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.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The transcript says they're non-degree hours? I don't understand, are these classes for an MA and salary bump or are they continuing education?

If they're for a salary bump for a masters, then these classes don't count.

They are not for a pay bump for a masters. These Idaho State classes are simply continuing education credits, they don't count towards a degree. All districts in Virginia offer a pay bump for continuing education after your masters degree. You can get what is called a Masters Degree plus 30 (MA+30). This is 30 graduate level semester credits after your masters degree.

Also this is straight from the transcript key.

"They are transcribed as graduate level semester credits."

There is no reason why FCPS shouldn't be using these for teachers looking to get their MA+30.

A class with no course work, no graded assignments, and no exam seems like academic fraud to me.

These classes meet all FCPS and VDOE regulations. They are taken through an accredited university. You can argue about the merits all you want, but there is literally thousands of continuing education classes like this. There are websites dedicated to continuing education classes that are all done asynchronous with no professor feedback.

Here is an example:
https://www.advancementcourses.com/

Another
https://www.edsurge.com/product-reviews/pbs-teacherline

I can go on and on. Idaho state just made the classes very cheap, which is probably what made FCPS mad.

FCPS and VDOE are required to take these classes. The laws need to change if you don't like it, but these Idaho State Classes meet all the FCPS requirements. They can't arbitrability decide not to take them anymore and rescind pay raises.

For your info here are the FCPS guidelines regarding getting an MA+30 pay bump.
"A new or in-service employee on the teacher salary scale who provides official
transcript(s) reflecting coursework credits or degrees completed beyond the conferral date
of a bachelor’s degree or master’s degree from a regionally accredited college and/or
university or FCPS Academy is eligible to apply for additional salary credit according to
the following increments:"

"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"


https://go.boarddocs.com/vsba/fairfax/Board.nsf/files/B42QV26B13D0/$file/R4621..pdf

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

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.

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.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The transcript says they're non-degree hours? I don't understand, are these classes for an MA and salary bump or are they continuing education?

If they're for a salary bump for a masters, then these classes don't count.

They are not for a pay bump for a masters. These Idaho State classes are simply continuing education credits, they don't count towards a degree. All districts in Virginia offer a pay bump for continuing education after your masters degree. You can get what is called a Masters Degree plus 30 (MA+30). This is 30 graduate level semester credits after your masters degree.

Also this is straight from the transcript key.

"They are transcribed as graduate level semester credits."

There is no reason why FCPS shouldn't be using these for teachers looking to get their MA+30.

A class with no course work, no graded assignments, and no exam seems like academic fraud to me.

Anonymous wrote:The transcript says they're non-degree hours? I don't understand, are these classes for an MA and salary bump or are they continuing education?

If they're for a salary bump for a masters, then these classes don't count.

They are not for a pay bump for a masters. These Idaho State classes are simply continuing education credits, they don't count towards a degree. All districts in Virginia offer a pay bump for continuing education after your masters degree. You can get what is called a Masters Degree plus 30 (MA+30). This is 30 graduate level semester credits after your masters degree.

Also this is straight from the transcript key.

"They are transcribed as graduate level semester credits."

There is no reason why FCPS shouldn't be using these for teachers looking to get their MA+30.

The transcript says they're non-degree hours? I don't understand, are these classes for an MA and salary bump or are they continuing education?

If they're for a salary bump for a masters, then these classes don't count.

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.

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.

Yep. Maybe FCPS will stop taking credits from diploma mills like UVA.

OK. This is a straight-up lie. I’ve taken multiple classes through UVA and the coursework, projects, and interaction were comparable to in-person. I have experience with both. If you’re trying to throw UVA in as a diploma mill—you just can’t. They don’t even accept most applicants for their graduate programs. Move on, UVA haters.

I am not referring to their diploma programs. I am referring to their asynchronous continuing education classes, which are the same as these Idaho State classes.

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.

Right, FCPS is generously giving the credit that Diploma Mill University says the "class" is worth. Teachers heard rumors of these BS classes all year. Everyone knows they didn't do any actual coursework.

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.

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.

Yep. Maybe FCPS will stop taking credits from diploma mills like UVA.

OK. This is a straight-up lie. I’ve taken multiple classes through UVA and the coursework, projects, and interaction were comparable to in-person. I have experience with both. If you’re trying to throw UVA in as a diploma mill—you just can’t. They don’t even accept most applicants for their graduate programs. Move on, UVA haters.

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.

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.

It’s student-directed asynchronous learning. If it was good enough for our kids, it should be good enough for the teachers.

So your kid did an ENTIRE course asynchronously? There was never a day where the teacher was instructing live? Tells us what school this was where this happened. What grade level. I’m fascinated to find out where this happened.

All of FCPS. Economics and Personal Finance. Summer before 9th.