Common use of PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATION AND ASSIGNMENTS Clause in Contracts

PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATION AND ASSIGNMENTS. 11.01 Both the Board and the Association agree to the importance of having a properly certified or licensed (where applicable) teacher with a minimum of a Bachelor’s degree and educational training preferred. The Board will attempt to contract only teachers who have a degree or degrees from an accredited college or university and those individuals who also meet the minimum Michigan Certificate Code requirements, or appropriate Michigan licensing requirements where a teaching certificate is not required. Teachers in reimbursed vocationally certified programs must hold a valid vocational certificate in their specialized areas. If teachers in reimbursed vocationally certified programs do not hold vocational certification as required, said teachers will be encouraged to apply for or renew vocational certification and/or may be subject to transfer to maximize the district’s ability to obtain reimbursement. 11.02 Those teachers for whom special permits are being processed while they are waiting full certification from the State of Michigan, or teachers of vocational subjects who possess a vocational certificate or permit are excluded from the provision of Sections 11.01 and 11.02 of this Article. 11.03 The Association recognizes that each teacher must assume the responsibility of filing his/her valid Michigan teaching certificate or other documents indicating same with the Department of Human Resources by July 1. Each teacher must file with the Department of Human Resources a valid Michigan teaching certificate/license and a transcript of credits. 11.04 The responsibility for being certified to teach in the Rochester Community Schools rests solely with the individual teacher. The Board will continue its present practice of informing the teachers of this responsibility and the manner in which it may be fulfilled. Teacher proof of certification must be on file by July 1. The Department of Human Resources will work in partnership with the Association to notify any teacher who does not have proof of certification on file. If a teacher has not provided the Department of Human Resources proof of certification by August 15th, he/she will be placed on an unpaid leave of absence in accordance with Article 16 until proof of certification is provided the 11.05 Teachers who are leaving the District, or contemplating leaving the District, or are requesting a leave of absence for any reason, have an ethical responsibility to report this to their immediate supervisor and Department of Human Resources at the earliest possible date. This early reporting will enable the Department of Human Resources to obtain the best possible replacement for the following year. It is recommended that a written notice of resignation and/or leave of absence be given to the Department of Human Resources not later than the first of May. 11.06 Elementary and middle school teachers will be given the opportunity to express their wishes for room assignments within a department, block or grade level. Course or grade level assignments will be based on qualifications and experience. 11.07 In order to comply with Section 1119 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), also known as the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB), teachers will be required to be “highly qualified” in their area of teaching in compliance with State and Federal Regulations. In the event that the laws are repealed or amended so as to not require the concept of “highly qualified”, this section shall be void. 11.08 The district-wide Professional Development Assessment Team (PDAT) shall be composed of four members: two (2) administrators appointed by the Assistant Superintendent for Instruction and two

PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATION AND ASSIGNMENTS. 11.01 Both the Board and the Association agree to the importance of having a properly certified or licensed (where applicable) teacher with a minimum of a Bachelor’s degree and educational training preferred. The Board will attempt to contract only teachers who have a degree or degrees from an accredited college or university and those individuals who also meet the minimum Michigan Certificate Code requirements, or appropriate Michigan licensing requirements where a teaching certificate is not required. Teachers in reimbursed vocationally certified programs must hold a valid vocational certificate in their specialized areas. (All teachers employed as of 1 July 1985 are grand fathered.) If teachers in reimbursed vocationally certified programs do not hold vocational certification as required, said teachers will be encouraged to apply for or renew vocational certification and/or may be subject to transfer to maximize the district’s ability to obtain reimbursement. 11.02 Those teachers for whom special permits are being processed while they are waiting full certification from the State of Michigan, or teachers of vocational subjects who possess a vocational certificate or permit are excluded from the provision of Sections 11.01 and 11.02 of this Article.Sections 11.03 The Association recognizes that each teacher must assume the responsibility of filing his/her valid Michigan teaching certificate or other documents indicating same with the Department of Human Resources by July 1. Each teacher must file with the Department of Human Resources a valid Michigan teaching certificate/license and a transcript of credits. 11.04 The responsibility for being certified to teach in the Rochester Community Schools rests solely with the individual teacher. The Board will continue its present practice of informing the teachers of this responsibility and the manner in which it may be fulfilled. Teacher proof of certification must be on file by July 1. The Department of Human Resources will work in partnership with the Association to notify any teacher who does not have proof of certification on file. If a teacher has not provided the Department of Human Resources proof of certification by August 15th, he/she will be placed on an unpaid leave of absence in accordance with Article 16 until proof of certification is provided thethe Department of Human Resources. The unpaid leave of absence will be for no longer than 90 calendar days from the first student day. If proof of certification is not obtained within the 90 day period, the employee will be terminated. 11.05 Teachers who are leaving the District, or contemplating leaving the District, or are requesting a leave of absence for any reason, have an ethical responsibility to report this to their immediate supervisor and Department of Human Resources at the earliest possible date. This early reporting will enable the Department of Human Resources to obtain the best possible replacement for the following year. It is recommended that a written notice of resignation and/or leave of absence be given to the Department of Human Resources not later than the first of May. 11.06 Elementary and middle school teachers will be given the opportunity to express their wishes for room assignments within a department, block or grade level. Course or grade level assignments will be based on qualifications and experience. 11.07 In order to comply with Section 1119 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), also known as the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB), teachers will be required to be “highly qualified” in their area of teaching in compliance with State and Federal Regulations. In the event that the laws are repealed or amended so as to not require the concept of “highly qualified”, this section shall be void. 11.08 The district-wide Professional Development Assessment Team (PDAT) shall be composed of four members: two (2) administrators appointed by the Assistant Superintendent for Instruction and twotwo (2) teachers appointed by the Association. The PDAT shall make a determination whether a teacher has become “highly qualified” through the portfolio method. For teachers choosing the portfolio method, an individual portfolio shall be completed by the teacher for each subject area in which the teacher wants to demonstrate his/her highly qualified status. The portfolio assessment shall be conducted by the PDAT using the negotiated guidelines and forms. If the PDAT fails to indicate that competency has been demonstrated by the portfolio in all four categories, the PDAT will indicate how the portfolio must be improved in order to demonstrate competency. The teacher may resubmit his/her revised portfolio until competency in demonstrated in all four categories. The teacher must submit the completed Portfolio Assessment Report to the Chief Human Resource Officer. 11.09 Candidates for National Board certification will receive two (2) release days to work on their portfolios.