Teacher Standards and Practices Commission

465 Commercial Street NE

Salem OR  97301

 

February 9-11, 2011

 

ITEM:

 

 

REVIEW OF SCHOOL COUNSELOR LICENSE

ACTION:

 

ACTION ITEM

RECOMMENDATION:

The Licensure Committee recommends adoption of the following resolution:

 

RESOLVED, that OAR 584-070-0012 Initial I School Counselor License is referred to hearing for consideration of proposed amendments at a future meeting.

 

INFORMATION:

 

 

Shortly after adopting changes to the Initial and Continuing Teaching Licenses, the Commission reviewed the School Counselor Licenses.

 

In an effort to provide “parity” with the teaching licenses, persons on School Counselor Licenses were granted nine (9) years to complete nine (9) quarter or six (6) semester hours of additional graduate work related to school counseling.

 

What the Commission did not consider at that time was the fact that the length of nine years was granted to allow persons holding an undergraduate degree sufficient time to complete the master’s degree program.  Further, the design of the “show-progress” requirements for renewal of the Initial I Teaching License actually requires persons licensed after July 1, 2005, whose first license was issued on the basis of a master’s degree or post-baccalaureate program, to have the requirements completed within six years following issuance of the first license.

 

All persons receiving a School Counselor License must possess a Master’s degree upon receipt of the Initial I School Counselor License.  Accordingly, nine (9) years is not needed to complete the additional 9 quarter hours or six (6) semester hours in graduate work related to school counseling.  [See, §(4) of the attached rule.]

 

Staff is recommending the Commission consider reducing the period within which the requirements must be completed from nine to six years.

 

Other changes or clarifications recommended by staff:

 

·        Two years of teaching experience is equivalent to 360 hours; §(3)(a)(A);

·        An accredited master’s degree validates an unaccredited bachelor’s degree; §(3)(b);

·        Removes requirement that program must be part of a master’s degree (education specialist or other option, for example); §(3)(c);

·        Out of state programs must be accompanied by a license from that state; §(3)(c);

·        Removes basic skills requirements; §(3)(e);

·        Mentions that Continuing School Counselor is an option in addition to the Initial II School Counselor; §§(4) & (5);

·        Removes provisions that no longer make sense; §§(4)(c) & (d);

·        Extenuating circumstances language more clear; §(6);

·        Recommends that license is changed to a K-12 license by July 1, 2011; §(10)