Two big changes are among the modifications the state Board of Education will consider this afternoon to its controversial tiered teacher licensing rule. One would eliminate the third tier of licensing, so there would just be two: The residency certificate, for teachers in their first three years; and the professional certificate, for teachers with more than three years experience. Then, the board is dropping new performance-based requirements from the renewal process for the professional certificate, so renewals of teachers’ professional certificates would carry the same requirements that they have today, including requirements for additional education credits.

Performance requirements, including measures tied to student achievement and evaluations by principals, would remain in place for the residency certificate. And they wouldn’t go away for the more-experienced teachers, either – but they’d move out of the licensing process. Marilyn Whitney, spokeswoman for the board, they’d instead become a part of the proposed “career ladder,” which would give pay boosts to teachers when they attain certain standards. The career ladder legislation is separate from the tiered licensing rule; Whitney said the state board is scheduled to consider it later, possibly as soon as the board’s next meeting on Nov. 24.

That’s where the board could consider tying some pay increases to completion of advanced degrees, which currently brings teachers raises but was excluded from the tiered licensure plan entirely. “The board is considering, on the compensation side, for the career ladder … adding in some additional compensation for advanced degrees and education attainment,” Whitney said. “I think that’s in direct response to the public comments. But that would be in the career ladder legislation, and they’re not discussing that today.”

“They’re still talking about those details,” she said. “All they’re going to do today is talk about the tiered certification.”

The third level, initially identified as a “master level teacher” in the original tiered licensing rule, may come back in the career ladder as well, Whitney said, but it wouldn’t play into teacher licensing. Whitney said, “Most of the public comments centered around the concern over tying those things to licensure specifically, the professional certification. So this proposal they’re looking at this afternoon addresses that.” You can see the full proposed rule, with the changes, online here; it’s a 25-page document that also includes the board’s staff memo, summarizing and explaining the changes. The board meeting starts at 4:30 MT today.