Annotation and Extensions

Annotations and Extensions are offered for students who currently hold teacher certification and seek to extend their certification to a new area or to deepen their understanding in their current certification area.

Applying for Teacher Certification through New York State
Teacher candidates use the NYS TEACH system to apply for Initial and Professional certifications and need to pay the fees in effect at the time they apply. New York requires all teacher candidates to have a fingerprint/background check on file with TEACH, pass all appropriate New York State Teacher Certification Examinations <www.nystce.nesinc.com> and have the appropriate years of teaching experience. New York State Education Department maintains a website with certification requirements: http://www.highered.nysed.gov/tcert/

Teacher candidates adding an additional certification will need to take the appropriate Content Specialty Test in their new area of certification only.

Note:  the CSTs are in the process of being revised and phased in starting in Spring 2014. If you pass the current CST before the new CST test is available it will be accepted. Monitor the NYSTCE website for sample tests, guides and the availability of revised Content Specialty Tests (CST) www.nystce.nesinc.com.

Additional support may be obtained by contacting Nazareth College Teacher Certification Office at (585) 389-2592 or by email tcert@naz.edu, or www.naz.edu/dept/edu/certification.cfm

Academic Requirements
In keeping with Nazareth College and New York State Education Department regulations, all students completing an approved annotation, extension, or certification-only program must meet the following standards:

• Students must earn a minimum grade of B- or higher in each and every course that is part of the annotation/extension or certification-only program, or the college will not recommend the student to the New York State Education Department for the program in question.
• The overall GPA within the annotation/extension or certification-only program must be a 3.0 or higher. For example, if a student is enrolled in or has completed a master’s degree program with an overall GPA of 3.2, but has earned a GPA of 2.9 in pursuit of an annotation/extension or certification-only program, the student will not be recommended to the New York State Education Department for the annotation/extension or certification in question.
• Graduate students must adhere to all graduate probation policies; within those guidelines students may have an opportunity to repeat selected coursework to achieve a grade of B- or higher and/or an overall GPA of 3.0 within the annotation/extension or certification-only program of study.

BILINGUAL EXTENSION (scroll down to view course requirements) 
Program Description: This program of study focuses on bilingual education. Students who successfully complete this program will extend their New York State Teacher Certification to allow students to teach in bilingual settings of their original certification. For example, if a teacher is certified at the childhood level, the bilingual extension will extend their certification to include bilingual childhood level teaching.

Scholarship Support: Qualified candidates may be eligible for scholarship funding. Recipients of the ITI scholarship are eligible for additional support through Nazareth College.
ITI Website: http://www.p12.nysed.gov/biling/bilinged/iti.html

Admission Requirements:

1. Completed approval form
2. Two personal-professional statements as described on the application form: one in English, the second in Spanish
3. One letter of recommendation that must address your commitment to working with English Language Learners in the field of education
4. Proof of teacher certification

Required Course Credits:

• 15 credit hours

Program Director:
Dr. Cindy McPhail
Golisano Academic Center, Room 294
(585) 389-2607
cmcphai2@naz.edu

ESOL Certification-Only Program (scroll down to view course requirements) 
Program Description: Students who currently hold NYS teaching certification and have completed a master’s degree, and who are seeking to earn ESOL Certification are eligible for this program.
*Note: The New York State Education Department requires 12 credit hours of a language other than English for ESOL Certification. This pre-requisite must be met prior to enrolling in ESOL coursework at Nazareth.

Admission Requirements:

1. Current NYS teacher certification
2. Completion of master’s degree

Approval Process

• Complete the attached approval form for the ESOL Certification-Only Program and submit at least three weeks prior to the start of the semester.

Required Attachments

• An official transcript from the college where you completed your highest degree;
• A copy of your NYS teacher certification if available, or other printed documentation indicating that you hold certification (this may include a screen shot from your TEACH website profile demonstrating your completed certifications);
• A personal professional statement (details listed on approval form);
• Return the approval and registration forms to Patricia Huntington, Director of Academic Support Services, by one of the following methods:

- In person: Nazareth College, Golisano Academic Center, Room 207
- Mail: Nazareth College, Attn: Patricia Huntington, 4245 East Ave., Rochester, NY 14618

• Once approval has been granted for the ESOL Certification-Only Program, meet with Program Director for advisement.
• Complete a Registration Form (available in Smyth Hall, Room 1 or on-line on the Graduate Student Services website at naz.edu/graduate-student-services/documents/Graduate Registration Form.pdf. Registration for your first semester requires your advisor’s signature.

Payment - Students must be prepared to pay for the course(s) at the time of registration. Payment can be made in the form of cash, check, credit card, Employer Sponsored Tuition Plan form, or Tuition Waiver. Details of payment options can be found on the Student Accounts website.

Required Course Credits:

• 18 credit hours

Program Director:
Dr. Cindy McPhail
Golisano Academic Center, Room 294
(585) 389-2607
cmcphai2@naz.edu

GIFTED EDUCATION EXTENSION (scroll down to view course requirements)
Program Description: This nine-credit hour graduate level program is designed for certified teachers who are interested in working with students who are gifted and talented, and would like to receive an extension certificate in this area. The program focuses on deepening teachers’ understandings of students with gifts and talents, of designing curriculum and differentiated learning experiences for students with gifts and talents, and of gifted education in the context of school organization and community.

Teachers who successfully complete this program will receive an extension on their New York State Teacher Certification:  Extension in Gifted Education

Admission Requirements:

1. Enrollment in a Master of Science in Education degree program at Nazareth College.

OR

1. Completed approval form
2. Completion of the personal-professional statement as described on the approval form
3. Proof of teacher certification

Required Course Credits:

•   9 credit hours

Program Director:
Dr. Kathleen DaBoll-Lavoie
Golisano Academic Center, Room 296A
(585) 389-2618
kdaboll9@naz.edu


TEACHING STUDENTS WITH SEVERE OR MULTIPLE DISABILITIES ANNOTATION (scroll down to view course requirements) 
Program Description:  This program of study focuses on deepening students’ understandings of teaching students with severe or multiple disabilities. Students focus on “Students with Challenging Behaviors,” based on an inclusive strength-based perspective.

Students who successfully complete this program will receive an annotation on their New York State Teacher Certification: Teaching Students with Severe or Multiple Disabilities

Admission Requirements:

1. Enrollment in an Inclusive Education Program at Nazareth College (no additional approval or forms required).

OR

1. Completed approval form: Click here for approval form for prospective students not currently enrolled in a degree program at Nazareth
2. Completion of the personal-professional statement as described on the approval form
3. Proof of teacher certification in Students with Disabilities

Required Course Credits: 6 credit hours

Students may take these courses as elective credit within the Inclusive Education: Additional Certification, Same Developmental Level  Programs, and Childhood Education Professional program. Completion of this annotation can also fulfill degree requirements in the the Professional Program in Inclusive Adolescence Education.

Program Director:
Dr. James Black
Golisano Academic Center, Room 201
(585) 389-2619
jblack8@naz.edu