Certification Guideline 8

SUBJECT
Individual Requests

GUIDELINE DEFINITION - FEES AND EXPIRATION DATES
The State Certification Consultant shall determine the fees for Individual Requests for certification. This charge shall be multiplied by the number of years for which the certification is to be granted. This charge will be assessed for each area that an individual requests. The charge also applies to renewals of certification that are the result of an individual request. The district shall collect this required fee from the individual at the time the certification request is submitted. The money is not sent to the state office, but it is collected by the state office through the annual assessment of certification costs.

There are no extra renewal requirements for individual requests. Therefore, the expiration date of the individual request will be equal to or less than the expiration date of the certification the individual already holds.

The current charge for submitting an individual request is $9.00. Any changes will be reflected in this guideline and by letter from the State Certification Consultant to the district certification officers.

EXAMPLE
District Certification Officers have been notified by the State Certification Consultant that the charge for submitting an Individual Request shall be $9.00 for the 2001-02 school year. Ali submits an individual request for Five-Year certification for instructional areas 806 and 809 on January 8, 2002. He already holds a Five-Year certificate with an expiration date of August 31, 2004. Both certificates would be for a two-year period of time. He would pay $9.00 x 2 years x two areas for a total of $36.00.

EXAMPLE
District Certification Officers have been notified by the State Certification Consultant that the charge for submitting an Individual Request shall be $9.00 for the 2001-02 school year. Sue submits an individual request for Provisional certification for instructional area 801 on November 21, 2002. She only has 20 credits in English. She already holds a Five-Year certificate for the 510 area with an expiration date of August 31, 2006. She will receive a Provisional certificate with an expiration date of August 31, 2004. She will pay $9.00 x 2 years for a total of $18.00. After March 1, 2004, she can pay another $18.00 to obtain a Provisional certificate with an expiration date of August 31, 2006. She will not have to do anything for renewal of the 801 certificate.

RATIONALE
Chapter TCS 3, Section 3.03 (2), of the Wisconsin Administrative Code permits individual requests for certification. This section also states the individual requesting certification must pay a fee equivalent to the normal fee charged to the district by the state board for initial certification. This amount is computed annually by dividing the line count of the certification file into the certification unit budget.

GUIDELINE DEFINITION - CERTIFICATION FOR NON-TEACHING AREA
Individuals currently employed in the district and holding Wisconsin Technical College System (WTCS) certification may submit an Individual Request for another instructional area or another category of certification such as a Counselor (06), Instructional Supervisor (04), etc. If the individual has never functioned in the position, it will be necessary to issue a Provisional certificate. The individual shall not be eligible for a Five-Year certificate until they have the required amount of time in the position.

EXAMPLE
Sally holds a Five-Year certificate in 809 with an expiration date of August 31, 2002. She makes an individual request for Provisional certification as a counselor. Requirement 64 is outstanding. Sally will need to meet this requirement before a Five-Year certification can be issued.

RATIONALE
Section TCS 3.03 (2) states "an individual may request Provisional (not Part-Time Provisional) or Five-Year certificates for additional areas of instruction or categories of certification."

GUIDELINE DEFINITION - INDIVIDUAL REQUESTS - CONVERSION TO DISTRICT ASSIGNMENTS
An Individual Request for certification needs to become certification requested by the district when the district makes an assignment that is covered by the Individual Request. The district is obligated to submit the necessary request when the assignment is made. Refunds are not made to the individual when the individual request is changed to a district request.

EXAMPLE
John holds a Five-Year certificate for the 102 (Business Administration) instructional area valid to August 31, 2004. He holds an Individual Request for Provisional certification for the 809 instructional area valid to August 31, 2002 with Requirement 69 outstanding. The district assigns 809-199 (Economics) effective August 2001. The district must change his Individual 809 certificate to a district request with the assignment date of August 2001 valid through August 31, 2003. John must complete Requirement 69 before the 2003 expiration date.

RATIONALE
The certification code allows for Individual Requests for certification. The Individual Request must be paid for by the individual submitting the request. Certification associated with assignments is requested and paid for by the district employing the individual.

PROCESS NOTE
The district must submit a delete record to remove the Individual Request. The district must submit a record the following month to add the district request for the assignment.

Implemented: May 2, 2002
Reviewed May 2, 2002