Organizational Policies of the Nebraska Council on Teacher Education
1.00 THE NEBRASKA COUNCIL ON TEACHER EDUCATION
The Nebraska Council on Teacher Education (NCTE) is an advisory body to the Nebraska State Board of Education. The membership is appointed by the State Board of Education from representatives of state-wide organizations which have a direct involvement or interest in teacher and administrative preparation, and from higher education institutions in Nebraska which are approved by the State Board of Education to prepare and recommend for certification teachers, administrators, and counselors; and those people recommended for special services endorsements. The State Board of Education reserves unto itself sole authority over college program approval and certification.
2.00 PURPOSE
As an advisory body to the State Board of Education (Board), NCTE will develop and recommend for State Board approval and adoption:
2.01 Standards relating to state approval of higher education institutions providing teacher and/or administrative preparatory programs; and programs leading to special services certification.
2.02 Standards relating to admission into and retention in an approved professional education program leading to teacher, administrative, or special services certification.
2.03 Standards relating to the issuance of teacher, administrative, and special services certification.
2.04 Standards relating to certification endorsements.
2.05 Standards relating to the relationships of Nebraska teacher, administrator, and special services certification with other states and national bodies.
Further, NCTE members will, at the request of the Nebraska Department of Education (NDE), and pursuant to NDE regulations, participate in educator program approval reviews and associated campus visits to those institutions seeking approval for their programs leading to teacher, administrative, and/or special services certification and endorsements, and may recommend approval or non-approval of those programs in compliance with regulations adopted by the State for such purposes.
Additionally, NCTE, through its regular meetings, will provide a forum where representatives of educator preparation, practicing educators, the Nebraska Department of Education, and other educator preparation and certification stakeholders can meet and discuss those issues affecting professional preparation, and seek solutions to problems impacting on the quality of preparation of certified professionals in school settings. The goal of the college approval and professional certification process is to ensure the citizens of Nebraska, in particular, and citizens of the United States, in general, that the teachers and administrators in this state are well qualified and meet all state laws governing certification.
3.00 STATUTORY AUTHORITY
Appointments to the NCTE are made by the Board pursuant to its authorization. Sections 79- 318(9), R.R.S., 1943, and 79-808, R.R.S., 1943.
4.00 MEMBERSHIP
The State Board of Education shall appoint all members of the NCTE. Membership shall include equal representation of Higher Education, School Governance, and Teachers as specified in Sections 4.01, 4.02, and 4.03. Terms shall begin August 1 in the year in which the members are appointed and shall continue until July 31 in the year in which their terms expire.
Members are expected to act as liaisons between the NCTE and the groups they represent.
Organizations submitting nominations for members and alternates shall give consideration to balancing the representation with regard to geographic location and state board district, gender, ethnicity, grade level, academic subject area, and school enrollment size. Selection of members shall be in accordance with the following provisions:
4.01 Higher Education
One (1) representative shall be nominated from each Board approved teacher preparation college or university. The representatives shall be nominated by the university or college chancellor or president.
4.02 School Governance
The number of persons representing School Governance shall equal the number of Board approved teacher preparation institutions, and nominated as follows:
4.02A NCAPE Representative. One (1) administrator shall be nominated by the Nebraska Council of American Private Education (NCAPE) to represent private schools.
4.02B School Board Membership. Two (2) School Governance members shall be nominated by the Nebraska Association of School Boards (NASB).
4.02C Administrative/Supervisory Membership. Those nominated and appointed shall include individuals who perform in administrative or supervisory roles in public school or agency settings and include School Administrators, Curriculum Directors, Human Resources and ESU personnel.
4.02Ci Nine (9) members shall be nominated by the Nebraska Council on School Administrators (NCSA).
4.02Cii One (1) Administrative/Supervisory member shall by appointed by the State Board of Education.
4.02D Community College Representative. One (1) individual representing Community Colleges shall be nominated by the Nebraska Community College Association.
4.02E Nebraska Department of Education (NDE). Two (2) representatives of the Nebraska Department of Education shall be nominated by the Nebraska Commissioner of Education.
4.03 Teachers
The number of persons representing practicing teachers shall equal the number of Board approved teacher preparation institutions, and shall be nominated as follows:
4.03A Two (2) shall be nominated by the State Board of Education, and
4.03B The remaining shall be nominated by the Nebraska State Education Association (NSEA).
5.00 ALTERNATES Each category of membership shall nominate alternates to the Council. The alternates may serve as voting members when members of the official delegation are unable to attend. Names of alternates shall be submitted at the same time as proposed NCTE nominations.
5.01 The NCSA may nominate six (6) alternates; NASB, one (1); NSEA, eight (8); NDE, one (1); NCAPE, one (1); State Board of Education, two (2); and Educator Preparation institutions, one (1) each.
5.02 Alternates may attend meetings of NCTE at times other than when serving as an official delegate but under such circumstances shall not have voting privileges. When not replacing an official delegate, expenses of alternates in attendance are not eligible for state reimbursement.
6.00 METHOD OF SELECTING MEMBERS AND ALTERNATES
Nominations for members and alternates shall be submitted to the Executive Committee of NCTE, which shall review the nominees to determine if the requirements are achieved as described in Section 4.00. If necessary, the Executive Committee will ask a nominating group to modify its list so that the requirements are achieved. The Executive Committee shall submit the final list of nominees to the Commissioner of Education for State Board action prior to the first meeting of the membership year.
When NCTE members are no longer in the position which qualified them for appointment to NCTE, they shall immediately resign from the NCTE. If an approved alternate cannot be utilized for the remaining membership year, the Executive Committee will ask the nominating group or institution for an immediate replacement. Interim replacements made after the annual State Board of Education approval will be approved by NDE staff and formally approved by the State Board if they continue to serve as an NCTE member in the next membership year.
7.00 LENGTH OF TERM
Representatives from the School Governance and the Teachers categories shall serve a term of four years. Representatives of Higher Education and the Department of Education shall be appointed annually.
8.00 NCTE OFFICERS
NCTE officers shall consist of President and President-Elect, who shall serve for a term of two years. Nominations for President-Elect shall be presented at the spring semester meeting of odd numbered years and elected by the membership of NCTE at the summer meeting. The President-Elect shall serve two years as President-Elect and two years as President. The President and President-Elect shall assume office August 1 of the odd numbered years. A representative of the Nebraska Department of Education or his/her designee shall serve as the recording secretary in a non-voting capacity.
The President and President-Elect shall be representative of different membership groups, i.e., Governance, Higher Education, Teachers.
The President or the President’s designee shall serve as the presiding officer of NCTE and liaison to the Board.
The President and/or the President’s designee, will attend regularly, and present a report, at least annually, to the State Board of Education as part of the Board agenda or public comment period.
9.00 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
The President, President-Elect, Chairpersons of the Standing Committees, and the two NDE representatives shall constitute the Executive Committee. In the event that any of the following groups: Governance, Higher Education, or Teachers are not represented on the Executive Committee by virtue of office or serving on a Standing Committee, the Executive Committee shall appoint a representative of that unrepresented group to serve for a one-year term.
9.01 Duties. The duties of the Executive Committee shall include the following:
9.01A Meet at least thirty (30) days prior to each regular meeting of the NCTE to prepare an agenda.
9.01B Provide guidance and leadership in conducting the business of NCTE.
9.01C Coordinate the work of the Standing Committees and ad hoc committees.
9.01D Review the list of nominees and alternates for appointment to NCTE as provided under the provisions governing membership (Section 6.00) and transmit a final list of nominees to the Commissioner of Education for Board action. The Executive Committee is responsible for determining reasonable balance in the NCTE as described in Section 4.00.
9.01E Appoint a nominating committee of three members: one each from school governance, higher education, and teacher delegates who shall seek candidates for the office of President-Elect. This committee will prepare a slate of nominees to be presented at the March meeting of the odd numbered years and voted on at the June meeting. Nominations may also be made from the floor.
9.01F Appoint the President-Elect as President if the President fails to complete his/her term. The Executive Committee shall then appoint, from the membership of NCTE, an individual to fill the office of President-Elect until the office can be filled by election at the next June meeting.
9.01G Appoint the President and President-Elect if both offices should simultaneously become vacant, until the offices can be filled by election at the next June meeting.
9.01H Assign members of NCTE to Standing Committees of NCTE and make reassignments to fill vacancies as they occur.
9.01I Annually approve a calendar of anticipated endorsement reviews.
9.01J Review proposed endorsements as presented by the ad hoc committee chair. The Executive Committee may return the proposed endorsement to the ad
hoc committee with recommendations for modification, make minor changes in the proposed endorsement with the approval of the ad hoc committee chair, and/or forward it to the appropriate Standing Committee.
9.01K Review every proposed endorsement as presented by the ad hoc committee chair for requests to change the number of semester credit hours, grade levels, and undergraduate or graduate status. Any changes in these three areas must be approved by the Executive Committee.
9.01L Initiate, receive, and/or evaluate proposals for new endorsements. The Executive Committee will refer any proposed new endorsement to the full Council. The full Council will decide whether such a proposed endorsement shall be recommended for addition to Rule 24. If the Council decides favorably, an ad hoc committee will be set up under the normal procedures.
9.01M The Executive Committee may initiate, receive and/or evaluate proposals for endorsement revisions and will refer those proposals to the appropriate ad hoc or Standing Committee for action under the normal procedures.
9.01N Act on behalf of the full Council when there is a need for a decision which cannot be postponed to a subsequent regular meeting of the full Council. When such action is taken, a report will be made to the membership at the next regular meeting. The Executive Committee may make a decision on any topic except to reverse a recent decision of the Council.
10.00 STANDING COMMITTEE OFFICERS
During the spring semester meeting of each even numbered year, each Standing Committee, from its membership, shall elect a Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, and Secretary who shall serve for a term of two years. The officers may be re-elected once. Succeeding officers for each position must be elected from a different representational group. The term shall begin August 1st of the same year. In the event of a resignation or vacancy, the Standing Committee shall elect a successor at the next regularly scheduled meeting.
The Secretary shall provide a copy of the minutes to NDE within 14 days of the meeting for inclusion in the published minutes of the Council.
11.00 STANDING COMMITTEES
There shall be three Standing Committees with membership drawn from the members of NCTE. Membership on each Standing Committee shall consist of one-third of the NCTE membership, and each committee shall include a balanced number of representatives from Higher Education, Governance, and Teachers. The Executive Committee will determine, to the extent possible, the priority agenda items for the membership year for each Standing Committee at their meeting preceding the first annual NCTE meeting. Additional agenda items may be identified throughout the membership year.
11.01 Responsibilities of the Standing Committees shall be to:
Conduct periodic review of educator certification requirements and recommend changes to NCTE for consideration and adoption. Such recommendations, when approved, shall constitute recommendations to the Board for revision in applicable educator preparation and certification Rules.
Deliberate and make recommendations to the full Council on such special issues
as assigned.
Review the requirements for endorsements on a schedule determined by the
Executive Committee in collaboration with NDE staff and shall recommend
revisions in such requirements to the full Council. Action taken by the full Council
shall constitute a recommendation to the Board. The committee, in conducting
such reviews, shall utilize the expertise of ad hoc committees which shall meet
the requirements set forth under Section 17.00. Recommend the names and
addresses of appropriate persons to serve on the ad hoc committees according
to the categories stipulated in the Ad Hoc Committee Guidelines. Such names
will be submitted to the Nebraska Department of Education who will create a
balanced ad hoc committee according to the guidelines in Section 17.00.
If, in the opinion of the Executive Committee, extra meetings of a Standing
Committee need to occur in order to process the endorsements in an expeditious
manner, special meetings may be called. In such cases, the State of Nebraska
will cover the usual expenses as described in Section 16.00.
12.00 COLLEGE APPROVAL
The full Council shall act as a committee of the whole to recommend college approval. Using
the standards adopted by the Board for approval of educator preparation programs, the
Department of Education shall schedule and provide for folio review teams and college visits.
The visitation teams will include NCTE representatives who have participated in NDE sponsored
college approval process training.
A. The number of persons serving on State folio review and visitation teams will be
determined by the size of the institution.
B. Areas of expertise for persons nominated to serve on state approval teams will be
reviewed by NDE prior to appointment to a review team.
C. Persons selected to serve on visitation teams must verify that they do not have a
conflict of interest with that institution.
D. The Nebraska Department of Education shall coordinate college program approval
training and updates on a schedule recommended by the Executive Committee.
E. NDE staff will report the results of the state program approval to NCTE. The unit
head, or his/her designee, shall be afforded an opportunity to respond to a visitation
report before a recommendation is made by the full Council to the Department of
Education. The rejoinder will be made to the Executive Committee prior to the
commencement of the morning business meeting. A recommendation for action by
the NCTE will be made by the Executive Committee during the afternoon business
meeting.
F. NCTE executive committee representatives shall forward NCTE recommendations to
the Commissioner of Education for State Board of Education action.
13.00 MEETINGS OF NCTE
There shall be three regular meetings of NCTE – one during the fall semester, one during the spring semester, and one during the summer. Meetings of the NCTE shall be subject to the open meetings law and public notice of said meetings shall be made by NDE.
The meeting agenda and associated materials for Council action will be posted to the website thirty (30) days prior to the meeting date.
Special meetings of the Council may be called by the President when authorized by the Executive Committee and approved by the Commissioner of Education.
All meetings will be in compliance with the Nebraska Open Meetings Act, Nebraska Revised State Statute 85-1401 through 84-1414.
14.00 VISITORS COMMENT PERIOD
In conjunction with each meeting of NCTE, there shall be a public comment period at which time those members of the public wishing to address NCTE shall have an opportunity to do so, subject to procedures adopted by NCTE. The presiding officer shall have the right to limit discussion in order to facilitate the work of NCTE.
In conjunction with debate on specific recommendations being considered by NCTE, the Chairperson of a Standing Committee or the President may request that a non-member be allowed to address the membership regarding that issue. The request shall be granted unless there is an objection. In such event, the non-member shall be granted speaking privileges only by an affirmative vote of a majority of the membership present.
15.00 AMENDMENTS TO THESE ORGANIZATIONAL POLICIES
These Organizational Policies may be recommended for changes by majority vote of the membership present provided that such recommended changes shall have been provided to the membership at least 30 days prior to the date of the business meeting at which a vote to amend is taken. The NCTE President, or his/her designee, shall present the recommendations to the State Board of Education. Such recommended changes shall become effective when approved by the State Board of Education.
16.00 EXPENSES
Expenses for Program Reviews, Approval Visits; NCTE, Executive Committee, Task Force, and ad hoc committee meetings; and NCTE member and alternate (when serving as a delegate) expenses for such meetings shall be borne by the State of Nebraska in accordance with state approved expense guidelines.
Members of ad hoc committees will be reimbursed for expenses by the State of Nebraska in accordance with state approved expense guidelines. School districts may be reimbursed for the cost of a substitute for teachers serving on ad hoc committees.
17.00 PROCEDURES FOR ENDORSEMENT REVISION
17.01 Ad Hoc Committee Overview. The ad hoc committee membership is selected to give representation to professional teacher educators; scholars in the field; PK-12 educators; the general public; administrators; and the Nebraska Department of Education. Members are selected to reflect balanced representation with regard to geographic location and state board district, gender, ethnicity, grade level, academic subject area, and school enrollment size. It is the responsibility of the ad hoc committee to review and update the criteria for endorsement in the specified area, such that teacher, administrator, and special services educator requirements reflect the best of current knowledge and are responsive to special needs in Nebraska.
17.02 Ad Hoc Chairs. Chairs of the ad hoc committees shall be collaboratively determined by the NDE Team Leader responsible for the endorsement area, and the NDE designee with responsibilities for NCTE coordination.
17.03 Ad Hoc Membership. The membership of an ad hoc committee shall include representation from the categories below. Ad hoc committees will generally include 10- 12 members. Members may fulfill more than one of the categories listed below:
17.03A Practitioners currently endorsed and employed in approved or accredited public or private schools in the endorsement area at the grade levels under consideration.
17.03B Faculty members from a college or department of education who are teaching professional education courses or serve as the certification official at an approved educator preparation institution.
17.03C Specialists in the content area which might include Arts and Science college faculty or persons drawn from professional practice in the endorsement area.
17.03D Administrative or supervisory personnel from approved or accredited public or private schools with responsibility for supervision, leadership or personnel functions at the grade levels and/or in the content area.
17.03E Representation from the NCTE Standing Committee to which the endorsement has been assigned.
17.03F A Nebraska Department of Education representative who has responsibilities related to the endorsement area and who may also serve as the Ad Hoc Committee chair.
17.03G Representatives of national/state specialty professional associations or professionals drawn from areas of employment related to the content areas.
17.03H Additional PK-12 school practitioners or higher education faculty members to equalize the representation between these two groups.
17.03I A Nebraska Department of Education designee, who will be a non-voting member and serve as a consultant for the ad hoc committee.
17.04 Ad Hoc Procedures
Designated Nebraska Department of Education staff will coordinate with Ad Hoc committee:
17.04A Review Nebraska endorsement requirements for the specific area.
17.04B Review guidelines from other regulating bodies such as learned societies/specialty professional associations, national accrediting bodies, Nebraska K-12 Content Standards/Frameworks and the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards.
17.04C Review Nebraska and national supply and demand data.
17.04D Review current trends and research for educator preparation in the
specified areas.
17.04E Determine if there is a need to continue the endorsement area.
17.04F Act as liaison persons between ad hoc committee deliberations and the
groups they represent.
17.04G Present endorsement revisions to the NCTE Executive Committee.
17.05 NCTE Endorsement Approval. Upon approval by the Executive Committee, the
revised endorsement will move through NCTE utilizing the following process.
17.05A First Hearing. The proposed endorsement (Rule 24 and Guidelines) is
presented to the full Council at the general session. The ad hoc committee chair
(or the individual(s) proposing a revision) presents the proposed endorsement
and also leads discussion from the NCTE membership regarding questions and
concerns identified by the membership, including those submitted prior to the
meeting.
17.05B Second Hearing. The Standing Committee assigned to the endorsement
continues discussion of the endorsement immediately following the 1st general
session of the NCTE meeting. The Standing Committee may:
1. Recommend changes before the next regularly scheduled NCTE
meeting. If major changes are needed before the Standing
Committees will approve the endorsement, it is usually sent back to the
ad hoc committee. However, the appropriate Standing Committee
reserves the right to make any and all final changes before
presentation to the full Council. If substantive changes or further
clarification or discussion is needed prior to a final vote, the proposed
endorsement will be moved to consideration at the next NCTE full
Council meeting;
2. Accept the proposed endorsement at this second reading, and if
no changes are needed, recommend a final vote at the 2nd
General Session; or
3. Recommend the endorsement be held for final vote until the next
full Council meeting.
17.05C Presentation to the Full Council. The proposed endorsement with the
approval of the Standing Committee is presented to the full Council by the Chair
of the Standing Committee for a roll call vote. If a majority vote to accept the
endorsement is not achieved, the endorsement will remain in Second Hearing
and return to the Standing Committee for additional discussion and revision.
Upon approval by the full Council, the recommendations are forwarded to the
State Board.
SBOE Approved April 2021