YORKTOWN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

GRADUATE CREDIT GUIDELINES

(Revised January 2002)

The teaching profession is one that requires the educator to continue to study beyond the initial degree. To recognize the increased proficiency that the additional courses may bring to the teacher, the Board of Education provides additional compensation to the teacher for approved credits beyond the BA through MA 60. The Board of Education and professional staff have the responsibility for assuring that the courses that are approved for this compensation do, in fact, add to the professional competence of the teacher and, in turn, improve the education available to the students.

Credits (graduate, undergraduate, or in‑service) earned beyond the Bachelor's degree are subject to review by a screening committee that, in turn, will make recommendations to the Assistant Superintendent. The composition of the Graduate Credit Screening Committee shall be six representatives appointed by the Y.C.T. ‑ one from each school, and three representatives from the administration.

The Screening Committee will approve courses based on the guidelines listed below:

I . courses in teaching methodology

2.   Courses directly related to the applicant's assignment. Teachers who are assigned by the district to teach a course out of their subject area may submit courses relating to such assignment for approval.

3.   courses prescribed by certification requirements in the teaching assignment currently held by the applicant

4.   Courses related to the applicant's assignment for which the New York State Department of Education grants credit based on passing the appropriate state examination. The following two courses apply: (1) Coffective and Remedial Instruction in Reading, and (2) Diagnosis and Remediation of Reading Problems.

5.   Courses not related to the applicant's assignment but prescribed by a college for degree in the applicant's assignment as determined by matriculation. Credit for such courses is often not granted until a Master's degree is attained.

6.   Courses requested by the school district for the improvement of the teacher. If such courses total less than 15 hours, the applicant is responsible for holding the forms until 15 hours have been amassed to equal one credit.

7.   Online courses that are sponsored by an accredited institution. A course outline must be submitted that includes time requirements, and student requirements and assignments.

EXCLUDED for the purpose of granting credit are the following:

1.   courses ftinded by the administration or the Professional Improvement Program

2.   courses in continuing education unless they are acceptable for transfer for matriculation at an accredited college or university

3.   courses in adult education

4.   foreign travel

5.   courses in administration, with the exception of School Law and Evaluation

6.   Courses in guidance, with the exception of Child and Adolescent Psychology (Guidance counselors are not affected by this exclusion.)

7.   Correspondence, excursion, and TV (video) conferences

The guideline used by the Committee in approving course credits is that approximately 15 hours of course meeting time is equivalent to one unit of credit. If taking courses that meet for less than 15 hours, the applicant is responsible for holding the forms until he/she has amassed 15 hours. However, it is highly recommended that prior approval be sought for such courses. In NO event will the Committee approve credit in excess of that granted by the university.

APPLICATION PROCEDURES

1 . Secure a course approval form from your front office.

2.   Fill out the form and prepare in triplicate.

3.   It is preferable to obtain approval prior to taking the course. At any rate, you should submit your application as soon as possible after course completion.

4.   Submit the three copies of your application to Joan Schwarz, Chair of the Graduate Credit Screening Committee at Brookside School. Requests need to be received by the Wednesday prior to the meeting in order to be placed on the agenda for that month.

5.   Arrange to have an official transcript or course completion form forwarded to the

      District Office of the Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction.

The Committee will act on your application and approve or disapprove the application based on the guidelines previously indicated. Procedures for notification are:

1.   If the Screening Committee recommends NOT approving a course, the Chair of the Committee will notify the applicant in writing.

2.   An applicant who has not received the recommendation of the Screening Committee may appeal the decision by arranging for a conference with the Committee to reopen the discussion.

3.   If the Assistant Superintendent does not accept the recommendation of the Screening Committee, he will notify them of his reason in writing or in person.

4. Approval for course credit will be granted only if the applicant receives a passing grade in the course or courses applied for.

SUCCESSFULLY NAVIGATING GRADUATE CREDIT APPROVAL

PRIOR APPROVAL ‑ You do not need to get prior approval for a course, but it is a wise move that can save you the annoyance and cost of taking a course for which you will not ultimately be paid on the salary schedule. If you want "prior approval", seek out your building representative for assurance that a course is appropriate for gaining paid

credit.

RECORD KEEPING ‑ You should keep a file on courses taken, transcripts sent in, and courses approved. If you request approval after you have taken a course, payment will be retroactive only to the beginning of the semester in which the course is approved. You

need to keep track of whether you have or have not been granted credit as you earn it. Once all course requests and all transcripts have been received by the secretary in the Human Resources Office in the Business Office (currently Sharon Cohen), and once you have amassed a "block of ten" credits, your name, with the names of the specific courses you took will be listed on the Board of Education meeting agenda, for action at that

Board meeting. Only after formal Board approval will you see an increase in pay.

PAID FOR OR NOT PAID FOR ‑ You will be paid for approved courses in your area of teaching (i.e., science courses for science teachers; foreign language courses for

foreign language teachers, elementary education courses for K‑6 teachers).

You will not be paid for:

•     courses fimded by the administration or PIP

•     courses that are not in your area or are only vaguely in your area (i.e., a course in the Physiology of Marsupials for a K‑6 teacher who introduces a short unit on Australia into his or her curriculum)

•     administration courses, except School Law and/or Evaluation

•     courses in guidance, except Child/Adolescent Psychology, unless you are a guidance counselor

•     correspondence, travel, or TV courses

•     continuing education courses, unless they can transfer to a matriculated program at an accredited college or university

Effective June 2002, you will not be granted credit for teaching a course, even if requested to do so by administration.

HOW MANY CREDITS WILL I BE PAID FOR? ‑ Do not assume that you will get the same number of credits for a course that are "advertised" by a college or university. Many colleges award more credit than the district will allow to be credited. The district guideline is that one credit requires 15 hours of teacher contact. The district does not