NYS Teacher Certification Time Line

·         On May 1, 1784 the Regents of the University of the State of New York were created.  The Regents would “ visit and inspect all the colleges, academies and schools in the state and award higher academic degrees, hold and distribute funds, and exercise other powers of a corporation.” (http://www.regents.nysed.gov/about/history-usny.html)

·         In New York State between the years 1795 – 1856 teachers were certified to teach by superintendent of schools or elected town officials.

·         The Regents in 1827 and 1834 allocated funding towards teacher preparation.

·         In 1844 a normal school in Albany was established to train secondary ed teachers.

·         In 1845 the New York State Teachers Association was founded.

·         Between 1862 – 1893 eleven other normal schools for teacher preparation were established.

·         In 1856 an elected office known as the Commissioner of Schools was established.  “They visited schools, examined and certified teachers, organized teachers’ institutes, and established or altered school district boundaries.” (http://www.regents.nysed.gov/about/history-esmc.html)

·         A law passed in 1880 allowed women to become Commissioner of Schools.

·         In 1889 “state funded, tuition free, one year training classes “were offered to rural school teachers.   (http://www.regents.nysed.gov/about/history-highered.html)

·         In 1912 the Commissioners of Schools was replaced by District Superintendents of Schools.  “There were originally 207 District Superintendents of Schools statewide; today there are 38.”  (http://www.regents.nysed.gov/about/history-esmc.html)