Frequently Asked Questions - Career Ladder

The goal of the Career Ladder program is to retain quality teachers by:

The purpose of this information is to assist districts in the pursuit of quality career ladder programs as they address issues of concern. Please read carefully for clarification and information.

1. Is the local Career Ladder Committee or the local Board of Education the final decision maker as to whether or not a career ladder activity is appropriate?

If the activity does not violate the state statute or the State Board of Education rule, after receiving advice from the local Career Ladder Committee, the decision made by the local Board of Education will be final.

2. What is the purpose of the local committee?

The local committee is responsible for the quality of the program at the district level. They are required to adhere to the minimum standards established by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. They may establish additional standards that are district specific.

3. What activities are appropriate for Career Ladder?

Career Ladder plans are professional documents.  In selecting responsibilities as part of an individual plan, participants should only select those responsibilities which exceed the norm for the profession.  To be appropriate for Career Ladder, all acceptable professional activities must directly and obviously relate to the programs and services for students as outlined in the district's curriculum development plan, professional development plan, district school improvement plan, or instructional improvement.  Professional activities should be related to academics and should be emphasized in the individual plans.

All approved logged hours must be performed outside contracted time; the activity must not be part of the educator's contracted duties and the educator can receive no compensation for the activity from any source.

4. What should the educator’s role be in the activity?

The educator should be an active participant in planning and execution of the activity. Supervision or attendance alone is not adequate.

5. Is it possible that an activity have components which are appropriate for use on Career Ladder and other components which are not?

Yes, in that instance it would be appropriate for the local committee to approve logging only the portion of the activity that would be appropriate. An example of this would be an educational field trip that included recreational activities. The local committee could then approve the educational portion of the trip as a Career Ladder activity but not allow the recreational portion.

6. Is it correct that many valuable activities educators participate in do not fit into the current guidelines for Career Ladder activities?

Yes, educators have historically been leaders in community, church, philanthropic and other activities that are very valuable. When an activity is deemed appropriate or inappropriate for Career Ladder, it is not a value judgment on that activity. It is simply a decision as to the appropriateness of that activity for use on Career Ladder.

7. Are extra-curricular activities appropriate for Career Ladder?

Extra-curricular activities, even if they are included in the district’s school improvement plan, fall outside the scope of the school district’s curriculum; therefore, they are not appropriate for Career Ladder activities. Co-curricular activities are academic in nature and, if directly and obviously related to programs and services for students, may be appropriate for Career Ladder activities.

Reminder: An Educator can receive no compensation for the activity from any source.

8. What is the requirement for student/parent contact in an individual plan?

Each individual plan must contain a direct student contact component. Districts are encouraged to require that this be a large component (minimum of one-third [1/3 or more]) of the individual educator's plan. Each district should develop a specific requirement of direct student contact, and is recommended that a tutoring component be included. 

Parent contact activities are an important part of individual educators' plans.  Each district may develop specific requirements for parent contact activities.  Parent contact hours should not exceed the required student contact hours.

All student and parent contact hours must provide for direct and obvious improvement of student achievement in the content areas.

9. What are the guidelines regarding workshop/college hours as they apply to Career Ladder?

10. Must an educator only choose Career Ladder activities that are directly related to his/her curriculum?

No, as long as an educator possesses some expertise in the academic area, the activity need not relate only to his/her area of curriculum.

*The district’s Comprehensive School Improvement Plan may consolidate the curriculum development plan, professional development plan and the district’s school improvement plan.

11. Are retired teachers returning to the classroom full time eligible to participate in Career Ladder?

Yes, as long as the district follows the legal requirements for the Public School Retirement System.

12. Are Instructional Coaches eligible to participate in Career Ladder? 

No.  Instructional Coaches are not eligible.  Currently, DESE has no authority to fund Instructional Coaches under statute.

13. What is the earliest date (spring) that teachers may start logging Career Ladder activities for the next school year?

May 1 is the earliest date (spring) that teachers may start logging Career Ladder activities for the next school year.  All current year activities MUST be finished for the year, including the committee checking documentation for the individual plans, before activities can be approved and started for the next year.  It is the district's decision to set additional start and end dates for their Career Ladder activities as stated in the District Career Ladder Plan. 

14. Should the district plan specify responsibility guidelines?

Career Ladder plans are professional documents.  The quality of each plan is a direct reflection on the participant and the district.  Participants are encouraged to develop well-rounded plans varied in content.  It is the local committee's responsibility to be consistent and fair in approving/disapproving individual plans.

It is recommended that the local district plan specify some responsibilities (that could be easily abused) with maximum hour restrictions to assist the committee evaluation.  For example, many districts include hour limits on the following activities:

15. What information is needed to document tutoring students beyond contracted time without pay?

It is recommended that a log sheet listing the students' (initials, first name, etc.) beginning and ending times, objectives taught and verification by building principal or immediate supervisor be used.  Note:  Instructional tutoring involves direct student interaction.  Tutoring does not include supervision in open gym, study hall, detentions and/or any activity for which the teacher receives a stipend.  The teacher must be an active participant in the activity; supervision or attendance is not sufficient.

16. How long are districts required to keep individual Career Ladder Plans and documentation on file for review?

Districts are required to keep individual Career Ladder Plans and documentation on file for five (5) years.

SPEECH LANGUAGE PATHOLOGISTS AND NATIONAL BOARD CERTIFIED TEACHERS

Senate Bill 968, passed in 2004, established new provisions for speech language pathologist eligibility for stage III Career Ladder pay as follows:

"The Commissioner of Education shall cause the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to regard a speech pathologist who holds both a valid certificate of license to teach and a certificate of clinical competence to have fulfilled the standards required to be placed on stage III of the Career Ladder Program, provided that such speech pathologist has been employed by a public school in Missouri for at least five years and is approved for replacement at such stage III by the local school district." 

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS OF SENATE BILL 968

1.  What kind of teaching certificate and Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC) will meet the eligibility requirements?

The teaching certification must be in speech/language pathology, unless the district can demonstrate good cause for using another teaching certificate.  The CCC must be in speech language pathology.

2.  What will qualify as five years of employment in a public school?

The five years of employment must be as a speech language pathologist or in another Career Ladder qualifying position.

3.  If a district participates in Career Ladder, is that district obligated to provide stage III Career Ladder pay to a speech/language pathologist who meets the new eligibility requirements?

No, the district is not required to allow participation.  It may approve participation for one or more individual speech/language pathologist(s) based on established criteria or for all speech language pathologists in the district.

4.  If the district provides stage III Career Ladder pay for teachers with National Board Certification, must stage III Career Ladder pay be provided for speech/language pathologists who meet the new eligibility requirements?

No, a district may choose to recognize either National Board Certification or CCC, or both, or neither for Career Ladder purposes. Only participating Career Ladder districts may choose to include speech/language pathologists.

5.  How will the Career Ladder pay for speech/language pathologists be funded?

The budget used to fund all current Career Ladder activities will include requested appropriations for this provision.  Funding will be shared between state and local school districts as is provided by the Career Ladder statute.

6.  What verification is needed for National Board Certified Teachers (NBCT) and Speech Pathologists (CCC) to participate on stage III after five years of teaching in public schools?

Districts must submit a letter to Educator Recruitment and Retention requesting participation and stating that the local Board of Education is in agreement.  Include the county/district code, name and social security numbers of the teachers.  Verification of NBCT or speech pathologist (CCC) is also needed.

Questions regarding the program should be directed to Rosalyn Wieberg, Assistant Director of Educator Recruitment and Retention, by phone (573) 751-1191, or e-mail Rosalyn.wieberg@dese.mo.gov