Fono to review
Admin's teacher reclassification measure on Monday
Bill sets salaries between $7,700 to $35,000 based on teacher
certification and qualifications
by Fili Sagapolutele
Samoa News Correspondent
A long-awaited
proposal from the Administration to increase salaries for public
school teachers was introduced yesterday in the Fono.
The measure -
which sets salaries for teachers beginning at $7,737 to up to
$35,000 based on certification and qualifications - will be reviewed
by both the Senate and House during separate hearings on Monday.
The legislation
does not specify how much money is needed to address the proposed
salary increases, but it states that the funding source is to
come from DOE's "unobligated and unexpended funds"
for FY 2008 budget.
In a letter to
the Fono leadership about the proposal, Gov. Togiola Tulafono
said recruiting and retaining teachers has been a constant challenge.
He said that through discussions with the Department of Education
(DOE), "we have developed this initiative that rewards the
attainment of credentials and promotes overall effectiveness
in the classroom."
Togiola said
the newly revised payscale for teachers in the proposal makes
the positions more competitive for easier recruiting and for
retaining teachers through the school year.
CERTIFICATION
The bill establishes
a three-member Certification Board, appointed by the governor
and approve by the Fono, to oversee the licensing and certification
of all teaching personnel within the public school system.
The certification
board is responsible for enforcing the teacher certification
program adopted by the Department of Education and set forth
in regulations promulgated by the Director of Education.
The DOE director
shall set the Teacher Certification Regulations to be adopted
in accordance with the Administrative Procedures Act.
According to
the bill, teacher certification regulations shall set forth additional
minimum qualifications for the following certification classes
of teaching personnel:
· Temporary
certification - requires no less than high school diploma and
the certification lasts no more than one year. Only two extensions
for a period of one year each may be granted by the certification
board only in exceptional circumstances. Teaching personnel holding
temporary certification shall make no less than $7,737 per annum.
· Provisional
teacher certification - requires no less than an associate degree
and certification lasts no more than 5 years. Certificate holder
must be enrolled in teacher education program earning credits
toward baccalaureate degree and professional teacher certification
I status. The certification board may grant only one extension
for a period of two years only in exceptional circumstances.
Provisional teacher certification shall make no less than $11,566
per annum.
· Professional
teacher certification I - requires no less than a baccalaureate
degree and successful completion of ASDOE approved courses and
tests. Certification shall last no longer than five years. Renewal
of certification shall be for five years and shall only be granted
if the certification holder has completed 15 hours of approved
coursework. Teacher certification I shall make no less than $17,572
per annum.
· Professional
teacher certification II - requires no less than a master's degree
and successful completion of ASDOE approved courses and tests.
Certification shall last no longer than five years and certification
renewal is for five years and shall only be granted if the certification
holder has completed 15 hours of approved coursework. Teacher
certification II shall make no less than $21,575 per annum.
· Professional
teacher certification III - requires no less than a baccalaureate
degree and the certification holder must meet minimum required
testing or satisfy DOE performance rating evaluation to qualify
for 'highly qualified teacher' status. Highly qualified teachers
must have at least a baccalaureate degree, full state certification
or licensure, and have proficient command of the subject area
or areas they teach. Certification shall last no longer than
eight years and certification renewal is for eight years and
only be granted if the certification holder has completed 15
hours of approved coursework. Teacher certification III shall
make no less than $25,841 per annum.
· Professional
teacher certification IV - requires no less than a doctorate
degree and successful completion of ASDOE approved courses and
tests. Certification shall last no longer than six years. Renewal
may be granted if the certification holder has completed 18 hours
of approved course work. Teacher certification IV shall make
no less than $30,945 per annum.
According to
the bill, veteran teachers with baccalaureate degrees who have
worked for ASDOE for 20 years or more shall be exempt from the
above requirements. In order to be entitled to increment consideration,
veteran teachers with baccalaureate degrees shall successfully
complete additional coursework as prescribed by the certification
board.
The measure provides
that veteran teachers without baccalaureate degrees shall successfully
complete an annual veteran training program in addition to successfully
completing prescribed coursework in order to be eligible for
increment consideration.
For foreign degree
holders, the bill states that these teachers shall submit to
DOE their qualifications for review by a reputable and authorized
assessment agency to determine the holders' certification status
with DOE. The decision by DOE, in consultation with the assessment
agency regarding final certification status shall be final.
Degrees in the
Samoan language and culture shall be reviewed by ASDOE only,
according to the bill.
For individuals
holding temporary certifications and provisional teaching certifications,
they must be enrolled in either the American Samoa Teacher Education
Program at ASCC, the DOE's UH Cohort program or any other DOE
approved and USDOE accredited program for the attainment of an
associate degree and/or bachelor degree.
"Failure
to abide by this policy will result in immediate termination
and non-renewal of teaching credentials," the bill states.
"ASDOE shall endeavor to obligate teachers educated through
the above programs to a certain number of years in the classroom
in American Samoa."
The bill also
provides that special consideration shall be made for "hard
to fill" subject areas, vocational subject areas and special
education subject areas. Additionally, step increments for the
teaching personnel shall be limited to ten only and increments
shall be authorized biennially.
Principals and
other teaching personnel who leave their positions within the
authorized payscale to take up a position as an administrator
within DOE or any other employment with ASG, shall be reclassified
using their verified credentials and according to the proper
payscale on file with the Department of Human Resources.
"Principals
and other teaching personnel who leave their positions shall
not be entitled to their salary levels automatically upon leaving
their teaching personnel position, but shall be reclassified
as provided for by territorial statutes and regulations,"
the bill states.
Additionally,
the title of principal shall be limited only to teaching personnel
who discharge day-to-day principal duties within the confines
of school premises.
Removal of a
principal from the school premises, whether by promotion or any
other reason, shall render that specific position title of Principal
vacant, according to the measure.
"The intent
of this provision is to prohibit the movement of Principals to
administrative positions outside of the schools they serve, without
relinquishment of the Principal title for other teaching personnel
to ascend to," the bill says.
DOE is authorized
to charge fees for actual services performed in relation to the
enforcement of the teacher certification program, it says.
Reach the
reporter at
fili@samoanews.com.
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