FCPS retroactively denying pay raises

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wait, so these classes for teachers are literally just like, click though the slideshows on your own time? There's no actual professor or graded papers or tests?

Now at least i know where their teachers got all their ideas for waste of time non-educational google slides.

Asynchronous on-line courses have professors who record lectures, grade, give feedback, hold office hours--they just don't have everyone meet in one class session at the same time each week.

I've taken asynchronous continuing education courses through UVA, University of Delaware, and the College of William and Mary, they didn't have any recorded lectures, feedback or office hours. There was a grade, I got As in all of them and so did everyone else.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Have any of you heard that FCPS is retroactively denying teachers additional salary requests for pay raises. One of my neighbors took some classes through Idaho State University to get a MA+30 pay raise. She was approved in January, but was notified today that those classes will only count as half credits instead of full credit. Her email said as of May 1st her salary was reduced to the original amount.

She had 20 semester credits through Idaho State, but the county is saying it will only count as 10 now. Apparently it's happening to lots of other teachers. Has anyone else heard about this. Seems like a crappy way to nitpick over teachers continuing their education.

Why did she go through a diploma mill like Idaho State? There are real, high quality local institutions with meaningful programs--on line and in person. They probably reviewed more closely content of what she was taught and found it didn't meet requirements. Just like teachers with some out of state licenses have to do different work to meet the licensure requirements of VA.

They went because it is an accredited university and FCPS policy simply says you need to take coursework through an accredited university. If you emailed HR for pre-approval they would simply say they will accept any work from an accredited university. They changed their minds even though they told lots of people any work from an accredited university is fine.

The regulation posted upthread said that continuing education needs approval. Different from degree courses.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Legally FCPS can't change the goal post. Their regulations (along with VDOE) say you get a salary increase if you complete 30 credits from an accredited university. You can't months later say no we decided that such and such university is only .5 credits.

But the transcript says the course is only worth 15 credits. FCPS is giving credit per the transcript. Going forward they should remove this option as those courses do not justify a raise.

Since you struggle with reading comprehension here is what the transcript says again. It is only half credit in stats that require 30 hours. Virginia does not require 30 hours.

"All professional development courses are graduate level, non-degree, semester credits. Each credit represents 15 clock hours or .5 semester hours (in states where semester hours require 30 contact hours) or 15 PDPs or 15 PDUs or 1.5 CEUs/15 OPI renewal units. They are transcribed as graduate level semester credits."

Virginia law only requires 15 hours for a semester unit.

"1. All instructional courses for degree credit require a minimum of 15 contact hours for each semester credit hour or a minimum of 10 contact hours for each quarter credit hour, or the equivalent, and an expectation for additional assignments beyond scheduled instructional activities."

https://law.lis.virginia.gov/admincode/title8/agency40/chapter31/section140/?fbclid=IwAR1Ky_Mk1Mboiy2xOtPjLQM2DB0TAGWh5Cj2Nkzla5f318KNo_xsf9CwTgc

FCPS is going against all regulations and laws.

If you look at the North Tier programs that FCPS runs with Colorado State university they offer grad classes 170 dollars and they are 30 hours for 2 grad credits. This equals 15 hours per credit.

"Courses are 30 hours of work and earn either 30 hours towards re-certification or optionally 2 graduate credits. "

https://sites.google.com/northtier.org/northtier/home

Maybe FCPS is upset that people are not taking their North Tier classes.

Did it really take them that long to click through a slide deck?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Have any of you heard that FCPS is retroactively denying teachers additional salary requests for pay raises. One of my neighbors took some classes through Idaho State University to get a MA+30 pay raise. She was approved in January, but was notified today that those classes will only count as half credits instead of full credit. Her email said as of May 1st her salary was reduced to the original amount.

She had 20 semester credits through Idaho State, but the county is saying it will only count as 10 now. Apparently it's happening to lots of other teachers. Has anyone else heard about this. Seems like a crappy way to nitpick over teachers continuing their education.

Why did she go through a diploma mill like Idaho State? There are real, high quality local institutions with meaningful programs--on line and in person. They probably reviewed more closely content of what she was taught and found it didn't meet requirements. Just like teachers with some out of state licenses have to do different work to meet the licensure requirements of VA.

They went because it is an accredited university and FCPS policy simply says you need to take coursework through an accredited university. If you emailed HR for pre-approval they would simply say they will accept any work from an accredited university. They changed their minds even though they told lots of people any work from an accredited university is fine.

The regulation posted upthread said that continuing education needs approval. Different from degree courses.

Where do you see that continuing education needs approval?

FYI there are lots of emails teachers are showing in which they emailed FCPS HR about these classes and the response from HR was "All graduate level courses through a regionally accredited university will be accepted and counted towards MA+30".

[Anonymous]

In the regulations posted upthread:

Acceptable Credits and Criteria
1. Graduate Course Credits
Credits must be taken subsequent to the conferral date of the bachelor’s degree
or master’s degree respective of the additional salary credit increment sought.
2. FCPS Academy Credit Courses (noncollege)
Courses successfully completed through the Department of Instructional
Services’ FCPS Academy Course Program in which “Academy Credit” is earned
on a MyPLT transcript may be applied toward additional salary credit. FCPS
“Academy Credits” must be taken subsequest to the conferral date of the
bachelor’s or master’s degree respective to the additional salary credit increment.
3. Continuing Education Units (CEU)
CEUs may only be applied toward salary credit beyond the bachelor’s degree for
teacher-scale assignments such as occupational therapists, physical therapists,
or speech language pathologists which are designated as critical field
assignments and for which graduate level and FCPS Academy Credit Courses
(noncollege) are not readily available.
4. Quarter hour credits applied for additional salary credit shall be calculated as
follows:
1 Quarter Hour = 0.67 Semester Hour
2 Quarter Hours = 1.33 Semester Hours
3 Quarter Hours = 2 Semester Hours
5. Continuing education units that have been approved for additional salary credit
shall be calculated as follows:
1.5 CEU = 15 contact hours = 1 semester hour
22.5 CEUs = 225 contact hours = 15 semester hours
45 CEUs = 450 contact hours = 30 semester hours
6. Educational specialist degrees are equivalent to a master’s degree for additional
salary credit.
7. Multiple conferred master’s degrees are equivalent to the MA+30 additional
salary credit increment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In the regulations posted upthread:

Acceptable Credits and Criteria
1. Graduate Course Credits
Credits must be taken subsequent to the conferral date of the bachelor’s degree
or master’s degree respective of the additional salary credit increment sought.
2. FCPS Academy Credit Courses (noncollege)
Courses successfully completed through the Department of Instructional
Services’ FCPS Academy Course Program in which “Academy Credit” is earned
on a MyPLT transcript may be applied toward additional salary credit. FCPS
“Academy Credits” must be taken subsequest to the conferral date of the
bachelor’s or master’s degree respective to the additional salary credit increment.
3. Continuing Education Units (CEU)
CEUs may only be applied toward salary credit beyond the bachelor’s degree for
teacher-scale assignments such as occupational therapists, physical therapists,
or speech language pathologists which are designated as critical field
assignments and for which graduate level and FCPS Academy Credit Courses
(noncollege) are not readily available.
4. Quarter hour credits applied for additional salary credit shall be calculated as
follows:
1 Quarter Hour = 0.67 Semester Hour
2 Quarter Hours = 1.33 Semester Hours
3 Quarter Hours = 2 Semester Hours
5. Continuing education units that have been approved for additional salary credit
shall be calculated as follows:
1.5 CEU = 15 contact hours = 1 semester hour
22.5 CEUs = 225 contact hours = 15 semester hours
45 CEUs = 450 contact hours = 30 semester hours
6. Educational specialist degrees are equivalent to a master’s degree for additional
salary credit.
7. Multiple conferred master’s degrees are equivalent to the MA+30 additional
salary credit increment.

But these Idaho State classes are Graduate Course Credits. Continuing education units are only for certain positions (therapists, physical therapists,
or speech language pathologists), which this also counts for them. The transcript key clearly says they are graduate level credits.

All professional development courses are graduate level, non-degree, semester credits. Each credit represents 15 clock hours or .5 semester hours (in states where semester hours require 30 contact hours) or 15 PDPs or 15 PDUs or 1.5 CEUs/15 OPI renewal units. They are transcribed as graduate level semester credits."

I also still don't see where it says you need approval?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In the regulations posted upthread:

Acceptable Credits and Criteria
1. Graduate Course Credits
Credits must be taken subsequent to the conferral date of the bachelor’s degree
or master’s degree respective of the additional salary credit increment sought.
2. FCPS Academy Credit Courses (noncollege)
Courses successfully completed through the Department of Instructional
Services’ FCPS Academy Course Program in which “Academy Credit” is earned
on a MyPLT transcript may be applied toward additional salary credit. FCPS
“Academy Credits” must be taken subsequest to the conferral date of the
bachelor’s or master’s degree respective to the additional salary credit increment.
3. Continuing Education Units (CEU)
CEUs may only be applied toward salary credit beyond the bachelor’s degree for
teacher-scale assignments such as occupational therapists, physical therapists,
or speech language pathologists which are designated as critical field
assignments and for which graduate level and FCPS Academy Credit Courses
(noncollege) are not readily available.
4. Quarter hour credits applied for additional salary credit shall be calculated as
follows:
1 Quarter Hour = 0.67 Semester Hour
2 Quarter Hours = 1.33 Semester Hours
3 Quarter Hours = 2 Semester Hours
5. Continuing education units that have been approved for additional salary credit
shall be calculated as follows:
1.5 CEU = 15 contact hours = 1 semester hour
22.5 CEUs = 225 contact hours = 15 semester hours
45 CEUs = 450 contact hours = 30 semester hours
6. Educational specialist degrees are equivalent to a master’s degree for additional
salary credit.
7. Multiple conferred master’s degrees are equivalent to the MA+30 additional
salary credit increment.

But these Idaho State classes are Graduate Course Credits. Continuing education units are only for certain positions (therapists, physical therapists,
or speech language pathologists), which this also counts for them. The transcript key clearly says they are graduate level credits.

All professional development courses are graduate level, non-degree, semester credits. Each credit represents 15 clock hours or .5 semester hours (in states where semester hours require 30 contact hours) or 15 PDPs or 15 PDUs or 1.5 CEUs/15 OPI renewal units. They are transcribed as graduate level semester credits."

I also still don't see where it says you need approval?

I do see it now. But that is for Continuing education units for certain jobs within FCPS. There is no mention of pre-approval either. It just says courses approved.

As mentioned though, teachers are using these as graduate credits as that is what applies to them, and there is no mention of pre-approval. You just need to complete coursework through an accredited university (Which Idaho State is).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In the regulations posted upthread:

Acceptable Credits and Criteria
1. Graduate Course Credits
Credits must be taken subsequent to the conferral date of the bachelor’s degree
or master’s degree respective of the additional salary credit increment sought.
2. FCPS Academy Credit Courses (noncollege)
Courses successfully completed through the Department of Instructional
Services’ FCPS Academy Course Program in which “Academy Credit” is earned
on a MyPLT transcript may be applied toward additional salary credit. FCPS
“Academy Credits” must be taken subsequest to the conferral date of the
bachelor’s or master’s degree respective to the additional salary credit increment.
3. Continuing Education Units (CEU)
CEUs may only be applied toward salary credit beyond the bachelor’s degree for
teacher-scale assignments such as occupational therapists, physical therapists,
or speech language pathologists which are designated as critical field
assignments and for which graduate level and FCPS Academy Credit Courses
(noncollege) are not readily available.
4. Quarter hour credits applied for additional salary credit shall be calculated as
follows:
1 Quarter Hour = 0.67 Semester Hour
2 Quarter Hours = 1.33 Semester Hours
3 Quarter Hours = 2 Semester Hours
5. Continuing education units that have been approved for additional salary credit
shall be calculated as follows:
1.5 CEU = 15 contact hours = 1 semester hour
22.5 CEUs = 225 contact hours = 15 semester hours
45 CEUs = 450 contact hours = 30 semester hours
6. Educational specialist degrees are equivalent to a master’s degree for additional
salary credit.
7. Multiple conferred master’s degrees are equivalent to the MA+30 additional
salary credit increment.

But these Idaho State classes are Graduate Course Credits. Continuing education units are only for certain positions (therapists, physical therapists,
or speech language pathologists), which this also counts for them. The transcript key clearly says they are graduate level credits.

All professional development courses are graduate level, non-degree, semester credits. Each credit represents 15 clock hours or .5 semester hours (in states where semester hours require 30 contact hours) or 15 PDPs or 15 PDUs or 1.5 CEUs/15 OPI renewal units. They are transcribed as graduate level semester credits."

I also still don't see where it says you need approval?

I do see it now. But that is for Continuing education units for certain jobs within FCPS. There is no mention of pre-approval either. It just says courses approved.

As mentioned though, teachers are using these as graduate credits as that is what applies to them, and there is no mention of pre-approval. You just need to complete coursework through an accredited university (Which Idaho State is).

Professional development non-degree classes aren't graduate level semester credits. Whatever they are "transcribed as".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In the regulations posted upthread:

Acceptable Credits and Criteria
1. Graduate Course Credits
Credits must be taken subsequent to the conferral date of the bachelor’s degree
or master’s degree respective of the additional salary credit increment sought.
2. FCPS Academy Credit Courses (noncollege)
Courses successfully completed through the Department of Instructional
Services’ FCPS Academy Course Program in which “Academy Credit” is earned
on a MyPLT transcript may be applied toward additional salary credit. FCPS
“Academy Credits” must be taken subsequest to the conferral date of the
bachelor’s or master’s degree respective to the additional salary credit increment.
3. Continuing Education Units (CEU)
CEUs may only be applied toward salary credit beyond the bachelor’s degree for
teacher-scale assignments such as occupational therapists, physical therapists,
or speech language pathologists which are designated as critical field
assignments and for which graduate level and FCPS Academy Credit Courses
(noncollege) are not readily available.
4. Quarter hour credits applied for additional salary credit shall be calculated as
follows:
1 Quarter Hour = 0.67 Semester Hour
2 Quarter Hours = 1.33 Semester Hours
3 Quarter Hours = 2 Semester Hours
5. Continuing education units that have been approved for additional salary credit
shall be calculated as follows:
1.5 CEU = 15 contact hours = 1 semester hour
22.5 CEUs = 225 contact hours = 15 semester hours
45 CEUs = 450 contact hours = 30 semester hours
6. Educational specialist degrees are equivalent to a master’s degree for additional
salary credit.
7. Multiple conferred master’s degrees are equivalent to the MA+30 additional
salary credit increment.

But these Idaho State classes are Graduate Course Credits. Continuing education units are only for certain positions (therapists, physical therapists,
or speech language pathologists), which this also counts for them. The transcript key clearly says they are graduate level credits.

All professional development courses are graduate level, non-degree, semester credits. Each credit represents 15 clock hours or .5 semester hours (in states where semester hours require 30 contact hours) or 15 PDPs or 15 PDUs or 1.5 CEUs/15 OPI renewal units. They are transcribed as graduate level semester credits."

I also still don't see where it says you need approval?

Maybe they, rightfully, doubt the contact hours

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In the regulations posted upthread:

Acceptable Credits and Criteria
1. Graduate Course Credits
Credits must be taken subsequent to the conferral date of the bachelor’s degree
or master’s degree respective of the additional salary credit increment sought.
2. FCPS Academy Credit Courses (noncollege)
Courses successfully completed through the Department of Instructional
Services’ FCPS Academy Course Program in which “Academy Credit” is earned
on a MyPLT transcript may be applied toward additional salary credit. FCPS
“Academy Credits” must be taken subsequest to the conferral date of the
bachelor’s or master’s degree respective to the additional salary credit increment.
3. Continuing Education Units (CEU)
CEUs may only be applied toward salary credit beyond the bachelor’s degree for
teacher-scale assignments such as occupational therapists, physical therapists,
or speech language pathologists which are designated as critical field
assignments and for which graduate level and FCPS Academy Credit Courses
(noncollege) are not readily available.
4. Quarter hour credits applied for additional salary credit shall be calculated as
follows:
1 Quarter Hour = 0.67 Semester Hour
2 Quarter Hours = 1.33 Semester Hours
3 Quarter Hours = 2 Semester Hours
5. Continuing education units that have been approved for additional salary credit
shall be calculated as follows:
1.5 CEU = 15 contact hours = 1 semester hour
22.5 CEUs = 225 contact hours = 15 semester hours
45 CEUs = 450 contact hours = 30 semester hours
6. Educational specialist degrees are equivalent to a master’s degree for additional
salary credit.
7. Multiple conferred master’s degrees are equivalent to the MA+30 additional
salary credit increment.

But these Idaho State classes are Graduate Course Credits. Continuing education units are only for certain positions (therapists, physical therapists,
or speech language pathologists), which this also counts for them. The transcript key clearly says they are graduate level credits.

All professional development courses are graduate level, non-degree, semester credits. Each credit represents 15 clock hours or .5 semester hours (in states where semester hours require 30 contact hours) or 15 PDPs or 15 PDUs or 1.5 CEUs/15 OPI renewal units. They are transcribed as graduate level semester credits."

I also still don't see where it says you need approval?

I do see it now. But that is for Continuing education units for certain jobs within FCPS. There is no mention of pre-approval either. It just says courses approved.

As mentioned though, teachers are using these as graduate credits as that is what applies to them, and there is no mention of pre-approval. You just need to complete coursework through an accredited university (Which Idaho State is).

Professional development non-degree classes aren't graduate level semester credits. Whatever they are "transcribed as".

Yes they are. Every university offers non-degree graduate level classes. FCPS even has a partnership with Colorado State University offering nothing but non-degree graduate level classes so teachers can work towards their MA+30.

https://sites.google.com/northtier.org/northtier/home

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In the regulations posted upthread:

Acceptable Credits and Criteria
1. Graduate Course Credits
Credits must be taken subsequent to the conferral date of the bachelor’s degree
or master’s degree respective of the additional salary credit increment sought.
2. FCPS Academy Credit Courses (noncollege)
Courses successfully completed through the Department of Instructional
Services’ FCPS Academy Course Program in which “Academy Credit” is earned
on a MyPLT transcript may be applied toward additional salary credit. FCPS
“Academy Credits” must be taken subsequest to the conferral date of the
bachelor’s or master’s degree respective to the additional salary credit increment.
3. Continuing Education Units (CEU)
CEUs may only be applied toward salary credit beyond the bachelor’s degree for
teacher-scale assignments such as occupational therapists, physical therapists,
or speech language pathologists which are designated as critical field
assignments and for which graduate level and FCPS Academy Credit Courses
(noncollege) are not readily available.
4. Quarter hour credits applied for additional salary credit shall be calculated as
follows:
1 Quarter Hour = 0.67 Semester Hour
2 Quarter Hours = 1.33 Semester Hours
3 Quarter Hours = 2 Semester Hours
5. Continuing education units that have been approved for additional salary credit
shall be calculated as follows:
1.5 CEU = 15 contact hours = 1 semester hour
22.5 CEUs = 225 contact hours = 15 semester hours
45 CEUs = 450 contact hours = 30 semester hours
6. Educational specialist degrees are equivalent to a master’s degree for additional
salary credit.
7. Multiple conferred master’s degrees are equivalent to the MA+30 additional
salary credit increment.

But these Idaho State classes are Graduate Course Credits. Continuing education units are only for certain positions (therapists, physical therapists,
or speech language pathologists), which this also counts for them. The transcript key clearly says they are graduate level credits.

All professional development courses are graduate level, non-degree, semester credits. Each credit represents 15 clock hours or .5 semester hours (in states where semester hours require 30 contact hours) or 15 PDPs or 15 PDUs or 1.5 CEUs/15 OPI renewal units. They are transcribed as graduate level semester credits."

I also still don't see where it says you need approval?

Maybe they, rightfully, doubt the contact hours

They should stop telling people graduate credits from an accredited universities will be accepted then. They should do a close examination of each individual course that people took and stop trusting the regional accreditation agencies. They should also update their regulations to reflect his and stop telling people to look at the regulations for guidance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Have any of you heard that FCPS is retroactively denying teachers additional salary requests for pay raises. One of my neighbors took some classes through Idaho State University to get a MA+30 pay raise. She was approved in January, but was notified today that those classes will only count as half credits instead of full credit. Her email said as of May 1st her salary was reduced to the original amount.

She had 20 semester credits through Idaho State, but the county is saying it will only count as 10 now. Apparently it's happening to lots of other teachers. Has anyone else heard about this. Seems like a crappy way to nitpick over teachers continuing their education.

Why did she go through a diploma mill like Idaho State? There are real, high quality local institutions with meaningful programs--on line and in person. They probably reviewed more closely content of what she was taught and found it didn't meet requirements. Just like teachers with some out of state licenses have to do different work to meet the licensure requirements of VA.

It seems like some teachers thought they found a way to buy a raise without having to actually do any work

Teacher here-yes, this was a big topic of conversation in facebook groups and at our school. Apparently one of the courses just required you to list what apps you used during virtual learning last year.
If something sounds too good to be true...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Have any of you heard that FCPS is retroactively denying teachers additional salary requests for pay raises. One of my neighbors took some classes through Idaho State University to get a MA+30 pay raise. She was approved in January, but was notified today that those classes will only count as half credits instead of full credit. Her email said as of May 1st her salary was reduced to the original amount.

She had 20 semester credits through Idaho State, but the county is saying it will only count as 10 now. Apparently it's happening to lots of other teachers. Has anyone else heard about this. Seems like a crappy way to nitpick over teachers continuing their education.

Why did she go through a diploma mill like Idaho State? There are real, high quality local institutions with meaningful programs--on line and in person. They probably reviewed more closely content of what she was taught and found it didn't meet requirements. Just like teachers with some out of state licenses have to do different work to meet the licensure requirements of VA.

It seems like some teachers thought they found a way to buy a raise without having to actually do any work

Teacher here-yes, this was a big topic of conversation in facebook groups and at our school. Apparently one of the courses just required you to list what apps you used during virtual learning last year.
If something sounds too good to be true...

Sounds like the North Tier courses I took.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wait, so these classes for teachers are literally just like, click though the slideshows on your own time? There's no actual professor or graded papers or tests?

Now at least i know where their teachers got all their ideas for waste of time non-educational google slides.

Asynchronous on-line courses have professors who record lectures, grade, give feedback, hold office hours--they just don't have everyone meet in one class session at the same time each week.

I've taken asynchronous continuing education courses through UVA, University of Delaware, and the College of William and Mary, they didn't have any recorded lectures, feedback or office hours. There was a grade, I got As in all of them and so did everyone else.

Those are continuing education courses not graduate courses.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wait, so these classes for teachers are literally just like, click though the slideshows on your own time? There's no actual professor or graded papers or tests?

Now at least i know where their teachers got all their ideas for waste of time non-educational google slides.

Asynchronous on-line courses have professors who record lectures, grade, give feedback, hold office hours--they just don't have everyone meet in one class session at the same time each week.

I've taken asynchronous continuing education courses through UVA, University of Delaware, and the College of William and Mary, they didn't have any recorded lectures, feedback or office hours. There was a grade, I got As in all of them and so did everyone else.

Those are continuing education courses not graduate courses.

They count as graduate courses. You get graduate credit for taking them.