B2. Maintaining HALT accreditation

B2 explains the requirements and process for maintaining accreditation at HALT level.

It covers:

• the requirements teachers need to meet to maintain HALT accreditation– see B2.1
• the maintenance of accreditation process for HALTs – see B2.2
• how NESA makes HALT maintenance decisions – see B2.3.

B2.1 HALT maintenance requirements

B2.1.1 HALTs must meet maintenance requirements for HALT accreditation

To maintain HALT accreditation, a teacher must:

• demonstrate that their practice continues to meet the applicable Standards
• complete the applicable PD requirements by the end of the maintenance period
• declare that they have maintained their accreditation in the final 3 months of the maintenance period
• continue to meet the conditions of accreditation in A1.2.1.

Teachers who are not meeting the HALT Standards

The employer must have procedures to address issues relating to a teacher’s practice as and when they arise (see E2.3.3).

If a principal/TA Delegate becomes aware of issues with a teacher’s practice at the higher levels at any time during the maintenance period, they must write to the employer and teacher within 28 days which outlines the:

• reasons for their intended verification, including the Standard Descriptors the teacher does not meet
• details of the appropriate and timely support and advice they provided to the teacher about their practice against the relevant Standards
• feedback and support they provided to the teacher, which may include intervention strategies or improvement plans to support the teacher
• outcome of implementing those strategies, plans and support
• teacher’s right to respond to the written notice and address the issues identified within 28 days.

Employers are responsible for notifying NESA when a teacher has not maintained the Standards (see D2.2.2). 

B2.1.2 HALTs must complete 100 hours of professional development

HALTs must participate in ongoing PD that relates to the Standards. Teachers should use the NESA Professional Development Framework on the NESA website to guide their selection of PD activities.

The teacher must:

• complete a minimum of 100 hours ²² of PD aligned to the Standard(s) by the end of each maintenance period
• retain a PD log that records required information for 12 months after the end of their maintenance period.

PD log

Teachers may record their PD activities in eTAMS or in a format that suits them.

HALTs should refer to eTAMS or the NESA website for a list of the information that must be recorded on a teacher’s PD log and an optional template that they can use to record PD.

If NESA requests a HALT to provide their PD log during an audit, they must provide the log to NESA within 28 days (excluding school holidays). 

B2.1.3 HALTs must finalise their maintenance in the last 3 months of their maintenance period

In the last 3 months of a HALT’s maintenance period, they must declare that they:

• have met all maintenance requirements as set out in B2.1.1
• have completed their PD requirements in line with Section B2.1.2
• will retain a record of completed PD for the next 12 months and provide it to NESA if requested.

B2.1.4 HALTs must meet the maintenance requirements within the timeframe

A HALT’s first maintenance period starts the day they are accredited at HALT. At this time, they will stop maintaining their previous accreditation level and start maintaining their accreditation against the Standards for Highly Accomplished or Lead Teacher as applicable.

Their next maintenance period starts the day after their current maintenance due date. 

HALTs must complete the maintenance requirements within the maintenance period, which depends on their employment status:

The 7-year timeframe applies to teachers who have worked on a casual or part-time basis at any point during the maintenance period. To adjust their timeframe, teachers must provide NESA with evidence of their casual or part-time employment.

B2.1.5 HALTs can apply to extend their accreditation timeframe

Teachers who have had limited opportunity to meet the maintenance requirements within the timeframe can apply for an extension.

To seek an extension, teachers must apply within the final 6 months of their maintenance period (and as soon as possible during that time). 

They must provide evidence to support the reason for the extension, such as:

• illness or misadventure
• carer responsibilities
• further study
• other relevant professional or personal circumstances.

B2.1.6 HALTs can apply to return to the previous accreditation level

HALTs can choose to stop maintaining their higher accreditation level at any time and return to accreditation at either:

• Proficient Teacher
• Highly Accomplished Teacher (in the case of Lead Teachers who were previously accredited at Highly Accomplished).

To return to their previous level of accreditation, teachers must advise NESA in writing.

Where a teacher returns to their previous accreditation level:

• their maintenance period end date will not change
• they must meet the maintenance requirements for the relevant accreditation level.

B2.2 Maintenance verifications

B2.2.1 Principals/TA Delegate/employer must make a verification

Once a teacher has submitted their declaration, the teacher’s current principal/TA Delegate/employer must:

• review the teacher’s declaration; and
• verify whether the teacher has continued to maintain their practice at the relevant level of the HALT Standards.

Verifying the teacher’s practice

The principal/TA Delegate/employer can either:

• determine that the teacher has continued to maintain their practice at the relevant level of the HALT Standards (see B2.2.2); or
• determine that the teacher has not maintained their practice at the relevant level of the HALT Standards (B2.2.3); or
• record that they are unable to make a verification (see B2.2.4).

Contacting a teacher’s previous principal/TA Delegate/employer

If a principal/TA Delegate/employer is making a verification for a HALT who has held their current role for less than 3 months, they can contact the teacher’s previous principal/TA Delegate/employer to discuss the teacher’s practice (with the teacher’s consent).

Principals/TA Delegates/employers must contact the teacher’s previous principal/TA Delegate/employer (with the teacher’s consent) before either:

• verifying that the teacher has not maintained their practice at the higher level; or
• recording that they cannot make a verification.

B2.2.2 Principals/TA Delegates/employer may verify that a teacher is maintaining their practice at HALT

If the principal/TA Delegate/employer determines that the teacher’s practice continues to meet the Standards at the relevant level of HALT accreditation, the principal/TA Delegate/employer:

• must record the verification by the end of the teacher’s maintenance period
• may provide comments about the teacher’s practice.

B2.2.3 Principals/TA Delegates/employer may verify that a teacher is not maintaining their practice at HALT

An employer must have internal procedures to address issues relating to a teacher’s practice as and when they arise (see E2.3.3).

If the principal/TA Delegate/employer determines that the teacher has not maintained their practice at the relevant level of the HALT Standards, the principal/TA Delegate/employer must:

• record the verification by the end of the teacher’s maintenance period, including the reasons
• provide comments about the teacher’s practice
• provide evidence that the school/service has followed their employer’s procedures (in line with E2.3.3).

A principal/TA Delegate/employer cannot make a negative verification for a HALT unless they have notified the HALT of the issues with their practice in writing (see B2.1.1).

B2.2.4 Principals/TA Delegates/employer might be unable to make a verification

If the principal/TA Delegate/employer cannot make a verification for a teacher finalising their HALT maintenance, the principal/TA Delegate/employer must:

• record that they are unable to make a verification by the end of the teacher’s maintenance period
• state the reason(s) they are unable to make a verification.

A principal/TA Delegate/employer can only record that they are unable to make a HALT maintenance verification if either of the following occurs:

• the teacher has not worked in the school/service long enough to allow the principal/TA Delegate/employer to confidently verify the teacher continues to maintain their practice at the relevant level of the HALT Standards; or
• information provided by the teacher’s previous school/service/employer (where relevant and only with the teacher’s consent) has not helped the principal/TA Delegate to make a valid and reliable judgement.