JECS Services

Training for school division certification specialists on licensure application procedures (individualized or groups)
Training for specialists and administrators involved in the hiring decision
Concise and accurate licensure evaluations to verify eligibility
Accurate and consistent interpretation of Virginia's Licensure Regulations for School Personnel
Accurate and consistent technical assistance regarding "Highly Qualified" teachers as defined by Virginia's
interpretation of the "No Child Left Behind" legislation
Adminstrative support at local Job Fairs
Assistance with the preparation of the Instructional Personnel and Licensure Report
Individual evaluations

Consulting Services Recap - Joseph Educational Consulting Services opened its operations on October 1, 2003. Since that time, the company has provided a wide variety of services to over 50 public school divisions. The services include seminars that focus on all aspects of the licensure process. These seminars have been presented in a variety of locations across the state. In addition to the seminars, individual training for local licensure specialists has been conducted for several school divisions across the Commonwealth to include Alexandria City, Orange, Amelia, Campbell, Cumberland, Buckingham, Culpeper, Fairfax, Fauquier, Loudoun, Nottoway, King & Queen, Newport News, Harrisonburg, and Colonial Heights. In addition to the normal licensure training for these divisions, evaluations are performed for prospective teachers to determine licensure eligibility, counseling is provided to teachers regarding course work requirements to complete, guidance is given on how best to add endorsements to their licenses as well as helping to ensure teachers meet the state renewal requirements. At the same time, periodic updates are provided on the latest Board of Education and/or Department of Education directives. These services proved so helpful and timely that they are now provided on a year around basis to Buckingham, Culpeper, Campbell, Appomattox, Madison, Orange, Shenandoah, Williamsburg-James City, Fauquier, Floyd, Fluvanna, Loudoun, Lunenburg, Stafford, and Amherst Counties as well as Harrisonburg City, Colonial Heights City, and Virginia Beach City Schools.

In other support areas, assistance has been provided in preparing the Department of Education's annual Instructional Personnel and Licensure (IPAL) Report. This service has been provided to several divisions to include King & Queen County and Portsmouth and Lynchburg City Schools and continues to be provided annually to Williamsburg-James City County. In addition, JECS has provided consultation services to the Old Dominion University's Career Switcher Program operated by its Program for Continued Learning so that its candidates have a better understanding of the responsibilities of holding a Virginia license. At the same time, JECS provides Virginia State University assistance in reviewing and verifying program completion of its stae-approved program by its teacher candidates. At the same time, updates are provided to its staff on a variety of licensure issues.

Job Fairs have also been a prime means of providing technical support. Assistance has been provided to job fairs in Newport News, Roanoke City, Hanover County, Loudoun County, Stafford County, Gloucester, Williamsburg-James City and Hampton City. The school divisions have found the technical advice provided by JECS consulting services particularly helpful in identifying individuals who are eligible for licensure. At the same time, my service provides guidance to candidates on Virginia's eligibility requirements through its various alternate routes to licensure.

Another important service provided to school divisions over the years has been the conduct of Special Education Highly Qualified reviews. This process became important when DOE implemented requirements for special education teachers teaching in self-contained settings. At the same time, DOE required that special education teachers now be included in the reporting of HQ status for the annual Instructional Personnel and Licensure Report (IPAL). JECS developed its own form and assisted twenty-three school divisions in evaluating its teachers. This process helped to identify training needs as well as to properly rate special education teachers so that accurate entries could be made on the divisions' IPAL report.

At the same time, evaluation services are offered to individuals needing advice on their eligibility for a Virginia license as well as on the appropriate courses required for licensure. This support is provided to individual school divisions as well as for individuals who are unable to receive evaluations either from a local school division or from the Virginia Department of Education.

Finally and most importantly, JECS services are noted for both its accuracy and timeliness. Please contact any of the school divisions identified above to verify the quality of these services or check the feedback section on this web site to review the responses from individuals who have received licensure assistance from JECS. Choosing JECS will enhance the quality of your support to teachers in Virginia as they pursue their teaching license.