Sec. 80-5.8. Endorsement of certificates for service as a teacher in the classroom teaching service and recognition of substantially equivalent out-of-state teacher education programs for service as a teacher in the classroom teaching service in New York State

(a) Endorsement of certificates for service as a teacher in the classroom teaching service.

(1) The commissioner may endorse the certificate or an equivalent authorization to practice from other state(s) or territory(ies) of the United States or the District of Columbia for service as a teacher in the classroom teaching service, provided that the candidate meets the following requirements:

(i) The candidate shall hold a valid certificate or equivalent authorization to practice from other state(s) or territory(ies) of the United States or the District of Columbia that is equivalent to the title and type of the certificate sought.

(ii) The candidate shall meet the general requirements for certificates prescribed in Subpart 80-1 of this Part, including but not limited to the requirements of section 80-1.3 relating to citizenship, section 80-1.4 relating to study in child abuse identification and reporting, and school violence prevention and intervention; section 80-1.13 relating to coursework or training in harassment, bullying and discrimination prevention and intervention; and section 80-1.1 relating to a criminal history check.

(iii) The candidate shall hold a baccalaureate or higher degree from a regionally accredited institution or a higher education institution that the commissioner deems substantially equivalent. Candidates shall have achieved a 2.5 cumulative grade point average, or its equivalent, in the program leading to the degree.

(iv) The candidate shall either:

(a)

(1) have completed a teacher education program from a regionally accredited institution of higher education or a higher education institution that the commissioner deems substantially equivalent, provided that such program leads to an initial certificate, or a similar certificate title and type, in the jurisdiction in which the higher education institution is located; and

(2) meet the examination requirements for the title and type of certificate sought in this State; except if a candidate meets all the examination requirements except the teacher performance assessment, if required for the certificate type and title sought, the candidate shall be issued a one-year nonrenewable conditional initial certificate, provided that the candidate meets the requirements of section 80-5.17 of this Subpart; or

(b)

(1) have at least three years of satisfactory experience in a public school (grades birth-12) in other state(s) or territory(ies) of the United States or the District of Columbia in a position that would have required the equivalent of an initial or professional certificate in the certificate title sought as a teacher in the classroom teaching service for employment in New York State and while under a certificate issued by such other state authorizing such service, such experience must have been completed within seven years immediately preceding the application for endorsement of the out-of-state certificate; or the candidate shall have equivalent experience as determined by the commissioner; and

(2) submit satisfactory evidence that the candidate received evaluation ratings of effective or highly effective, or the substantial equivalent of such ratings, in at least three years of experience in a public school in other state(s) or territory(ies) of the United States or the District of Columbia in the certificate title sought as a teacher in the classroom teaching service for employment in New York State.

(2) Such candidate who meets the endorsement requirements in paragraph (1) of this subdivision shall be issued an initial certificate as a teacher in the classroom teaching service pursuant to the requirements of this Part.

(b) Recognition of substantially equivalent teacher education programs for service as a teacher in the classroom teaching service.

(1) The commissioner may recognize and issue an initial certificate to an out-of-state candidate who completes a teacher education program at a regionally accredited institution of higher education or a higher education institution that the commissioner deems substantially equivalent from another state or territory of the United States or the District of Columbia that leads to certification in the title and type of certificate sought in the jurisdiction where the higher education institution is located if the candidate also meets the following requirements:

(i) General requirements. The candidate shall meet the general requirements for certificates prescribed in Subpart 80-1 of this Part, including but not limited to the requirements of section 80-1.3 relating to citizenship, section 80-1.4 relating to study in child abuse identification and reporting, and school violence prevention and intervention; section 80-1.13 relating to coursework or training in harassment, bullying and discrimination prevention and intervention; and section 80-1.1 relating to a criminal history check.

(ii) Degree. The candidate holds a baccalaureate or higher degree from a regionally accredited institution or a higher education institution that the commissioner deems substantially equivalent. Candidates shall have achieved a 2.5 cumulative grade point average, or its equivalent, in the program leading to the degree.

(iii) Examination. The candidate shall receive a satisfactory passing score on all examinations required for the title and type of certificate sought in this State.

(2) A candidate who meets the requirements for recognition of an out-of-state teacher education program in paragraph (1) of this subdivision shall be issued an initial certificate as a teacher in the classroom teaching service pursuant to the requirements of this Part.