Certification

Welcome to the DeKalb County School District Certification Department information page. The Certification Department is primarily responsible for facilitating all aspects of the certification process for DeKalb County School District personnel. This includes management of applications for renewals for expiring credentials and assisting new employees in obtaining certification credentials issued by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission (PSC).

• Goals

  • Ensure all candidates for classified and certified positions meet certification rules and guidelines set forth by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission (PSC)
  • Streamline the hiring process and ensure candidates selected to be interviewed possess the qualifications required for the role

• Objectives

  • Thoroughly screen the qualifications of all classified and certified candidates by careful examination of transcripts, certificates, test scores, high school diplomas, evaluations, licenses, leadership certifications, and out of state certification reciprocity
  • Apprise Human Resources Managers and Building Level Administrators of key changes, updates, and certification requirements

• Responsibilities
  Responsibilities include, but are not limited to the following:

  • Evaluate qualifications for classified and certified employees for initial candidacy; certificate endorsements and upgrades; re-certification; and certificate conversions
  • Manage the evaluation tracking process for educators identified with a rating of needs development or unsatisfactory and work with department head to implement a remediation plan
  • Provide ongoing training via in-person and virtual platforms to Managers and Administrators regarding key changes and updates to certification requirements

• certification@dekalbschoolsga.org 

• 678.676.0005

Welcome to the DeKalb County School District Certification Department information page. The Certification Department is primarily responsible for facilitating all aspects of the certification process for DeKalb County School District personnel. This includes management of applications for renewals for expiring credentials and assisting new employees in obtaining certification credentials issued by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission (PSC).

• Goals

  • Ensure all candidates for classified and certified positions meet certification rules and guidelines set forth by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission (PSC)
  • Streamline the hiring process and ensure candidates selected to be interviewed possess the qualifications required for the role

• Objectives

  • Thoroughly screen the qualifications of all classified and certified candidates by careful examination of transcripts, certificates, test scores, high school diplomas, evaluations, licenses, leadership certifications, and out of state certification reciprocity
  • Apprise Human Resources Managers and Building Level Administrators of key changes, updates, and certification requirements

• Responsibilities
  Responsibilities include, but are not limited to the following:

  • Evaluate qualifications for classified and certified employees for initial candidacy; certificate endorsements and upgrades; re-certification; and certificate conversions
  • Manage the evaluation tracking process for educators identified with a rating of needs development or unsatisfactory and work with department head to implement a remediation plan
  • Provide ongoing training via in-person and virtual platforms to Managers and Administrators regarding key changes and updates to certification requirements

• certification@dekalbschoolsga.org 

• 678.676.0005

To become a Certified Teacher, you must meet the following requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university

• GACE Content Assessment in the content area of interest

• For Special Education consultative teachers only – the content test is not required for employment

• GACE Ethics Assessment – Test code 360

• Educators must enroll in a state-approved educator certification program within the first school year of teaching

Georgia Assessments for the Certification of Educators (GACE)

Assessments are required for all professional certificates in the State of Georgia:

• Content Assessment
  Tests a variety of content knowledge areas. Each middle grade assessment is a single test that consists of selected-response questions and constructed-response assignments. All other content assessments are composed of two tests. Each test consists of selected-response questions and one or more constructed-response assignments.

• Educator Ethics Assessment
  The modules focus on professionalism in education in teachers’ and educational leaders’ relationships with their students, their schools, their colleagues, and their communities – as well as on ethical understanding to guide decision making, and the specific regulations and expectations that educators face in Georgia.

For more information about the GACE Assessments, visit gace.ets.org or call 855-225-7178.

Certification Specialists

• 678.676.0005

• certification@dekalbschoolsga.org

• Applicant Vetting Process

• Certificate Endorsements

• Certificate Upgrades

• Re-Certification

• Certificate Conversion

• Certification Audit

• Teacher Performance Evaluations

• Certification Consultation

• Certification 101 Training

• Certification Manager I
  kimberly Cooper

• 678.676.0005

• Special Projects and Assignments

• Interim Director, Employment Services
  Tracy Harris

• 678.676.0005