Education certification office reports 21,400 credentials cleared since Jan.; clarifies deadlines and stipend coding

Department of Education certification staff reported heavy processing volumes during the December credentialing call and used the session to clarify deadlines and common data errors that can make educators ineligible for stipends.

"Throughout the month of November, we also processed approximately 1,900 applications with those being processed within 26 business days," the host reported, and added that since Jan. 1 the office had cleared about 21,400 credentials, with 1,850 cleared in November alone. These figures framed the office’s workload heading into the new year.

Bridal Cohen, presenting educator development updates, said the office distinguishes between a certification deadline and a separate stipend-eligibility snapshot. Cohen said Oct. 1 is the certification deadline for residents, practitioners and mentors to have certificates or waivers issued, while the stipend snapshot for this year was Oct. 30, the date by which data needed to be entered into the portal for the data-team snapshot.

Cohen also listed common coding and data errors that have rendered applicants ineligible. Residents must use the correct function codes (for example, codes labeled "res," "PL," "PL2" or "PL3" in local data), have an object code of 112 (or 115 for REACH residents), a full-time-equivalent greater than 0 and an assigned certified mentor. Cohen warned that some applicants who only show a clear credential (see below) but not a PL function code were treated as ineligible in the stipend snapshot.

Paula Bell of the credentialing team reinforced that clear credentials and certificates are different: "A clear credential is not a certificate," she said, explaining that a clear credential indicates an applicant has passed the fingerprint-based criminal background check but does not carry endorsements or add-ons and cannot be modified as a certificate can.

The office also announced a Jotform change: a new staff-ID field will be added to spring and fall collections to link waivers more precisely to individuals and reduce eligibility confusion. Officials said alternate providers with rolling enrollment will have a certificate valid for one calendar year from issuance and that certificates issued after Oct. 1/Oct. 2 may make PLs eligible for the spring and fall 2026 stipend cycles.

Rachel Norman, director of the certification office, answered attendee questions and reiterated that only institutions receiving MFP funding are eligible for mentor stipends; non‑MFP institutions are not eligible. Norman also urged HR and providers to ensure experience-verification forms include specific school years and subject information to avoid denials that require costly reapplications.

The office closed the discussion by pointing stakeholders to guidance resources including Teach Louisiana and the new Louisiana educator portal, and scheduled the next preparation-provider call for Jan. 26 at 10:30 a.m.