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OFFICE OF TEACHING INITIATIVES
Teaching in New York
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frequently asked questions
Teaching Assistants
- What funding exists for providing professional development
to teaching assistants in order to comply with No Child Left Behind (NCLB)
requirements?
- Do I have to pass the New York State Assessment of Teaching
Assistant Skills Test (NYSATAS) in order to be issued a teaching assistant
certificate under the February 2, 2004 regulations?
- Are the academic and testing requirements for the new teaching
assistant certificates different from the Temporary license or Continuing
certificate?
- hold a valid NYS classroom teacher certificate. Do I
need to apply for a teaching assistant certificate in order to be hired as
a teaching assistant? Do I need to take the New York State Assessment of Teaching
Assistant Skills test?
- I hold a valid classroom teaching certificate from a state other than New York. Do I need to apply for a teaching assistant certificate to be hired as a teaching assistant in New York State? Do I need to take the New York State Assessment of Teaching Assistant Skills test?
- Can the New York State Assessment of Teaching Assistant Skills
Test be used to satisfy the federal No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) requirement?
- May I use a passing score on the New York State Assessment
of Teaching Assistant Skills test to satisfy any of the college credit requirements
for teaching assistants?
- Will college credit earned years ago be acceptable to satisfy
the credit requirements for a Level II, III, or Pre-Professional certificate?
- I hold a Temporary teaching assistant license issued under
the pre-February 2004 regulations. Would the superintendent of my district
be responsible for Applying for a Certificate for a Continuing certificate
on my behalf?
- Will individuals holding a Temporary teaching assistant
license, a Continuing certificate or a Level I, II, III or Pre-Professional
teaching assistant certificate be able to request a waiver of the college-supervised
student teaching requirement based on their experience working as a teaching
assistant?
- In order to meet the college credit requirement of the Level II, Level III or Pre-Professional Teaching Assistant certificate, is it necessary to complete coursework at a New York State college?
- Is there a possibility of a time extension to the Level 1 or Level 2 teaching assistant certificates?
- What funding exists for providing professional development
to teaching assistants in order to comply with No Child Left Behind (NCLB)
requirements?
One of the specified purposes of NCLB funding is professional development.
Title I and Title II funds may be used for ongoing training and professional
development to help paraprofessionals meet the statutory requirements.
For more information, go to
No Child Left Behind
(NCLB).  top
- Do I have to pass the New York State Assessment of Teaching
Assistant Skills Test (NYSATAS) in order to be issued a teaching assistant
certificate under the February 2, 2004 regulations?
All candidates for a Level I, II, III or a Pre-Professional teaching assistant
certificate issued after February 2, 2004 must submit evidence to a school
district of having achieved a satisfactory level of performance on the New
York State Assessment of Teaching Assistant Skills test.
National Evaluation Systems, Inc. has developed a web site for NYSATAS. The
web site contains information on test locations, registration, and fees as
well as the NYSATAS preparation guide. The web site is available at
http://www.nysatas.nesinc.com.
top
- Are the academic and testing requirements for the new teaching
assistant certificates different from the Temporary license or Continuing
certificate?
Yes, the qualifications are different.
top
- I hold a valid NYS classroom teacher certificate. Do I
need to apply for a teaching assistant certificate in order to be hired as
a teaching assistant? Do I need to take the New York State Assessment of Teaching
Assistant Skills test?
If you already hold a valid classroom-teaching certificate you may be hired
to work as a teaching assistant without obtaining a teaching assistant certificate
and you would not be required to take the test.
top
- I hold a valid classroom teaching certificate from a state other than NY. Do I need to apply for a teaching assistant certificate to be hired as a teaching assistant in NY State? Do I need to take the New York State Assessment of Teaching Assistant Skills test?
Yes, you will need to apply for a teaching assistant certificate and successfully complete the Assessment of Teaching Skills Test. When you apply, be sure to indicate any experience you have as a teacher under your out-of-state certificate in order that you be evaluated for the appropriate level of teaching assistant certification.
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- Can the New York State Assessment of Teaching Assistant
Skills Test be used to satisfy the federal No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB)
requirement for teaching assistants?
Yes, however, NYSATAS is not the only assessment that may be used for NCLB
purposes. To learn about other possible assessments that LEAs may use, please
refer to NCLB NYS Field Memo #10-2003, at
http://www.highered.nysed.gov/nclbhome.htm.
By January 8, 2006, all Title I paraprofessionals must have either (1) completed
two years of college (48 semester hours) or have an associate's or higher
degree or (2) passed a formal State or local assessment.
The field memo explains that local educational agencies may use local tenure
reviews or local performance reviews or other assessments as NCLB assessments
provided that such assessments meet NCLB requirements. Decisions on what teaching
assistants may use to satisfy NCLB requirements are made at the local level.
top
- May I use a passing score on the New York State Assessment
of Teaching Assistant Skills test to satisfy any of the college credit requirements
for teaching assistants?
No, achieving a passing score on the New York State Assessment of Teaching
Assistant Skills test may not be used to satisfy any college credit requirements.
top
- Will college credit earned years ago be acceptable to satisfy
the credit requirements for a Level II, III, or Pre-Professional certificate?
The Department will accept any course work that was taken at an accredited
institution that is applicable toward an Associate's or a Bachelor's degree.
There is no time limit on the how long ago the credits were completed.
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- I hold a Temporary teaching assistant license issued under
the pre-February 2004 regulations. Would the superintendent of my district
be responsible for Applying for a Certificate for a Continuing certificate
on my behalf?
Yes, under the pre February 2004 regulations, the superintendent will
submit an OT-APP7 on your behalf for a Continuing certificate.
top
- Will individuals holding a Temporary teaching assistant
license, a Continuing certificate or a Level I, II, III or Pre-Professional
teaching assistant certificate be able to request a waiver of the college-supervised
student teaching requirement based on their experience working as a teaching
assistant?
Yes, teaching assistants who have two-years of experience at one or more
of the grade levels within the range of grades and subject area of the certificate
they are seeking, will be able to submit an OT-11 requesting a waiver of the
college-supervised student teaching requirement.
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- In order to meet the college credit requirement of the Level II, Level III or Pre-Professional Teaching Assistant certificate, is it necessary to complete coursework at a New York State college?
No. College coursework is accepted from any regionally accredited, degree granting institution of higher education. This includes those colleges which offer distance learning. If you plan to pursue Pre-Professional certification, the institution of higher learning must have an approved teacher education program in the subject you wish to pursue and completion of program/degree must lead to a teaching certificate in that state.
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- Is there a possibility of a time extension to the Level 1 or Level 2 teaching assistant certificates?
Holders of a Level 1 teaching assistant (TA) certificate may apply for and received a one-time only, 3 year renewal of the Level 1 TA certificate to meet the Level 2 TA requirements if the certificate holder was unable to secure employment. Holders of the Level 2 Ta certificate may not apply for such a renewal and must meet the requirement for the Level 3 TA certificate. top
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