Teacher Accreditation Policy

Policy

DOCUMENT DETAILS

Document Owner	Office of the Director
Approval Date	03 March 2017
Release Date	01 May 2017
Compliance Date	30 June 2017
Review Date	1 October 2023
Updated	19 April 2020
Version History
18 August 2019	Changes to NESA Maintenance requirements
19 April 2020	New forms developed and embedded in Procedures
26 February 2021	Updated CEDoW Maintenance of Accreditation at Proficient Procedure

introduction and context

INTRODUCTION

Education Policy in Catholic Education Diocese of Wollongong (CEDoW) is developed to support the implementation of consistent and comprehensive practices to guide quality Catholic learning and teaching in systemic schools in the Diocese of Wollongong.

Education Policy is developed within the context of documents and frameworks. These include:

CONTEXT

Teacher Accreditation means a teacher has met the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers at one of the four career stages – Graduate, Proficient, Highly Accomplished and Lead. Teacher Accreditation at Proficient is a mandatory process that supports quality teaching, recognises the invaluable role that teachers play in the community, helps develop teachers and contributes to improved student learning outcomes.

This Policy applies to Teachers who are seeking accreditation at Proficient and those Teachers who are maintaining their accreditation status at Proficient. It outlines the requirements for evidence-based and procedurally fair Teacher Accreditation processes.

This Policy has been developed to support school staff to meet their compliance obligations according to Catholic Education Diocese of Wollongong (CEDoW), the New South Wales, Education Standards Authority (NESA) and the Australian Education Act 2013.

EXPECTATIONS

It is expected that school staff will take all reasonable measures to comply with this Policy.

The Catholic Education Diocese of Wollongong (CEDoW) Teacher Accreditation Policy must be implemented in conjunction with the following policies where relevant:

1 TEACHERS SEEKING ACCREDITATION AT PROFICIENT

SCHOOLS MUST:

1.1	ensure that all Teachers are aware of their rights and responsibilities in relation to Teacher Accreditation according to the CEDoW Overview of Key Stages of Accreditation and Maintenance at Proficient
1.2	adhere to the CEDoW Assessment for Teacher Accreditation Procedure
1.3	adhere to the CEDoW Decision Making and Reporting for Teacher Accreditation Procedure
1.4	adhere to the CEDoW Teacher Accreditation Complaints and Grievances Procedure
1.5	adhere to the CEDoW Refusal to Accredit Procedure

PRINCIPALS MUST:

1.6	ascertain the accreditation level and accreditation status of each Teacher
1.7	participate in CEDoW Teacher Accreditation Principal Professional Learning relating to roles, assessment processes, evidence, maintenance and reports
1.8	ensure that school-based Teacher Accreditation processes mitigate against conflict of interest that may disadvantage any stakeholders including:
	1.8.1	actions that result in financial and personal gain
	1.8.2	use of family or close friends
	1.8.3	a pre-existing conflict in the professional relationship
1.9	register all Declarations of Conflict of Interests with the CEDoW Teacher Accreditation Authority (TAA) using the CEDoW Teacher Accreditation Declaration of Conflict of Interest
1.10	nominate the Assistant Principal and/or Middle Leader(s) to be the School’s Teacher Accreditation Supervisor(s) (TA Supervisor(s))
1.11	provide TA Supervisor(s) with the CEDoW Teacher Accreditation Roles and Responsibilities
1.12	provide all teachers with the CEDoW Teacher Accreditation Roles and Responsibilities

TEACHERS (SEEKING ACCREDITATION AT PROFICIENT) MUST:

1.13	register their intention to commence the Teacher Accreditation process via the CEDoW Employee Self Service portal (ESS)
1.14	participate in CEDoW Teacher Accreditation Online Orientation Program within the first three (3) months of commencing the Teacher Accreditation process
1.15	manage their progress towards mandatory accreditation at Proficient according to the CEDoW Overview of Key Stages of Accreditation and Maintenance at Proficient
1.16	declare to the Principal any actual, perceived or potential conflicts of interest that may affect the Teacher Accreditation process

returning TEACHERS (SEEKING immediate ACCREDITATION AT PROFICIENT) MUST:

1.17	contact the Teacher Accreditation Authority Authorised Delegate (TAA-AD) to determine their eligibility for immediate accreditation at Proficient

2 CASUAL TEACHERS SEEKING ACCREDITATION AT PROFICIENT

SCHOOLS MUST:

2.1	adhere to the *CEDoW Assessment for Teacher Accreditation Procedure*
2.2	adhere to the CEDoW Decision Making and Reporting for Teacher Accreditation Procedure
2.3	adhere to the CEDoW Teacher Accreditation Complaints and Grievances Procedure
2.4	adhere to the CEDoW Refusal to Accredit Procedure

PRINCIPALS MUST:

2.5	ascertain the accreditation level and accreditation status of each Casual Teacher identified on the NESA Accreditation Authority Schools and Teachers Report
2.6	provide Casual Teachers with the CEDoW Teacher Accreditation Roles and Responsibilities

CASUAL TEACHERS (SEEKING ACCREDITATION AT PROFICIENT THROUGH THE CEDoW TEACHER ACCREDITATION AUTHORITY) MUST:

2.7	establish a collaborative working relationship with a CEDoW Systemic Catholic school to support the collection of evidence including classroom observations and feedback
2.8	register their intention to commence the Teacher Accreditation process via the CEDoW Employee Self Service portal (ESS)
2.9	participate in CEDoW Teacher Accreditation Online Orientation Program within the first three (3) months of commencing the Teacher Accreditation process
2.10	manage their progress towards mandatory accreditation at Proficient according to the CEDoW Overview of Key Stages of Accreditation and Maintenance at Proficient

3 TEACHERS MAINTAINING ACCREDITATION AT PROFICIENT

SCHOOLS MUST:

3.1	ensure that all Teachers are aware of their rights and responsibilities in relation to Teacher Accreditation according to the CEDoW Overview of Key Stages of Accreditation and Maintenance at Proficient
3.2	adhere to the CEDoW Maintenance of Accreditation at Proficient Procedure
3.3	adhere to the CEDoW Teacher Accreditation Complaints and Grievances Procedure
3.4	adhere to the CEDoW Suspension and Revocation of Accreditation Procedure

PRINCIPALS MUST:

3.5	ascertain the accreditation level and accreditation status of each Teacher
3.6	provide all Teachers with the CEDoW Teacher Accreditation Roles and Responsibilities
3.7	support Teachers to access high quality professional learning aligned to the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers, within the context of the school's priorities and the individual Teacher's Performance and Development Plan (PDP)
3.8	ensure that all Teachers maintain Teacher Accreditation with the New South Wales, Education Standards Authority (NESA)

TEACHERS (MAINTAINING ACCREDITATION AT PROFICIENT) MUST:

3.9	maintain Teacher Accreditation at Proficient according to the CEDoW Overview of Key Stages of Accreditation and Maintenance at Proficient

Procedure

CEDoW Assessment for Teacher Accreditation Procedure

CEDoW Decision Making and Reporting for Teacher Accreditation Procedure

CEDoW Teacher Accreditation Complaints and Grievances Procedure

CEDoW Refusal to Accredit Procedure

CEDoW Maintenance of Accreditation at Proficient Procedure

CEDoW Suspension and Revocation of Accreditation Procedure

Implementation