Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 505-2-.106 - Academic Content Concentrations

(1) Purpose. To serve as a teacher of record in one of five (5) academic content concentrations, Special Education teachers must have the appropriate academic content concentrations designated on their Special Education Certificate. These content concentrations are:

(a) Special Education Language Arts;

(b) Special Education Mathematics;

(c) Special Education Reading;

(d) Special Education Science; and

(e) Special Education Social Science.

(2) Cognitive Levels. Each of the academic content concentrations shall be further designated at a specific cognitive level. The cognitive level appropriate for the educator's certificate is based on information contained in the student's Individualized Education Program (IEP). The cognitive levels are:

(a) P-5;

(b) 4-8; and

(c) 6-12.

(3) Academic Content Concentrations. Special Education academic content concentrations with designated cognitive levels shall be listed on the Georgia educator certificate one time only, but shall apply to all appropriate Special Education fields that are also designated on the certificate.

(4) Approved Program Recommendation. GaPSC-approved program completers in designated Special Education fields will be recommended for the certificate with at least one academic content concentration at a designated cognitive level of 4-8.

(5) To Add Content Concentrations.

(a) To add an academic content concentration and cognitive level to an existing Special Education certificate, educators may do one of the following:

1. Be recommended for the concentration by an GaPSC-approved program provider; or

2. Pass the appropriate content assessment(s) in the content concentration. The appropriate assessments and corresponding cognitive levels are identified on the GaPSC web site at www.gapsc.com.

(b) For educators who satisfied appropriate content assessment(s) prior to the implementation of this rule, passing scores (regardless of the date the test was taken) will be applied to Special Education academic content concentrations with an effective date on which the content assessment(s) were satisfied or the beginning of the fiscal year, whichever is more recent. For assessment(s) completed after the rule is in effect, the content concentration effective date will be the date on which the assessment requirements were satisfied.

(6) In-Field Statement. Special Education teachers serving in a consultative role must have the appropriate base Special Education certificate issued as Consultative. To be in-field as a teacher of record for an academic content field, the educator's certificate must include the appropriate Special Education field and the appropriate Special Education academic content concentration issued at the appropriate cognitive level. The cognitive level appropriate for the educator's certificate is based on information contained in the student's Individualized Education Program (IEP).

Notes

Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 505-2-.106

O.C.G.A. § 20-2-200.

Original Rule entitled "Spanish" adopted. F. Dec. 18, 1991; eff. Jan. 7, 1992. Repealed: New Rule entitled "Preschool Handicapped" adopted. F. Dec. 16, 1992; eff. July 1, 1993, as specified by the Agency. Amended: F. June 21, 1996; eff. July 11, 1996. Amended: Rule retitled "Preschool Special Education". F. Dec. 31, 1997; eff. July 1, 1998, as specified by the Agency. Repealed: New Rule entitled "English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) Endorsement" adopted. F. Feb. 20, 2004; eff. Mar. 15, 2004, as specified by the Agency. Repealed: Rule reserved. F. Oct. 22, 2004; eff. Nov. 15, 2004, as specified by the Agency. Amended: New Rule entitled "Special Education Deaf Education (P-12)" adopted. F. July 21, 2005; eff. August 15, 2005. Amended: F. Sept. 16, 2008; eff. Oct. 15, 2008, as specified by the Agency. Amended: F. Apr. 20, 2009; eff. May 15, 2009, as specified by the Agency. Repealed: New Rule entitled "Academic Content Concentrations" adopted. F. Jun. 11, 2014; eff. July 1, 2014, as specified by the Agency. Amended: F. Mar. 26, 2019; eff. Apr. 15, 2019, as specified by the Agency.