Continuing Education Option
In order to make program improvements, the Education Professional Standards Board (EPSB) suspended enrollment in the Continuing Education Option (CEO) program for rank change and/or certificate renewal on November 19, 2007. Anyone who attended a face-to-face orientation or completed the online orientation prior to November 19 th will be allowed to begin a cohort. The cohort must begin no later than January 2008 and each candidate must complete the program no later than January 2012.
EPSB has appointed a CEO Task Force to review the CEO program and make recommendations to the Board regarding changes. It is anticipated that the program will become available as soon as appropriate changes can be made.
| Introduction
| Process
| CEO
Phases | CEO
Portfolio | Scoring
Process |
CEO
Regulation
Educational
Cooperatives that Sponsor CEO Cohorts
Kentucky's state legislators and educators developed
the Continuing Education Option (CEO) for rank change and certificate
renewal as an alternative to a planned fifth-year program college
course of studies. The initiative that resulted from House Bill
305 is structured to link teachers '
professional growth with positive, measurable improvement in student
learning. Built around the Kentucky
Experienced Teacher Standards adopted by the Education Professional
Standards Board (EPSB), the CEO requires candidates to submit
an independent professional growth plan based on the needs of
the teacher, the students, and the school. The professional growth
plan is a unique independent study that may include graduate level
classes, professional development experiences, research, reading,
and shadowing other professionals. Candidates create job-embedded
CEO plans based on the needs of their schools, districts, and
communities. Each candidate is required to create a portfolio
representing successful completion of his or her plan. Although
the CEO is an independent study, throughout the process candidates
receive support through online resources and by participating
in face-to-face
regional monthly cohort meetings offered across the state.
Cohorts are supported by experienced educational professionals
(coaches) for the first 18 months in a blended learning environment
integrating traditional learning with technology to provide a
technology enhanced independent learning experience.
The benefits of successful completion of the CEO program are
far reaching. The teacher candidate completes a self-assessment
to identify his or her own areas for growth and matches them to
specific local district and classroom needs. The structures of
the CEO Plan and CEO Portfolio are based on candidates' professional
needs, goals, objectives, and activities. To address the full
scope of the Experienced Teacher Standards, some of these professional
needs, goals, objectives, and activities are teacher-centered,
some are student-centered, and some focus on leadership. As a
result, each completed CEO program will bring new resources and
experiences into the candidate's classroom, school and district.
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Upon expressing interest in CEO, candidates are directed to complete
an introductory online “Orientation” on KyEducators.org
free of charge. The orientation course is required prior to enrollment
in the CEO program. The total cost for participating in the CEO
is $1,950. This program is totally supported by the fees paid
by the teachers who participate. Costs incurred include:
- $150 for the online course available through www.KyEducators.org.
- $600 is paid directly to the seminar provider to cover the
expenses of the monthly regional face-to-face meetings. (See
list of regional
educational cooperatives.)
- The remaining $1,200 is paid to the EPSB when a portfolio
is submitted for scoring.
- A fee of $120 is assessed for each unmet standard that requires
re-scoring.
Time Frame
By Kentucky statute and regulation, the CEO process may take
between 12 months and four years. The timeframe primarily depends
on the candidate. Although candidates do have a great deal of
control over their timeline for completing the CEO, successful
candidates agree that developing a detailed, realistic schedule
during the planning process and then staying on that schedule
is a key to success. Most candidates average two years to complete
the CEO.
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The CEO process is divided into four phases: (1) Building The
Professional Development Plan; (2) Content Readings and Research;
(3) Classroom Implementation and Student Assessment; and (4) Professional
Leadership and Publication.
Phase I: Building the Professional Learning Plan
Phase I of the CEO journey requires completion of the CEO: Building
the Plan online course offered through www.KyEducators.org. The
Coach and this course guides teachers through the steps of building
a job-embedded professional growth plan. Each section focuses
on a specific component of the CEO Plan: the development of a
personal vision for continuing professional development; developing
and supporting the needs statements; developing goals and objectives;
understanding and using the CEO Rubric alongside the Experienced
Teacher Standards; identifying an appropriate professional development
focus; drafting a professional development plan and using the
rubric to evaluate the plan; identifying resources and strategies
to support the plan; and an overview of the portfolio. Each section
of the CEO online course equates to a chapter within a book. Candidates
will read through each section, explore the attached web links
that provide learning resources, complete the assignments, and
complete an online quiz.
The quiz at the end of each section is a formative evaluation
to ensure knowledge of basic concepts and vocabulary. Candidates
must successfully complete each online quiz in order to move
on to the next section. The assignments in each section include
writing drafts, working with templates, and creating the basic
components of the CEO Plan. Submitted electronically to the cohort
leader for review, this work will be discussed in person at the
monthly cohort meetings. Cohort meetings allow teachers to review
their completed work with cohort leaders, content specialists,
and other participating candidate peers.
This phase culminates in the development of a completed professional
development plan.
Phase II: Content Reading and Research
Phase II involves the development of a “best practice”
literature search related to the content area identified in the
needs statement. Based on the literature search, candidates develop
an action research plan with an emphasis on the impact that the
research project will have on their professional development as
well as student learning.
Candidates are supported during this phase by regular monthly
cohort meetings with the coach and candidate peers. Additional
assistance is available online for identifying references and
resources and for planning and conducting action research. Phase
II typically requires six to eight months on average to complete.
Phase III: Classroom Implementation and Student Assessment
During Phase III the candidates implement the newly developed
instructional unit and determine its impact by assessing student
learning. Support is provided through the continued regional monthly
cohort meetings. The online resources utilized in Phases I and
II continue to be available until completion of the CEO.
Phase IV: Professional Leadership and Publication
During the fourth and final phase of the CEO teachers are challenged
to develop instructional leadership skills through sharing the
results of their professional learning experiences through a variety
of venues. Continuing to receive support during this phase, candidates
can complete the requirements for Phase IV within a six to ten
month timeframe. In compliance with the Experienced Teacher Standards,
candidates are encouraged to share results of their research with
educators within their schools and districts, as well as across
the state through presentation and printed or web publication
of their new skills and materials. The primary product at this
phase is the completed portfolio that documents candidates' process
and progress throughout the CEO and their achievement of each
of the components of their CEO Plan.
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The final product of the CEO process is a professional teaching
portfolio demonstrating continued growth over time and increased
student learning in the classroom, school, and district. Teachers
select portfolio artifacts that document how their continuing
education experiences relate to each of the ten Experienced Teacher
Standards. They must meet all ten of the standards in order to
be recommended for rank change. A successful portfolio demonstrates
teacher growth in instructional content knowledge, quality instructional
practices, and instructional leadership.
Portfolio contents are presented in three volumes that provide
a clear demonstration of the process and outcomes related to their
CEO Plan. The three volumes are (1) research and development;
(2) an album of best practices, lesson and unit plans, student
work and examples of growth over time; and (3) a reflective journal.
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CEO Plans are evaluated according to a scoring rubric based on
the Kentucky Experienced Teacher Standards. The indicators show
the expected competencies for both Rank I and Rank II teachers.
These standards and indicators form the core content of the CEO
process.
When the candidate's portfolio is completed and submitted to
the EPSB it is scored by two scoring cadre members selected from
university professors, school administrators, and experienced
teachers who have been trained and approved by the EPSB. A chief
reader resolves any significant scoring differences. Upon participating
in the CEO for at least 12 months candidates may submit their
portfolios during any of the four scoring sessions offered during
the year: January 1-15, April 1-15, July 1-15 or October 1-15
Continuing
Education Option for certificate renewal and rank change regulation:
16 KAR 8:030
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Sharon Salsman
CEO Program Consultant
100 Airport Road, 3rd Floor
Frankfort, Kentucky 40601
Phone: (502) 564-4606
Fax: (502) 564-9484 or (502) 564-7080
Toll Free: (888) 598-7667
E-mail: sharon.salsman@ky.gov
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