Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 9, September 20, 2024
A. Initial approval
is granted upon approval by BESE and, when applicable, BOR, through submission
of a proposal to the LDE.
B.
University and non-university providers seeking approval to offer an early
childhood ancillary certificate program must demonstrate eligibility by
providing, at a minimum:
1. an official
declaration of intent in the form of a letter from the head of the institution
or organization to the review committee;
2. evidence of regional accreditation status
(e.g., Southern Association of Colleges and Schools) for universities
only;
3. evidence that the
instructors who teach courses or provide direct coaching to teacher or
educational leader candidates possess sufficient knowledge, skills, training,
and expertise;
4. evidence to show
that the tuition- and candidate-incurred costs for the early childhood
ancillary certificate program have been established, and have considered any
scholarship assistance provided by the LDE; and
5. a description of the providers system for
monitoring and evaluating its candidates, programs, operations, and the
performance of its graduates. This description must reflect how the early
childhood ancillary certificate program assesses programs effectiveness, and
candidates as well as how the provider provides follow-up data on its
graduates.
C. In order
to be recommended for BESE approval, early childhood ancillary certificate
programs must, at minimum:
1. be designed to
develop and ensure candidates mastery of the early childhood teacher
competencies required for certification. The program design must:
a. center on courses and practice experiences
that integrate content, theory, and practice;
b. expressly teach current Louisiana early
learning and development standards and instructional resources; and
c. require candidates to demonstrate mastery
of required competencies through a series of performance assessments;
2. include required applied
practice experiences for teacher preparation, including at least two
observations using the Classroom Assessment Scoring System
(CLASS); and
3. be
jointly developed in partnership with members of the local early childhood care
and education community network (LAC 28:CLXVII, Bulletin 140-Louisiana
Early Childhood Care and Education Network). Evidence of partnership
may include, but not be limited to, a formal agreement, such as a memorandum of
understanding or memorandum of agreement, that describes shared roles and
responsibilities for program design, program implementation, and program
evaluation.
D. The LDE
will utilize evaluation tools to conduct qualitative assessments of early
childhood ancillary certificate proposals to make initial approval
recommendations. The evaluation tools must align to the requirements set forth
in this Part.
AUTHORITY NOTE:
Promulgated in accordance with
R.S.
17:6(10),
17:7(6),
and
17:7.2.
