CAP Information | CAP Documents | Workshops/Focus Groups to Support the CAP Process
Information About CAP
The Career Advancement Program (CAP) is a knowledge and skills based differentiated compensation program that rewards full time T-Scale staff that demonstrate and document high quality professional practice and leadership that cultivates student achievement. CAP was approved into policy in April 2007 by the School Board. CAP Local Portfolio supports the goals of the Teacher Excellence Initiative goal of giving Arlington Public Schools an advantage in recruiting and retaining high quality teachers.
Participation in CAP is voluntary and requires the completion of one, two, or all of three portfolio opportunities, designed to challenge and engage T-Scale staff in a rigorous process of enhancing their knowledge and skills through substantive professional development and experiences. Two of the portfolios are locally developed and the third is National Board for Professional Teaching Standards Certification. Please read the CAP document for more details on how the program works and eligibility.
Career Advancement Program Overview: CAP Overview Manual
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CAP Local Portfolio: CAP Local Portfolio Handbook
Eligibility Information:
- CAP Local Portfolio is available to full time T-Scale staff who have completed 5 or more years of APS T-Scale experience.
- Candidates may not be on a formal improvement plan while pursuing CAP.
- Candidates must have 2 successful evaluations in the past 2 years.
- Candidates must meet the required waiting period in between portfolio attempts.
- T-Scale staff must wait 4 years between portfolio attempts
- T-Scale staff on longevity as of 2008-2009 school year must wait 2 years between portfolio attempts
- Candidates must participate in the CAP Seminar. The seminar will be offered at least 2 times prior to each school year.
- Candidates must have completed 90 hours of professional development in 3 specific areas (skill sets).
- CAP Local Portfolio Eligibility Application
- CAP Local Portfolio Skill Sets
- It is important that you verify that your coursework will make you eligible for CAP. While departments do their best to include CAP information, in ERO it is not always correct. Please make sure that your coursework meets the criteria to count towards CAP. If you have questions about whether a course counts towards CAP eligibility contact Nancy Routson in the office of Professional Learning.
- In order for coursework to be considered towards CAP it must be a minimum of 10 contact hours (or 1 credit hour).
- Candidates interested in pursuing the CAP Local Portfolio during the 2021-2022 school year must submit the CAP Local Portfolio Eligibility Verification Form no later than April 15, 2021.
CAP Leadership Portfolio
Documents and eligibility criteria to be developed.
CAP National Portfolio Accepted Certifications:
For Teachers and School Counselors -National Board for Professional Teaching Standards Certification. Eligibility for National Board Certification is determined by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. Click here for information about APS support for National Board Certification.
School Psychologist -Nationally Certified School Psychologist (NCSP)
Speech and Language Pathologist and Audiologist -Certificate of Clinical Competence
Occupational Therapist -National Board Certification for Occupational Therapy
Physical Therapist -Physical Therapy Specialist Certification in Pediatrics
Social Worker or Visiting Teacher -Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Workshops to Support the CAP Process
Overview sessions and Seminars to learn more about CAP Local Portfolio and National Board Certification are posted in Frontline.This printable flyer outlines the session dates and times.
For more information about CAP contact Nancy Routson in the Professional Learning Office.
