NC 1501-12.2 Personnel Qualifications

Plain English summary

This regulation establishes personnel qualification requirements for special education staff in North Carolina, including related services personnel, paraprofessionals, special education teachers, and special education directors. Special education teachers must hold full state certification or pass a licensing examination and hold at least a bachelor's degree, while special education directors must hold master's level licensure and pass the appropriate Praxis examination. The regulation also prohibits emergency or provisional waivers of certification requirements and mandates LEA recruitment and retention policies for qualified personnel.

Key requirements

• Personnel must have content knowledge and skills to serve children with disabilities.
• Related services personnel qualifications must be consistent with any State-approved or State-recognized certification, licensing, registration, or other comparable requirements that apply to the professional discipline.
• Related services personnel must not have had certification or licensure requirements waived on an emergency, temporary, or provisional basis.
• Paraprofessionals and assistants who are appropriately trained and supervised, in accordance with State law, regulation, or written policy, may be used to assist in the provision of special education and related services.
• Each person employed as a public school special education teacher must have obtained full State certification as a special education teacher or passed the State special education teacher licensing examination, and holds a license to teach in the State as a special education teacher.
• Special education teachers must not have had special education certification or licensure requirements waived on an emergency, temporary, or provisional basis.
• Special education teachers must hold at least a bachelor's degree.
• A teacher in an alternate route to special education certification program must receive highly qualified professional development that is sustained, intensive, and classroom-focused.
• A teacher in an alternate route program must participate in a program of intensive supervision that consists of structured guidance and regular ongoing support for teachers or teacher mentoring program.
• A teacher in an alternate route program must assume functions as a teacher only for a specified period of time not to exceed three years.
• A teacher in an alternate route program must demonstrate satisfactory progress toward full certification as prescribed by the State.
• Each person employed as a public school special education director must hold master's level licensure in special education or a related area or master's level licensure in administration and/or supervision.
• An individual holding master's level licensure in special education or a related area must complete 9 semester hours of graduate level coursework in administration and/or supervision.
• An individual holding master's level licensure in administration and/or supervision must complete 9 semester hours of graduate level coursework in special education.
• Special education directors must have obtained a passing score on the appropriate Praxis examination.
• Special education directors must have been recommended for licensure by an LEA.
• Provisional licenses may be granted to individuals working toward licensure as a special education director.
• A state must adopt a policy that includes the requirement that LEAs in the State take measurable steps to recruit, hire, train, and retain personnel who meet the applicable requirements to provide special education and related services to children with disabilities.
• Nothing in this part shall be construed to create a right of action on behalf of an individual student or a class of students for the failure of a particular SEA or LEA employee to meet the applicable requirements.
• Nothing in this part shall prevent a parent from filing a complaint about staff qualifications with the SEA.

Affected parties

• Special education teachers
• Special education directors
• Related services personnel
• Paraprofessionals and assistants
• Local Education Agencies (LEAs)
• State Education Agency (SEA)
• Children with disabilities
• Public charter school teachers

Official source

https://www.dpi.nc.gov/documents/publications/catalog/ec144-policies-governing-services/open#page=42