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Northwest GA TAPP Recognition and Honors

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GA TAPP

  1. What is Georgia TAPP?

    Georgia TAPP is an acronym for the Georgia Teacher Alternative Preparation Program, Georgia TAPP. It enables individuals with a bachelor's degree or higher (who meet eligibility requirements for the program), to teach middle grades, secondary education, or Special Education.
     

  2. What are the Georgia TAPP eligibility requirements for candidates?

    Candidates must have:
    -A Bachelor's degree that supports the teaching field from an accredited college or university
    -A cumulative, undergraduate GPA of 2.5 (if the bachelor's is the highest degree; a Master's or admission to a Master's 
     program satisfies the GPA requirement)
    -A passing score on GACE (Georgia Assessments for the Certification of Educators) Basic Skills Assessment (or SAT, ACT, or GRE scores are high enough to exempt this
     requirement)
    -A major in the teaching field or content validation through GACE (or Praxis II prior to September 1, 2006)
    -A satisfactory criminal background check (conducted by the employing school system)
    -Must secure a position for a full-time teaching position by a participating school system
    -No prior teaching certification
     

  3. How does one secure a position to participate in Georgia TAPP?

    You must secure a position by completing an application with a member Northwest Georgia RESA school system (Please see systems served tab on home page). Also the GA PSC has a Recruitment Services Division for teachers. Please visit www.teachgeorgia.org for additional information.
     

  4. Can previously certified teacher with two year of teaching experience be a Georgia TAPP candidate?

    No, the Georgia TAPP program is designed for individuals who have no formal preparation in teaching, little or no teaching experience, and no state certification (in any state).
     

  5. Is a 2.5 GPA essential? For example, can a 2.49 be rounded off to 2.5?

    GPA's are not rounded off. Candidates must have at least a 2.5 overall GPA on all college work completed. A Master's degree or admission to a Master's program satisfies the GPA requirement.
     

  6. Can a Georgia TAPP teacher-candidate change school systems and continue in the program?

    This is handled on a case by case basis. Candidates should contact the GA TAPP Coordinator for approval.
     

  7. How should the candidate register for the GACE Basic Skill or Content Knowledge Assessment?

    GACE registration information is listed on the website www.gace.nesinc.com.
     

  8. What scores may be accepted in lieu of passing the GACE Basic Skills Assessment?

    GACE Basic Skills may be exempted if high enough scores are obtained on the SAT, ACT, or GRE:

    -SAT exemption: minimum score of 1000 (with no minimum verbal score or math score required);
    -ACT exemption: minimum score 43 (with no minimum English score or Math score required);
    -GRE exemption: minimum score 1030 (with no minimum Verbal score or Quantitative score required);
    -To obtain SAT or GRE scores, you can contact the Educational Testing Service at www.ETS.org. ACT scores can be
     obtained at www.ACT.org. SAT and ACT scores are also available on high school transcripts.
    -It is also possible to exempt the GACE Basic Skills Assessment if you passed the Praxis I test prior to September 1, 2006.
     

  9. Is the GACE Content Assessment a pre-requisite requirement?

    Please see the rule at http://www.gapsc.com/msgc_new_gatapp_req.asp.
     

  10. Must the candidate's degree be from an accredited college or university?

    A candidate must have a Bachelor's Degree or higher with a minimum grade point average of 2.5 from a PSC-approved accredited institution.
     

  11. What can I teach with my degree?

    Please go to the following link on the Professional Standards Commission's website to see if your degree is a related field for the subject you would like to teach: http://www.gapsc.com/Application/majorsandfields.pdf.
     

  12. What are the advantages of GA TAPP over the traditional route to certification for individuals seeking to make the transition into teaching from other careers?

    GA TAPP retains the quality, but is much more convenient and less costly than the traditional route.  Before GA TAPP, a person with minimum qualifications seeking to become a teacher affiliated with a college or university and enrolled in a preparation program which could take up to two years of full-time work to complete.  The length of the program served as a disincentive for persons with family obligations that may have precluded them from leaving remunerative employment.  With GA TAPP, individuals seeking certification may teach full-time while completing a program of teacher preparation provided locally through Northwest Georgia RESA , the local school system, and the Professional Standards Commission.  Candidates are enrolled in Essentials of Effective Teaching and are closely supervised and supported by a mentor teacher, a school administrator, a central office contact, and a RESA supervisor.  Candidates receive quality on-the-job training.   The program is also much less costly.  Program fees are listed on Northwest Georgia RESA’s website www.nwgaresa.com. The fees also include textbooks and materials or any subsequent costs of programs recommended by the Candidate Support Team. (Fees may increase as a result of annual program analysis and available state/federal funding.  Candidate will be notified.)  The mentor teacher’s stipend of $1000.00 for the first year and $500.00 for the second year.
     

  13. Who should take the Intern route to certification rather than the Non-Renewable route? How is this determined?

    Please go to the following link on the Georgia Professional Standards Commission's website for information on Alternative Certification Routes: http://www.gapsc.com.
     

  14. What is the cost of the program?
     

    General Education Candidates: $1500.00 plus mentor stipend
    Special Education Candidates:  $2500.00 plus mentor stipend
    Mentor Stipend Year One:    $1000.00 
    Mentor Stipend Year Two: $500.00

(Fees for the Georgia Teacher Alternative Preparation Program are evaluated annually and subject to change. Candidates are to visit the Northwest Georgia RESA website for current program fees.)