Ariz. Admin. Code § R7-2-608 - Early Childhood Teaching Certificates

A. A standard early childhood education certificate shall be required for individuals teaching in public school early childhood education programs, except as provided in R7-2-611 or in R7-2-615(N). For individuals teaching in grades kindergarten through three, this certificate is optional. An Early Childhood Special Education certificate as described in R7-2-611 is not required for individuals who hold the Early Childhood Teaching Certificate as described in this Section in combination with an Arizona cross-categorical mild-moderate disabilities, specialized special education, or moderate to severe disabilities teaching certificate as described in R7-2-611.

B. For the purposes of this rule, public school early childhood education programs means education programs provided by local education agencies, including their sub-grantees and contracted providers, for children birth through age 8 for the purpose of providing academically and developmentally appropriate learning opportunities that are standards-based with defined curriculum and comprehensive in content to include all appropriate developmental and academic areas as defined by the Arizona Early Childhood Education Standards or the Arizona K-12 Academic Standards approved by the Board.

C. Except as noted, all certificates are subject to the general certification provisions in R7-2-607 and the renewal requirements in R7-2-619.

D. Standard Professional Early Childhood Education Certificate - birth through age 8 or through grade three.

1. This certificate is valid for three years and is not renewable but may be extended once for two years, upon written request of the holder to the Department, if the requirements in subsection (E)(3) have not been met.

2. The requirements are:

a. 1. A bachelor's degree, and

b. 2. One of the following:

i. a. Completion of a teacher preparation program in early childhood education from an accredited institution or a teacher preparation program approved by the Board, or

ii. b. Early childhood education coursework and practicum experience which teaches the knowledge and skills described in R7-2-602 and includes both of the following:

(1) i. Thirty-seven semester hours of early childhood education courses to include all of the following areas of study:

(a) (1) Foundations of early childhood education;

(b) (2) Child guidance and classroom management;

(c) (3) Characteristics and quality practices for typical and atypical behaviors of young children;

(d) (4) Child growth and development, including health, safety and nutrition;

(e) (5) Child, family, cultural and community relationships;

(f) (6) Developmentally appropriate instructional methodologies for teaching language, math, science, social studies and the arts;

(g) (7) Early language and literacy development;

(h) (8) Assessing, monitoring and reporting progress of young children; and

(2) ii. A minimum of eight semester hours of practicum, including:

(a) (1) A minimum of four semester hours in a supervised field experience, practicum, internship or student teaching setting serving children birth through preschool. One year of full-time verified teaching experience with children in birth through preschool may substitute for this student teaching experience. This verification may come from a school-based education program or center-based program licensed by the Department of Health Services or regulated by tribal or military authorities; and

(b) (2) A minimum of four semester hours in a supervised student teaching setting serving children in kindergarten through grade three. One year of full-time verified teaching experience with children in kindergarten through grade three in an accredited school may substitute for this student teaching experience; or

iii. c. A valid early childhood education certificate from another state.

c. 3. A valid Fingerprint Clearance Card issued by the Arizona Department of Public Safety, and

d. 4. A passing score on the professional knowledge portion of the Arizona Teacher Proficiency Assessment once that portion of the AEPA is adopted by the Board, and

e. 5. A passing score on the early childhood subject knowledge portion of the Arizona Teacher Proficiency Assessment unless the applicant has a bachelor's, master's or doctoral degree in a relevant content area or otherwise qualifies for a waiver of the subject knowledge examination.

E. Standard Early Childhood Education Certificate - birth through age 8 or through grade three.

1. By July 1, 2012, either a provisional or a standard early childhood education certificate shall be required for individuals teaching in public school early childhood education programs, except as provided in R7-2-611 or in R7-2-615(L). For individuals teaching in grades one through three, this certificate is optional.

2. This certificate is valid for six years.

3. The requirements are:

a. Qualification for the Provisional Early Childhood Education Certificate; and

b. Two years of verified teaching experience, during the valid period of the Provisional Early Childhood Education Certificate, with children birth through age 8 or grade three in a school-based education program or center-based program licensed by the Department of Health Services or regulated by Tribal or military authorities; and

c. A valid fingerprint clearance card issued by the Arizona Department of Public Safety.

4. An individual may also qualify for a Standard Early Childhood Education Certificate if the individual:

a. Holds current National Board Certification in Early Childhood, and

b. Holds a valid fingerprint Clearance Card issued by the Arizona Department of Public Safety.

E. Standard Professional Early Childhood Education Certificate - birth through age 8 or through grade three for applications received on and after August 1, 2018.

1. The requirements include all of the following:

a. A bachelor's degree;

b. Completion of a teacher preparation program in early childhood education from a Board-approved educator preparation program or from an accredited institution offering substantially similar training addressing the following topics and any others as required by law:

i. Research-based systematic phonics, including early language and literacy development;

ii. Research-based instructional strategies for delivering differentiated reading instruction, assessment, intervention and remediation to support readers of varying ages and ability levels, including students with dyslexia;

iii. Foundations of early childhood education;

iv. Teaching students with exceptionalities;

v. Child guidance and classroom management, including characteristics and quality practices for typical and atypical behaviors of young children;

vi. Child growth and development, including health, safety and nutrition;

vii. Child, family, cultural and community relationships;

viii. Developmentally appropriate instructional methodologies for teaching language, math, science, social studies and the arts;

ix. Assessing, monitoring and reporting progress of young children;

x. Instructional design and lesson planning, including modifications and accommodations;

xi. Practicum as described in R7-2-604 serving children birth through preschool;

xii. Professional responsibility and ethical conduct; and

xiii. Twelve-week capstone experience as described in R7-2-604 children in kindergarten through grade three, which may be completed during the valid period of a teaching intern or student teaching intern certificate. For individuals seeking dual certification, any capstone experience requirements may be met through separate eight-week capstone experiences in each of the certification areas sought.

c. A valid Fingerprint Clearance Card issued by the Arizona Department of Public Safety;

d. A passing score on the professional knowledge portion of the Arizona Teacher Proficiency Assessment; and

e. A passing score on the early childhood subject knowledge portion of the Arizona Teacher Proficiency Assessment, unless the applicant has a bachelor's, master's or doctoral degree in a relevant content area or otherwise qualifies for a waiver of the subject knowledge examination.

2. Applicants may meet the requirements in subsection (E)(1)(b) with the submission of an application for the Standard Professional Early Childhood Education certificate that includes evidence of two years of verified full-time teaching experience serving children birth through grade three, and Board-approved or accredited training or coursework which teaches the knowledge and skills described in R7-2-602 and subsections (E)(1)(b)(i)-(xii). One year of verified full-time teaching experience serving children in kindergarten through grade three may be substituted for the capstone experience.

Notes

Ariz. Admin. Code § R7-2-608

Adopted effective May 20, 1994 (Supp. 94-2). Section repealed; new Section adopted effective December 4, 1998 (Supp. 98-4). Amended by final rulemaking at 6 A.A.R. 1132, effective March 10, 2000 (Supp. 00-1). Section R7-2-608 amended by emergency rulemaking under A.R.S. § 41-1026 at 8 A.A.R. 2562, effective May 23, 2002 for a period of 180 days (Supp. 02-2). May 23, 2002 emergency rulemaking renewed under A.R.S. § 41-1026 at 8 A.A.R. 5132, effective November 19, 2002 (Supp. 02-4). Amended by final rulemaking at 9 A.A.R. 1605, effective May 5, 2003 (Supp. 03-2). Former Section R7-2-608 recodified to R7-2-609 at 16 A.A.R. 68, effective December 8, 2008 (Supp. 10-1). New Section R7-2-608made by exempt rulemaking at 16 A.A.R. 52, effective December 8, 2008 (Supp. 10-1). Amended by exempt rulemaking at 16 A.A.R. 119, effective September 21, 2009 (Supp. 10-2). Amended by exempt rulemaking at 16 A.A.R. 235, effective December 7, 2009 (Supp. 10-3). Amended by exempt rulemaking at 24 A.A.R. 195, effective 8/9/2017.