Touro & Walden post secondary degrees NOT accepted by NC DPI

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by GBrown, Jun 15, 2008.

Loading...
  1. GBrown

    GBrown New Member

    You may find this interesting if you plan to teach in NC.

    After accepting an employment offer by a local school, I had to take a meeting with the local school district HR department to sign a contract, etc. We discussed my academic background to include my MBA from Touro University. In NC, if you hold a masters in the area you're hired to teach, you may receive higher pay than somebody without a masters. The HR specialist informed me that NC Department of Public Instruction does not recognize masters degrees from Touro University or Walden. She did not know why, but merely indicated that this is policy. I don't understand their reasoning since both schools are RA.

    Any thoughts?
     
  2. Han

    Han New Member

    There is probably a need for the school to be professionally accredited, not only RA. (such as AACSB)
     
  3. GeneralSnus

    GeneralSnus Member

    I would dig deeper on your own, and don't count on HR to help you at all. From a cursory look, NC only seems to require regional accreditation to be paid more for a master's:


    http://www.ncpublicschools.org/licensure/faq/
     
  4. GBrown

    GBrown New Member

    Good advice!! Thank you.
     
  5. duff

    duff New Member

    For it to count in NC, the master’s degree has to be state licensed in the state for which you are receiving the degree. Basically the degree has to be a state approved degree for teachers in that state.

    My wife went through this with Nova Southeastern University. She earned her Masters degree in Elem. Edu from them and in order for it to be "state approved" in FL, she had to take the FL teachers exam and pass. It is like Praxis but it was only offered in FL. So....in the middle of her program we drove to FL, she took the exam (and passed), Nova stamped her transcript showing the degree was state approved for teachers in FL and then NC accepted it for Masters level pay

    Some may call this "higher standards for NC", some may call it "red tape crap"....I am just saying that is what my wife had to do for Nova. I was on the phone with NC DPI constantly (and through email) so that I could get an answer on this before my wife started the program.

    Duff
     
  6. scaredrain

    scaredrain Member

    I taught for 3 years in NC and I currently live here, what subject were you trying to teach in? I know that in order to become a teacher you need 24 semester credit hours in the subject you want to teach in or a degree in that field. Or you can take the praxis 2 subject exam and have 3 years to complete the course requirements.

    Unless you were trying to teach business courses, an MBA from TUI wouldnt of done you good anyways. Because NC only pays teachers at the masters level if the degree is in their subject. This was put into place because you would find science teachers with masters out side of their field, who wanted masters level pay.

    I am currently in the process of obtaining what is called 079 licensure in NC and the district I work with as a consultant, is accepting my Masters from Grand Canyon University. It is up to each individual county at times, as to what they will and wont accept.

    While DPI is there to help and answer questions, trust me, each individual school district has their own quirks and things about them, try finding another county to licensure as a masters level teacher and then try going to the district you want to work in.
     
  7. Ted Heiks

    Ted Heiks Moderator and Distinguished Senior Member

    Clearly, you have ignorant people running the educational system in NC. :eek:
     
  8. Randell1234

    Randell1234 Moderator

    I lived in NC - it goes far beyond the educational system ;)
     
  9. aldrin

    aldrin New Member

    I truly hope it's not a case of "dinosauritis," you know, that major psychological illness that a lot of people have, characterized by that strong, closed-minded parochial kind of thinking and bigotry (that translates into action that adversely impacts its many victims) that the only way to go is the traditional, dinosaur way, and any other approach is for losers.
     
  10. duff

    duff New Member

    Every state has "rules" for teacher education. NC is no different. Just like with regional accreditors, some are more stringent then others (i.e. SACS). All NC is saying is that a masters degree needs to come from a teacher education program, needs to have NCATE Accreditation, OR, needs to be a state approved masters program for teachers in that state AND be in the area the person is teaching in.

    They are not saying that these degrees are bad or worthless but it is the state's choice who they decide to pay more for masters pay and they can set their own guidelines.

    Stating that the entire education system in NC is ignorant or the whole state is ignorant makes you the kettle...or...maybe the pot?

    Duff
     
  11. GeneralSnus

    GeneralSnus Member

    This seems to conflict with what I obtained from the NCDPI website:

    Based on that statement, it seems a business teacher's MBA (or a history teacher's MA in History, etc.) would qualify so long as it is from an RA school.
     
  12. armywife

    armywife New Member

    Out here in Texas, you could have a triple doctorate in education but if it's not from a Texas school then you will have to go through their alternative certification program first before they'll let you sit for the state exam.

    I thought it was a Texas thing, but from what I've heard many states do have hoops for you to jump through if your ed degree is not from a state school. The fact that it's approved by the national accrediting organization for teacher ed programs is important, but in some cases not enough.

    However, they should still be paying you at the masters level pay rate. I wonder if they just haven't heard of those schools and they aren't on the "list". Just because they've never heard of the school doesnt' mean it's not legit. I hope you press on and figure out what the deal is!! You deserve to get paid at the level of your degree.
     
  13. Arch23

    Arch23 New Member

    Dinosauritis

    I like that term. Maybe you should have the APA ratify it. :) (On the other hand, forget it. Isn't that the same organization that said homosexuality was a disease? You'll run into credibility issues right there, he he...)

    Dinosauritis obviously afflicts many people, even "educators" who are supposed to be innovative and progressive. How sad...
     

Share This Page