Updates: Registration and CTLE Guidance, and Pension Credit for Military Service

The State Education Department has released two updates regarding Registration and CTLE Guidance, and Pension Credit for Military Service:

Registration and CTLE Guidance

The attached guidelines, issued by Deputy Commissioner John D’Agati, pertain to new Registration and to new Continuing Teacher and Leader Education (CTLE) requirements that will become effective in 2016-17. The document includes three pages describing the new requirements and  eight pages of questions and answers.

• The Registration requirements are applicable to a broad array of educators – those who hold permanent certifications as well as those who hold professional certifications, and to those holding Level III Teaching Assistant certificates. Registrations will be completed through the TEACH system on a staggered basis, based on each individual’s birthdate month. If a certificate holder is not practicing in New York, the certificate holder must notify SED through the TEACH system that he/she is not practicing in a New York State school district or BOCES.
• The CTLE requirements apply to holders of professional certificates in classroom teaching or educational leadership and to holders of Level III Teaching Assistant certificates – NOT to holders of permanent certificates. Such practicing educators will be required to complete 100 hours of continuing teacher and leader education during each five-year registration period. All CTLE sponsors (i.e., individuals and entities providing professional development credited toward the 100 hour requirement) must be approved by SED.

Pension Credit for Military Credit

Governor Cuomo has signed into law S7160 / A9531, to, upon application, provide members of a public retirement system of the state with at least five years of existing public pension credit, up to three years of additional service credit for rendered military duty, if honorably discharged, without any restrictions having to do with “conflicts” (e.g., World War II, Korean War or Vietnam War). To obtain the credit, the member submit an application before the effective date of retirement and must pay a member cost (3 percent of salary for tiers 1 to 5, 6 percent of salary for tier 6). The chaptered law is attached.