FIRST REGULAR SESSION
SENATE BILL NO. 607
91ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR JOHNSON.
Read 1st time February 28, 2001, and 1,000 copies ordered printed.
TERRY L. SPIELER, Secretary.
2038S.01I
AN ACT
To repeal section 168.021, RSMo 2000, relating to alternative certification for teachers, and to enact in lieu thereof two new sections relating to the same subject.
Section A. Section 168.021, RSMo 2000, is repealed and two new sections enacted in lieu thereof, to be known as sections 168.021 and 168.025, to read as follows:
168.021. 1. Certificates of license to teach in the public schools of the state shall be granted as follows:
(1) By the state board, under rules and regulations prescribed by it,
(a) Upon the basis of college credit;
(b) Upon the basis of examination;
(2) By the state board, under rules and regulations prescribed by the state board with advice from the advisory council established by section 168.015 to any individual who presents to the state board a valid doctor of philosophy degree from an accredited institution of higher education accredited by a regional accrediting association such as North Central Association. Such certificate shall be limited to the major area of postgraduate study of the holder, shall be issued only after successful completion of the examination required for graduation pursuant to section 168.033 if appropriate, and shall be restricted to those certificates established pursuant to subdivisions (1) and (2) of subsection 4 of this section; [or]
(3) By the state board, which shall issue the professional certificate classification in both the general and specialized areas most closely aligned with the current areas of certification approved by the state board, commensurate with the years of teaching experience of the applicant, and based upon the following criteria:
(a) Recommendation of a state-approved baccalaureate-level teacher preparation program;
(b) Successful attainment of the Missouri qualifying score on the exit assessment for teachers or administrators designated by the state board of education. Applicants who have not successfully achieved a qualifying score on the designated examinations will be issued a two-year nonrenewable provisional certificate; and
(c) Upon completion of a background check and possession of a valid teaching certificate in the state from which the applicant's teacher preparation program was completed[.]; or
(4) By the state board, which shall issue the professional certificate classification in both the general and specialized areas most closely aligned with the current areas of certification approved by the state board, based upon the following criteria:
(a) The candidate must possess a four-year baccalaureate degree from an accredited university or college in a certifiable or compatible area for certification;
(b) The candidate shall speak English as a primary language or pass an English proficiency test approved by the state board;
(c) The candidate shall complete a criminal history background check;
(d) The candidate shall have completed the alternative certification process established pursuant to section 168.025 and shall be recommended by the participating program, as defined in section 168.025;
(e) The candidate shall successfully complete an examination established by the state board.
2. All valid teaching certificates issued pursuant to law or state board policies and regulations prior to September 1, 1988, shall continue in effect until they expire, are revoked or suspended, as provided by law. When such certificates are required to be renewed, the state board or its designee shall grant to each holder of such a certificate the certificate most nearly equivalent to the one so held.
3. Any teacher holding a third class county certificate in the state during the 1972-73 school year shall upon his written request be given an examination by a person designated by the state commissioner of education to determine his eligibility to be granted a certificate of license to teach. The examination shall be comparable to those given by county superintendents to eligible applicants prior to July 1, 1974. Upon successful completion of the examination the applicant shall be issued a certificate by the state board of education entitling the holder to teach in the public schools of the state for a period of three years. A request for such examination must be presented to the commissioner of education on or before March first of the year in which the examination is to be administered. The commissioner of education shall cause the examination to be administered and the certificate issued to those successfully completing it prior to April first of the year in which the application for the examination was received.
4. After September 1, 1988, certificates of license to teach in the public schools of the state shall be based upon minimum requirements prescribed by the state board of education which shall provide for levels of certification including, but not limited to, an initial professional certificate and culminating with a continuous professional certificate:
(1) The initial professional certificate shall be issued upon completion of requirements established by the state board of education and shall be valid based upon verification of actual teaching within a specified time period established by the state board of education;
(2) One or more levels of renewable professional certificates shall be issued upon verification of completion of criteria established by the state board of education;
(3) The continuous professional certificate shall be issued upon verification of completion of criteria, which shall not exceed a master's degree or its equivalent and ten years' employment in an educational position, established by the state board of education. The continuous professional certificate shall be continuous based upon verification of actual employment in an educational position as provided for in state board guidelines.
5. Policies and procedures shall be established by which a teacher who was not retained due to a reduction in force may retain the current level of certification. There shall also be established policies and procedures for a teacher who has not been employed in an educational position for three years or more for reasons other than reduction in force.
6. The state board shall establish policies by which residents of states other than the state of Missouri may be assessed a fee for a certificate license to teach in the public schools of Missouri. Such fee shall be in an amount sufficient to recover any or all costs associated with the issuing of a certificate of license to teach.
7. Any member of the public school retirement system of Missouri who entered covered employment with ten or more years of educational experience in another state or states and held a certificate issued by another state and subsequently worked in a school district covered by the public school retirement system of Missouri for ten or more years who later became certificated in Missouri shall have that certificate dated back to his or her original date of employment in a Missouri public school.
168.025. 1. As used in this section, "participating program" means any teacher education program approved by the state board of education pursuant to section 161.097, RSMo, and approved by the state board of education, pursuant to this section, to participate in the alternative teacher certification program established pursuant to this section.
2. The state board of education shall establish an alternative teacher certification program pursuant to this section. Any teacher education program approved by the state board of education pursuant to section 161.097, RSMo, may apply, and upon approval from the state board, may participate in the alternative teacher certification program. Each approved teacher education program participating in the alternative teacher certification program shall participate with one or more school districts in implementing the program.
3. Candidates accepted for participation shall:
(1) Possess a four-year baccalaureate degree from an accredited university or college in a certifiable or compatible area for certification;
(2) Speak English as a primary language or pass an English proficiency test approved by the state board;
(3) Have demonstrated interpersonal and communications skills, enthusiasm for teaching and learning and appropriate professional references.
4. A participating program shall select candidates for alternative teacher certification from among those applying to the program and shall ensure that each candidate:
(1) Is employed as a teacher for two full years in a school district participating with the program, provided that the teacher shall agree to teach in the district for no less than two years and provided that the district shall pay all tuition costs for the teacher for participation in the alternative teacher certification program and shall employ the teacher on the district's regular salary schedule;
(2) Pays back a pro rata portion of the tuition benefit in the case that the teacher is released by the district for poor performance during the first two years of employment with the district;
(3) Has a comprehensive professional development plan which outlines how the candidate will meet all requirements for alternative teacher certification;
(4) Attends an introductory seminar of at least thirty hours presented by the participating program just prior to the candidate's first year of teaching and which focuses on the objectives, procedures and culture of elementary or secondary schools;
(5) Establishes a portfolio assessment process;
(6) Attends weekly seminars conducted by the participating program during the candidate's first school year and focusing on essential teaching skills and subjects, which shall include, at a minimum: discipline, unit planning, assessment, professional responsibilities, Missouri assessment program testing, technology applications and special education;
(7) Receives feedback and assistance no less than weekly from a mentor employed by the employing school district during the candidate's first year of teaching;
(8) Meets with and is observed by staff from the participating program no less than every three weeks during the candidate's first year of teaching;
(9) Attends a seminar of at least ten hours presented by the participating program during the summer prior to the candidate's second year of teaching and which focuses on curriculum development and learning theory;
(10) Attends monthly sessions during the candidate's second school year conducted by the participating program and focusing on curriculum, assessment, learning theory and preparation for the teaching practical examination required by the state board of education.
5. Upon successful completion by a candidate of all requirements for alternative certification pursuant to subsections 3 and 4 of this section, the participating program shall recommend the candidate for secondary or elementary teaching certification pursuant to subdivision (4) of subsection 1 of section 168.021.