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a certified teacher for every class in a ratio established by relevant
collective bargaining agreements;
(b) certified professional administrators;
(c) certified guidance counselors;
(d) certified school health counselors;
(e) certified allied health professionals; and
(k) libraries, which meet the standards of the American Association
of School Librarians, at each school, operated by certified librarians.
 With
the passage of P.L. 28-45, it is essential that certified personnel
are employed in the schools to comply with the Every Child Act.
The “CATS Act” structures, broadens, refines and makes
temporary the current practice of allowing retired employees to
return to duty and receive their school system salary and retirement
annuity. CATS coordinates the rehiring of retirees with personnel
augmentation necessary to comply with the tenets of the Every Child
Act.
In order to fill the positions by way of the “CATS Act,”
the Superintendent of Education issues and posts on the school system
website a “Certificate of Necessity,” stating that filling
the vacant position with a CAT is necessary in order to comply with
the Every Child Act.
To be eligible for CATS status, a former school system employee
would have had to resign or retire in good standing from a position
defined in 17 G.C.A. § 715 Item 12. (a) through (e) and (k)
while the public schools were in annual summer recess, with thirty
(30) days notice and hold a current certification for the position.
Those who retired prior to the effective date of the CATS Act are
also eligible.
In order to provide transparency, the Superintendent establishes,
keeps current and posts on the school system website a roster of
all positions required by the Every Child Act to be filled by a
Certified Employee as that term is defined by Title 17 G.C.A. §
715 Item 13. The roster indicates which positions are vacant, which
positions are filled with Certified Employees, which positions are
filled with CATS and the Certificate of Necessity for each CAT.
In order to provide for new employees, when a Certified Applicant
is available to fill a position occupied by a CAT, the Superintendent
immediately replaces the CAT with a Certified Applicant.
In order to provide incentive to the public school system to recruit
adequate numbers of new teachers, the “CATS Act” expires
on July 1, 2010.
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