What Are Teachers Qualification For Service Delivery

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What is the Teacher Qualifications Service?

The Teacher Qualifications Service (TQS) is the agency in Alberta responsible for evaluating a instructor'due south years of education for salary purposes. All public, separate and francophone schoolhouse boards in the province as well as some private boards take evaluations issued by the TQS for the purpose of helping to determine a teacher'due south placement on the bacon filigree. School boards apply a instructor's TQS evaluation (which is based on years of acceptable education), along with an cess of the teacher's years of education experience (every bit governed by the relevant collective understanding), to ascertain a teacher's ultimate placement on the salary grid.

Isn't TQS function of the Alberta Teachers' Clan?

The mandate of the Instructor Qualifications Service (TQS) is to provide teachers in Alberta with an evaluation of their educational qualifications for salary purposes according to the principles established by the Teacher Salary Qualifications Board (TSQB). TSQB was established nether the Memorandum of Understanding betwixt the Alberta Teachers' Association, the Alberta School Trustees' Association (now the Alberta School Boards Association) and the Section of Pedagogy. The ATA operates the TQS every bit an arm's-length service. The TQS is not governed by the ATA or discipline to its policies. TQS is governed past and accountable to the TSQB. The performance of TQS is largely funded by the application fees nerveless, and the ATA is responsible for housing the service.

Who uses the Instructor Qualifications Service?

Beginning teachers and teachers new to Alberta.
Teachers who accept upgraded their university/college education.
Teachers who want communication on what additional courses or programs they might take to improve their placement on the bacon grid.
Teachers who are not clear nigh how their educational qualifications were assessed or who disagree with an assessment they have received.

How is the Instructor Qualifications Service administered?

The Teacher Qualifications Services (TQS) operates under a Memorandum of Agreement dated March 23, 1967, between the Alberta Teachers' Association, the Alberta Schoolhouse Trustees' Association (now the Alberta School Boards Association) and the Department of Education.

The memorandum establishes a body known as the Teacher Salary Qualifications Board (TSQB) and charges it with the following duties: (1) to develop and authorize the publication of the policies and principles to be used by the TQS in evaluating years of teacher education for bacon purposes, (2) to propose the TQS secretary with respect to whatsoever principles adopted, (3) to serve equally the board of final review and appeal in whatever dispute concerning a statement of qualifications issued past the TQS and (4) to adopt bylaws for its own functioning. TSQB consists of 10 members: two representatives from Alberta Education, ii representatives from the Alberta School Boards Association, 3 representatives from the Alberta Teachers' Clan (one of whom serves every bit chair) and one representative from each of the Universities of Alberta, Calgary and Lethbridge.

Under the terms of the agreement, the Alberta Teachers' Clan agrees to operate the TQS under the governing principles adopted past the TSQB, to cooperate with the registrar of Alberta Education on evaluation matters, to publicize the principles and to receive representations in writing, by phone or in person, regarding evaluations.

For its function, the Alberta Schoolhouse Boards Association agrees to publicize the principles, to advise its member boards of the agreement and to request boards to inform immigrant teachers to apply to TQS for evaluations.

Alberta Educational activity agrees to restrict its evaluations service to that required for the assessment of qualifications for teacher certification and to provide such information to the TQS, to propose immigrant teachers to apply to the TQS for evaluation, to accept evaluations issued by TQS and to facilitate the exchange of information betwixt Alberta Education's Teacher Development and Certification Co-operative and the TQS.

The memorandum of agreement may exist amended past unanimous consent of the parties to it and may be terminated by whatsoever of the parties on one yr's detect.

In operating the TQS, the Clan maintains a trunk known as the Instructor Qualifications Committee (TQC). The TQC (1) provides communication to TQS on the interpretation and application of the principles used to evaluate teacher qualifications for salary purposes, (2) acts as the initial body of appeal for applicants dissatisfied with a argument of qualifications issued by the TQS, (3) conducts research, (iv) reports to the TSQB and (five) reports to the Association'south Provincial Executive Council.

The TQC consists of vii members: 1 representative from the Department of Educational activity; one representative from each of the Universities of Alberta, Calgary and Lethbridge; and 3 Association members, one of whom serves as chair. The qualifications secretary of the TQS is a non-voting member of the TQC.

What are the principles that TQS uses to evaluate years of instructor education for salary purposes?

The Instructor Salary Qualifications Board (TSQB) develops and reviews annually the principles that are used to evaluate years of instructor education for salary purposes. The TSQB has final decision on the interpretation and awarding of these principles.

The principles in result since July 2019, are outlined beneath :

The principles are bachelor in PDF format in English and in French .

A. DEFINITIONS

(a) "academic year" ways a twelvemonth of study as defined by the institution.
(b) "practical degree" means a degree focusing on postsecondary report in career, vocational or technical fields offered by a college and/or technical institute.
(c) "combined or conjoint degrees" ways degrees completed at the same time and in combination with each other.
(d) "class" means a minimum of three semester credit hours or four and one-half quarter credit hours successfully completed through a recognized institution.
(eastward) "diploma program" ways a program offered by undergraduate faculties of pedagogy of Alberta universities.
(f) "distance learning" means learning acquired by other than on-campus instruction and includes contained and correspondence study.
(one thousand) "graduate program" means a program offered past the faculty of graduate studies or designated faculties of the recognized institution.
(h) "minister of education" means the Alberta minister of education.
(i) "non-recognized establishment" means an establishment not meeting the requirements of definition (o).
(j) "online learning" means learning acquired using the Internet or the Www as the method of instructional commitment.
(chiliad) "postsecondary program" ways a programme across secondary schooling.
(l) "prevailing evaluation" means the evaluation contained in the most recently issued Teacher Qualifications Service statement of qualifications.
(m) "prior-learning assessment" means a process that involves the identification, documentation, assessment and recognition of non-traditional learning.
(n) "program" ways a sequence of learning approved by the establishment.
(o) "recognized institution" means an institution meeting the requirements of Principle 2.01.
(p) "self-directed program" means a programme in which the offering institution does not predefine the structure or the evaluation and graduation criteria.
(q) "argument of qualifications" ways a argument issued by the Teacher Qualifications Service of The Alberta Teachers' Clan.

B. PRINCIPLES

1.0 Qualifications Evaluation

ane.01 The evaluation of educational qualifications is based on comparability to Alberta programs.
i.02 Educational qualifications from institutions exterior Alberta will be assessed neither less nor more than favorably than Alberta qualifications.
1.03 A argument of qualifications will be issued to an private who possesses Canadian citizenship, permanent resident condition or lawful potency to piece of work in Canada and who holds an Alberta teaching authority for the electric current school yr.
1.04 A statement of qualifications volition be issued to an private who possesses Canadian citizenship, permanent resident status or lawful potency to piece of work in Canada and who has been recommended upon completion of their current studies for Alberta certification past the dean of the faculty of education of an Alberta university nether contract with the government minister of education to set up teachers for Alberta certification.
i.05 Students admitted to Alberta faculties of education with transfer credit in programs leading to eligibility for certification may apply for and be issued a statement of qualifications.
1.06 An educational qualification will be assessed according to the status accorded to it at the time and by the establishment at which the program was taken.

ii.0 Recognized Institutions

2.01 A recognized establishment is considered to exist an institution, at the time of educatee enrolment, which is:
a) a university or college in Canada that holds ordinary membership in Universities Canada prior to October 1994 or after Oct 1994, institutional membership, or
b) a university or college in the United States whose programs are generally accepted by member institutions of the following accrediting associations:
—The Middle States Clan of Colleges and Schools
—The New England Association of Schools and Colleges
—The N Key Clan of Colleges and Schools
—The Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
—The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
—The Western Association of Schools and Colleges, or
c) recognized by the Ministry of Pedagogy in the home country or is listed in the Association of Commonwealth Universities publications, or
d) recognized by the Ministry building of Education in the dwelling house country or is listed in the International Association of Universities publications, or
e) a university or higher holding degree-granting status and deemed adequate to the Teacher Salary Qualifications Board.

3.0 Base-Level for Counting

3.01 An entry program equivalent to that required of Alberta universities will be considered the base for counting years of instructor education.

iv.0 Advanced Secondary Programs

4.01 Advanced Placement Programs and the International Baccalaureate may be considered for recognition beyond the base-level for counting requirements (see Base-Level for Counting) if:
a) the program has been given credit on a degree by a recognized institution, and
b) the level of the courses within the programme is considered equivalent to get-go yr or higher level courses of recognized Alberta universities, and
c) the plan is not used to fulfill access requirements to a postsecondary establishment.

5.0 Postsecondary Programs

5.01 A postsecondary programme will be considered for salary recognition if:
a) the plan is successfully completed through a recognized establishment (see Recognized Institutions), and
b) the program is completed beyond the base-level for counting (see Base-Level for Counting), and
c) the professional teacher grooming component of the program has been recognized past the minister of teaching for certification purposes, and
d) the program is considered to exist academy degree credit by a recognized institution, and
due east) the degree programme has a minimum of one yr, more often than not the final year, completed through the degree-granting institution, and
f) the program complies with the principles for recognition of self-directed programs (meet Self-Directed Programs), and
chiliad) the program complies with the principles for recognition of online learning (meet Online Learning), and
h) the program complies with the principles for recognition of altitude learning (see Altitude Learning), and
i) the program complies with the principles for recognition of prior-learning assessment credits (come across Prior-Learning Assessment Credits), and
j) the program complies with the principles for recognition of applied degree programs (come across Applied Degree Programs), and
k) the program complies with the principles for relevancy to instructor instruction (encounter Relevancy to Instructor Education), and
fifty) the program content does not overlap or duplicate its own or another program.
5.02 All postsecondary programs will be assessed based on the academic yr requirements of the program.

6.0 Transfer and College Programs

half-dozen.01 Transfer and college programs of recognized institutions will exist considered for salary recognition in accord with the principles on postsecondary programs.
half-dozen.02 Transfer and college programs from non-recognized institutions will exist considered for salary recognition in accordance with the principles on postsecondary programs if:
a) the transfer or higher program originates from an institution inside Alberta and the assigned credits are deemed to be university degree credit study and more often than not accepted by Alberta recognized institutions, or
b) the transfer or college program originates from an institution outside Alberta and within Canada and the assigned credits are deemed to be university degree credit study and generally accustomed by same province recognized institutions, or
c) the transfer or college programme originates from an institution within the United States and the assigned credits are deemed to be university degree credit study and generally accustomed by aforementioned state recognized institutions, or
d) the transfer or higher program originates from an institution outside North America and the assigned credits are deemed to exist academy degree credit study and generally accepted past same country recognized institutions, and
eastward) the recognition given to the transfer or college program does not violate Principles l.01 and 1.02.
6.03 Where the transfer or college plan of the not-recognized institution is not offered past a recognized institution as outlined in 6.02(a) through 6.02(d), the program will be assessed based on its comparability to an Alberta university degree credit program of a recognized institution.
6.04 Where there is an joint understanding between a recognized and a not-recognized institution, the study covered under the articulation understanding will be considered in accord with the principles on postsecondary programs:
a) on the aforementioned footing equally if the study was completed at the recognized institution,
b) on its comparability to an Alberta university program, andc) on the basis the recognition given does non violate Principles 1.01 and 1.02.
6.05 Transfer or higher programs from non-recognized institutions will be assessed on an contained basis if:
a) transfer credit has been given toward a caste plan of a recognized institution, and
b) no actual course study has been completed through the recognized institution, and
c) the recognition given to the transfer or college program does non violate Principles 1.01 and 1.02.

7.0 Self-Directed Programs

7.01 Self-directed programs of recognized institutions will exist considered for bacon recognition if:
a) the program is comparable to an intramural degree program of an Alberta recognized institution, and
b) the professional teacher preparation component is adequate to the minister of teaching, and
c) the program has a mutual construction and common evaluation and graduation criteria for all students, and
d) the program complies with the principles pertaining to base of operations-level for counting, avant-garde secondary and postsecondary programs, transfer and college programs, online learning, altitude learning, prior-learning assessment credits, applied degree programs and relevancy to teacher instruction, and
e) the recognition given to the self-directed program does non violate Principles ane.01 and 1.02.
7.02 The Teacher Salary Qualifications Board has the right to deny recognition to whatsoever portion or all of the cocky-directed program considered unacceptable.

8.0 Online Learning

8.01 Online learning programs of recognized institutions will exist considered for salary recognition if:
a) the program is comparable to an intramural degree programme of an Alberta recognized institution, and
b) the professional teacher preparation component is adequate to the government minister of education, and
c) the program has a common structure and common evaluation and graduation criteria for all students, and
d) the program complies with the principles pertaining to base-level for counting, advanced secondary and postsecondary programs, transfer and college programs, cocky-directed programs, distance learning, prior-learning assessment credits, applied degree programs and relevancy to instructor education, and
e) the recognition given to the online learning program does non violate Principles 1.01 and 1.02.
eight.02 The Teacher Salary Qualifications Board has the right to deny recognition to any portion or all of the online learning plan considered unacceptable.

9.0 Distance Learning

nine.01 Distance learning programs of recognized institutions volition be considered for salary recognition if:
a) the program is comparable to an intramural degree programme of an Alberta recognized institution, and
b) the professional person instructor grooming component is adequate to the government minister of instruction, and
c) the program structure and the evaluation and graduation criteria are identical to that required of an intramural student, and
d) the program complies with the principles pertaining to base of operations-level for counting, avant-garde secondary and postsecondary programs, transfer and college programs, self-directed programs, online learning, prior-learning cess credits, practical degree programs and relevancy to teacher pedagogy, and
e) the recognition given to the distance learning program does non violate Principles ane.01 and 1.02.
9.02 The Teacher Salary Qualifications Board has the right to deny recognition to whatever portion or all of the distance learning program considered unacceptable.

10.0 Prior-learning Cess Credits

10.01 Prior-learning assessment credits will be considered for salary recognition if:
a) the recognition was non previously given for salary purposes, and
b) the assigned credit given was based on factors other than sole recognition of life-experiences, and
c) the assigned credit was given on a degree program of a recognized institution, and
d) the professional teacher education component of the programme was acceptable to the minister of instruction, and
eastward) the credits comply with the principles pertaining to base of operations-level for counting, advanced secondary and postsecondary programs, transfer and college programs, self-directed programs, online learning, distance learning, applied caste programs and relevancy to teacher didactics, and
f) the recognition given to the prior-learning assessment credits does not violate Principles 1.01 and one.02.
10.02 The Teacher Salary Qualifications Lath has the right to deny recognition to any portion or all of the prior-learning assessment credits considered unacceptable.

11.0 Practical Degree Programs

11.01 An applied degree plan of a not-recognized institution volition be considered for salary recognition if:
a) the program is comparable to an intramural degree programme of an Alberta recognized institution, and
b) the plan credits are given for other than solely piece of work-related experiences, and
c) the program complies with the principles pertaining to base-level for counting, advanced secondary and postsecondary programs, transfer and college programs, cocky-directed programs, online learning, distance learning, prior-learning assessment credits and relevancy to teacher education, and
d) the recognition given to the practical degree programme does not violate Principles 1.01 and 1.02.
11.02 The Teacher Salary Qualifications Lath has the correct to deny recognition of applied degree programs that it considers unacceptable.

12.0 Relevancy to Instructor Education

12.01 Subject to all other principles contained within this certificate, programs in liberal arts and science and in education will be considered acceptable.
12.02 Subject area to all other principles independent within this document, programs other than those in liberal arts, science or education considered equivalent to liberal arts, science or didactics will be considered acceptable.
12.03 Programs non meeting the requirements of Principles 12.01 and 12.02 may exist considered on a express basis.
12.04 The Teacher Salary Qualifications Board has the right to determine relevancy of any and all programs equally instructor education for purposes of bacon recognition.

xiii.0 Undergraduate Programs

thirteen.01 Recognition of whatsoever undergraduate program is bailiwick to:
a) the principles pertaining to base-level for counting, advanced secondary and postsecondary programs, transfer and college programs, cocky-directed programs, online learning, distance learning, prior-learning cess credits, applied degree programs and relevancy to instructor didactics, and
b) the academic yr requirements of the degree, and
c) the value assigned for salary recognition being no greater than the value assigned by the offer institution.
13.02 Incomplete undergraduate programs where the academic year requirements are not identified or where the courses are not office of a program will take each form assessed as .1 of a yr (see course definition).
thirteen.03 Combined or conjoint degrees of a recognized institution will exist assessed no greater than the academic yr value assigned to the degree programs.

14.0 Kinesthesia of Education Diploma Program

xiv.01 A completed diploma program of a faculty of educational activity of a recognized establishment will be assessed at one year unless a course-by-class assessment permits an cess in excess of one twelvemonth.
14.02 Each undergraduate level course will be assessed as .1 of a yr (meet course definition).
14.03 Each graduate level form volition be assessed as .125 of a year (run across course definition).

xv.0 Graduate Programs

15.01 Recognition of whatsoever graduate program is subject to the principles pertaining to postsecondary programs, transfer and college programs, cocky-directed programs, online learning, distance learning, prior-learning assessment credits and relevancy to teacher instruction.
xv.02 A graduate level course or its equivalent from a recognized establishment will be assessed every bit .125 of a year. A completed graduate program from a recognized institution volition have each graduate level class or its equivalent assessed equally .125 of a year (see course definition).
15.03 A completed graduate degree non equanimous of courses or its equivalent will be assessed according to its academic year value.
15.04 A completed graduate degree not composed of courses or its equivalent where the academic year value is unknown volition exist assessed based on a statement of equivalency from an Alberta recognized institution.

16.0 Surplus Credits to a Program

16.01 Acceptable credits documented as being surplus to a program of a recognized institution will exist considered for credit based on the following ratio value:
a) each course at the undergraduate level will exist assessed as .1 of a year (see grade definition).
b) each form at the graduate level will be assessed as .125 of a year (see form definition).
16.02 Acceptable credits documented every bit being surplus to a program of a nonrecognized institution nevertheless deemed equivalent to university degree-credit study of a recognized institution will be considered for credit and accorded equivalent value every bit undergraduate or graduate level credits of a recognized establishment.

17.0 Limitations

17.01 Where no degree has been conferred past a recognized establishment, the cess issued will not exceed iv years.
17.02 Where no graduate caste has been conferred past a recognized institution, the cess issued volition not exceed half-dozen years, except if doctoral level studies of a recognized establishment has been completed.
17.03 Where a master's degree has been conferred past a recognized institution, the assessment issued volition not exceed seven years, except if doctoral level studies of a recognized institution has been completed.
17.04 The maximum assessment issued volition be eight years.

18.0 Grandfathering

18.01 When principles and/or procedures are revised, recognition previously granted to a programme that forms the basis of the prevailing evaluation will non be reduced unless the recognition was granted in fault.
18.02 When principles and/or procedures are revised that detrimentally bear on the recognition to be accorded to a plan of study previously canonical and documented in writing by the Teacher Qualifications Service, the projected recognition of the approved study volition be honored for a catamenia not exceeding 3 years from the date of approving (errors and omissions excepted).

19.0 Individual Responsibility

xix.01 It is the responsibility of the applicant to define if future changes of principles and their application may touch on the evaluation of qualifications for salary recognition.
xix.02 It is the responsibleness of the applicant to contact the Teacher Qualifications Service of The Alberta Teachers' Association within ninety days of the date on the argument of qualifications if it is believed the argument contains whatever errors or omissions. Failure to do so will result in the statement of qualifications existence regarded as concluding and correct.

C. EVALUATION DISPUTES

In that location is a ii-phase dispute mechanism for any cess fabricated by the Teacher Qualifications Service.

Stage 1—Reassessment

Teachers receiving an evaluation with which they are dissatisfied may request in writing, inside iii years of the date of the statement of qualifications, a reassessment by the Instructor Qualifications Commission. All correspondence should be addressed to the Chair, Teacher Qualifications Committee, 11010 142 Street NW, Edmonton, Alberta T5N 2R1. Post-obit a review by the committee, the commission secretary volition suggest the applicant, in writing, of the decision.

Stage 2—Appeal

Once the Teacher Qualifications Committee has considered and fabricated a ruling on a request for reassessment or a decision non to reassess, the teacher, if yet dissatisfied, may lodge an entreatment with the Instructor Salary Qualifications Lath.

Information Concerning Appeals

1. Entreatment requests must be registered with the chair of the lath inside 3 months following the reassessment decision of the Teacher Qualifications Committee.
2. An awarding for the hearing of an entreatment must be made in writing and addressed to the Chair, Teacher Salary Qualifications Lath, 11010 142 Street NW, Edmonton, Alberta T5N 2R1.
three. The Teacher Bacon Qualifications Lath will consider only appeals against reassessments of the Teacher Qualifications Commission or against a determination of that committee not to reassess a statement of qualifications. An application for the hearing of an appeal must conspicuously identify which principle(south) has/have allegedly been misapplied. Questions pertaining to the application of the principles should be directed to the Teacher Qualifications Secretarial assistant.
four. An entreatment of a Instructor Qualifications Committee determination denying a reassessment may exist fabricated but on the grounds that the documentation provided to the commission constituted new evidence.
five. The Instructor Salary Qualifications Board will non hear an entreatment based on documentation not previously considered by the Teacher Qualifications Committee.
6. An appeal designed to raise an evaluation should comprise evidence that qualifications not accepted by the Instructor Qualifications Committee do in fact meet the criteria of the established principles. Alternatively, an appeal designed to reduce an evaluation should present evidence that qualifications accepted by the Instructor Qualifications Commission do not meet the criteria of the established principles.
7. An appeal based on elementary disagreement with a principle or principles will not succeed. Yet, the board will consider written representations requesting changes in principles. Such representations are non accounted to exist appeals. Proposed amendments should be clearly stated and accompanied with a rationale.
8. Appeals may be heard by any regular or special coming together of the board called in accordance with the provisions of the bylaws.
9. The appellant may nowadays the case in person or in writing or both and may exist accompanied and/or represented past a spokesperson. Where neither the appellant nor the appellant'southward representative appears as scheduled for an appeal, the appeal volition be rescheduled. Where neither the appellant nor the appellant'southward representative appears every bit scheduled a 2d time, the board may consider the appeal on the evidence provided.
10. The board assumes no responsibleness for an appellant's expenses or loss of salary in connection with an appeal.
11. The board may, on the footing of the testify presented, determine to confirm or vary the evaluation of the Instructor Qualifications Commission or, in the example of an entreatment confronting a decision of that commission not to reassess a statement of qualifications, refer the case dorsum to the Teacher Qualifications Committee for reassessment.
12. The determination of the board and the ground on which it is reached volition be communicated in writing to the appellant.

Hours of Functioning: From September to June, the Teacher Qualifications Service (TQS) is open Monday to Friday from 0800 to 1700. During July and August, TQS is open from 0800 to 1630. The TQS is closed on statutory holidays.

Location: The TQS office is located on the 3rd Floor of Barnett House, 11010 142 Street NW, Edmonton.

Mailing Address: All correspondence to the TQS should be addressed as follows: Teacher Qualifications Service, Alberta Teachers' Association, 11010 142 Street NW, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T5N 2R1.
E-mail: tqs@ata.ab.ca.
Phone: 780-447-9400 (from Edmonton or expanse) or 1-800-232-7208 (from elsewhere in Alberta)
Fax: 780-455-6481

Of import: Because of concerns nigh confidentiality, TQS staff will not answer by electronic mail or fax to requests for advice near individual situations. Such requests should be fabricated in writing, past telephone or in person.