitioning to a Career in Montessori
Education).
(a) Issuance.
1. Hold a bachelor's degree or higher from a
GaPSC-accepted accredited institution.
2. Pass the GACE content
assessment.
3. Pass the Georgia
Educator Ethics Assessment.
4. Meet
Standards of Conduct.
5. Have the
employing Georgia local unit of administration request the certificate
according to procedures outlined in GaPSC Rule
505-2-.27 CERTIFICATION APPLICATION,
MyPSC AND TEST ELIGIBILITY PROCEDURES.
6. The Provisional certificate is valid for
three (3) years with the following exceptions:
(i) Provisional certificates will be issued
for one (1) year pending verification of enrollment into a MACTE-accredited
Montessori teacher preparation program leading to certification in the
Provisional certification field held by the individual. Once enrolled in a
MACTE-accredited program, the certificate may be extended for two additional
years if requested by the employing local unit of administration (LUA) and
following procedures outlined in GaPSC Rule
505-2-.27 CERTIFICATION APPLICATION,
MyPSC AND TEST ELIGIBILITY PROCEDURES.
(I)
Individuals who are not enrolled in a MACTE-accredited Montessori teacher
preparation program after the initial one-year validity period may be issued a
certificate for an additional year upon the request of the employing local unit
of administration (LUA). In order to qualify for the remaining year of
eligibility, an individual must be enrolled in an approved program. Once
enrolled in a MACTE-accredited program, the certificate may be extended for a
third year if requested by the employing local unit of administration and
following procedures outlined in GaPSC Rule
505-2-.27 CERTIFICATION APPLICATION,
MyPSC AND TEST ELIGIBILITY PROCEDURES. Should an individual not be enrolled by
the third year, a waiver certificate must be requested by the employing local
unit of administration (LUA).
(b) Conversion.
1. Complete a MACTE-accredited Montessori
teacher preparation program in the field of issuance;
2. Meet the following Special Georgia
Requirements:
(i) Satisfy the Special
Education requirement with a grade of B or better.
(ii) Have passed the Georgia Educator Ethics
Assessment.
(iii) Meet Standards of
Conduct.
3. Earn three
years of successful experience while holding the Provisional certificate.
(i) If less than three years of experience is
earned at the time all other conversion requirements are met, the individual
may convert to the Five (5)-Year Induction certificate.
4. Have the certificate requested by the
employing Georgia local unit of administration following procedures outlined in
GaPSC Rule
505-2-.27 CERTIFICATION APPLICATION,
MyPSC AND TEST ELIGIBILITY PROCEDURES.
(5)
Induction Requirements.
(a) Five (5)-Year Induction (For Individuals
Lacking Experience to Qualify for Professional).
1. Issuance.
(i) Hold a bachelor's degree or higher from a
GaPSC-accepted accredited institution.
(ii) Complete a MACTE-accredited program and
submit verification of the credential or letter of equivalency from the
preparation program.
(iii) Pass or
exempt the GACE content assessment.
(iv) Have passed the GACE Educator Ethics
Assessment.
(v) Satisfy the Special
Education requirement with a grade of B or better.
(I) Individuals applying by reciprocity may
be issued the certificate and must complete the requirement in order to convert
the certificate.
(vi)
Have less than three (3) years of successful experience as outlined in GaPSC
Rule 505-2-.25
EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS.
(vii)
Apply following procedures outlined in GaPSC Rule
505-2-.27 CERTIFICATION APPLICATION,
MyPSC AND TEST ELIGIBILITY PROCEDURES.
2. Conversion.
(i) Earn three (3) years of successful
experience while holding the Induction certificate, as outlined in GaPSC Rule
505-2-.05 PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATE.
(I) For individuals applying based on
reciprocity, meet the following requirements:
A. Satisfy the Special Education requirement
with a grade of B or better.
B.
Meet Standards of Conduct.
(ii) Apply for conversion following
procedures outlined in GaPSC Rule
505-2-.27 CERTIFICATION APPLICATION,
MyPSC AND TEST ELIGIBILITY PROCEDURES.
(b) Three (3)-Year Induction (Teaching
Out-of-Field):
1. Issuance.
(i) Hold a valid Five (5)-Year traditional or
Montessori Induction certificate in any teaching field at the bachelor's level
or higher.
(ii) Meet Standards of
Conduct.
(iii) Have the certificate
requested by the employing Georgia local unit of administration following
procedures outlined in GaPSC Rule
505-2-.27 CERTIFICATION APPLICATION,
MyPSC AND TEST ELIGIBILITY PROCEDURES
2. Conversion.
(i) Complete a MACTE-accredited program and
submit verification of the credential or letter of equivalency from the
preparation program.
(ii) Pass the
GACE content assessment.
(iii)
Satisfy the Special Education requirement with a grade of B or
better.
(iv) Meet Standards of
Conduct.
(v) Apply following
procedures outlined in GaPSC Rule
505-2-.27 CERTIFICATION APPLICATION,
MyPSC AND TEST ELIGIBILITY PROCEDURES.
(c) One (1)-Year Induction (Issued to
Individuals Who Have Met All Requirements For the Five (5)-Year Induction
Certificate but Have Not Passed the Content Exam).
1. Issuance.
(i) Issued to individuals meeting all
requirements for the Five (5)-Year Induction certificate with the exception of
the GACE content assessment.
(ii)
Have passed the GACE Educator Ethics Assessment.
(iii) Must be requested by the employing
Georgia local unit of administration following procedures outlined in GaPSC
Rule 505-2-.27
CERTIFICATION APPLICATION, MyPSC AND TEST ELIGIBILITY
PROCEDURES.
2. Conversion
(i) Pass or exempt the required GACE content
assessment.
(ii) Apply following
procedures outlined in GaPSC Rule
505-2-.27 CERTIFICATION APPLICATION,
MyPSC AND TEST ELIGIBILITY PROCEDURES.
(d) The Standard Professional certificate or
Performance-Based Montessori certificate will be issued based on meeting
experience requirements outlined in GaPSC Rule
505-2-.05 PROFESSIONAL
CERTIFICATE.
(e) The Induction
Montessori certificate is not issued for service fields (See GaPSC Rules
505-2-.140 -.149) or leadership fields (See GaPSC Rule
505-2-.153 EDUCATIONAL
LEADERSHIP).
(6)
Professional Requirements (For Individuals with Three or More
Years of Educator Experience).
(a) Issuance.
1. Hold a bachelor's degree or higher from a
GaPSC-accepted accredited institution.
2. Complete a MACTE-accredited program and
submit verification of the credential or letter of equivalency from the
preparation program.
3. Pass or
exempt the required GACE content assessment.
4. Satisfy the Special Education requirement
with a grade of B or better.
(i) Individuals
applying by reciprocity may be issued the certificate and must complete the
requirement in order to convert the certificate.
5. Have a minimum of three (3) years of
successful experience as outlined in GaPSC Rule 505-2-25 EXPERIENCE
REQUIREMENTS.
6. Meet Standards of
Conduct.
7. Apply for certification
following procedures outlined in GaPSC Rule
505-2-.27 CERTIFICATION APPLICATION,
MyPSC AND TEST ELIGIBILITY PROCEDURES.
(b) Renewal.
1. Meet requirements outlined in GaPSC Rule
505-2-.36 RENEWAL
REQUIREMENTS.
2. Meet Standards of
Conduct.
3. For individuals who
received certification based on reciprocity must satisfy the Special Education
requirement with a grade of B or better.
4. Apply for certification following
procedures outlined in GaPSC Rule
505-2-.27 CERTIFICATION APPLICATION,
MyPSC AND TEST ELIGIBILITY PROCEDURES.
(c) The Standard Professional certificate or
Performance-Based Montessori certificate will be issued based on meeting
experience requirements outlined in GaPSC Rule
505-2-.05 PROFESSIONAL
CERTIFICATE.
(7)
Non-Renewable Requirements.
(a)
One (1)-Year Non-Renewable Professional Montessori Certificate may be issued at
the request of a Georgia local unit of administration to an individual who
holds an expired Georgia Professional Montessori certificate but has not met
standard renewal requirements outlined in GaPSC Rule
505-2-.36 RENEWAL
REQUIREMENTS.
(b) One (1)-Year
Non-Renewable Professional Montessori Certificate may be issued request of a
Georgia local unit of administration to an individual who meets requirements
for the Professional certificate but have not passed the content
exam.
(c) Three (3)-year
Non-Renewable Professional Issued to individuals who hold a valid professional
(non-Montessori) certificate and are assigned to teach out-of-field.
1. Issuance.
(i) Hold a valid Five (5)-Year Professional
certificate.
(ii) Have the
certificate requested by the employing Georgia local unit of administration
following procedures outlined in GaPSC Rule
505-2-.27 CERTIFICATION APPLICATION,
MyPSC AND TEST ELIGIBILITY PROCEDURES.
2. Conversion.
(i) Complete a MACTE-accredited program and
submit verification of the credential or letter of equivalency from the
preparation program.
(ii) Attain a
passing score on the GACE content assessment.
(iii) Satisfy the Special Education
requirement with a grade of B or better.
(iv) Meet Standards of Conduct.
(v) Apply for certification following
procedures outlined in GaPSC Rule
505-2-.27 CERTIFICATION APPLICATION,
MyPSC AND TEST ELIGIBILITY PROCEDURES.
3. The Standard Professional certificate or
Performance-Based certificate will be issued based on meeting experience
requirements outlined in GaPSC Rule
505-2-.05 PROFESSIONAL
CERTIFICATE.
(8)
To Add the Field (See GaPSC
Rule 505-2-.34 ADD A
FIELD).
(a) To add a Montessori teaching
certificate to a Professional certificate, an individual must meet the
following:
1. Hold a bachelor's degree or
higher from a GaPSC accepted accredited institution.
2. Complete a MACTE-accredited program and
submit verification of the credential or letter of equivalency from the
preparation program.
3. Pass the
GACE Educator Ethics Assessment.
4.
Satisfy the Special Education requirement with a grade of B or
better.
5. Meet Standards of
Conduct.
6. Apply for conversion
following procedures outlined in GaPSC Rule
505-2-.27 CERTIFICATION APPLICATION,
MyPSC AND TEST ELIGIBILITY PROCEDURES.
(9)
Implementation.
(a) Individuals currently employed in a
public Montessori classroom must hold a valid Montessori certificate by July 1,
2021.
(b) A legacy period is
provided to protect individuals currently employed in Georgia public Montessori
classrooms prior to the initial effective date of the rule. In order to qualify
for Montessori certification under this legacy provision, individuals must meet
the following conditions prior to July 1, 2018:
1. Employed in a public Montessori classroom
while holding an acceptable GaPSC certificate.
2. Earned one or more years of satisfactory
Montessori teaching experience in a Georgia public school, as outlined in GaPSC
Rule 505-2-.25
EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS.
3.
Completed a Montessori diploma program outlined by the employing school system
and submit verification from the employing school system at the time of
application.
(c) Legacy
Montessori teachers will not be required to complete a MACTE-accredited program
but must meet all other eligibility requirements.
(d) Qualifying individuals currently employed
in a private Montessori classroom are eligible for the Montessori certificate.
Experience earned to convert from an Induction Montessori to the Professional
Montessori certificate must be earned from a school holding acceptable
GaPSC-accreditation as outlined in GaPSC Rule
505-2-.25 EXPERIENCE
REQUIREMENTS.
(10)
Additional Certificate Titles Issued in the Field.
(a) International Exchange Certificate (See
GaPSC Rule
505-2-.11 INTERNATIONAL EXCHANGE
CERTIFICATE).
(b) Retired Educator
(See GaPSC Rule
505-2-.44 RETIRED
EDUCATOR).
(11)
To
Upgrade the Level (See GaPSC Rule
505-2-.33 CERTIFICATE
UPGRADE).
(12)
In-Field
Statement (See GaPSC Rule
505-2-.40 IN-FIELD ASSIGNMENT). An
individual holding the Montessori certificate is in-field to teach in the field
and age group of issuance in a Montessori classroom. Holding the Montessori
certificate is not in-field to teach in a traditional (non-Montessori)
classroom.
Authority
O.C.G.A. §
20-2-200.