The following topics were discussed during the Georgia Professional Standards Commission’s (GaPSC) monthly meetings on May 10-11, 2023:
Ethics
An ethics update was presented by Laurin Vonada, director of the Ethics Division. The Commission updated its Clearance Criteria, which are guidelines that cases meet to receive a finding of “No Probable Cause.” They were last updated in 2010. The updated Criteria include:
Separating criteria for initial applicants and certified educators
Revising the timeframe for certain misdemeanors to be considered, lowering it from ten years to five years prior to initial certification
Updating certain types of relevant criminal history (i.e., removing references to bad checks).
Rules
The Commission adopted three educator preparation rules. The changes include removing DEI – “diversity,” “equity,” and “inclusion” – from its 2023 educator preparation program standards. The new rules that are effective June 15, 2023, are:
505-3-.01 REQUIREMENTS AND STANDARDS FOR APPROVING EDUCATOR PREPARATION PROVIDERS AND EDUCATOR PREPARATION PROGRAMS
505-3-.05 GEORGIA TEACHER ACADEMY FOR PREPARATION AND PEDAGOGY (GaTAPP)
505-3-.06 PEDAGOGY-ONLY PROGRAM
The GaPSC addressed some of the feedback it received regarding these changes. According to the GaPSC, all educator preparation providers (EPP) are still expected to meet the needs of each student. The GaPSC also stated that the new rules set a minimum level of expectations for EPPs, and EPPs are free to go above and beyond what is required in the rules. The GaPSC also adopted 505-2-.194 FINANCIAL LITERACY ENDORSEMENT, a new rule establishing an endorsement permitting qualified educators to teach financial literacy courses. The new rule is effective July 1, 2023.
June GaPSC Meeting The next meetings will be June 7-8, 2023.