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General Assembly Substitute Bill No. 1022
January Session, 2019
AN ACT CONCERNING MI NORITY TEACHER RECRU ITMENT AND
RETENTION.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Assembly convened:
Section 1. (NEW) (Effective from passage) For the school year 1
commencing July 1, 2020, and each school year thereafter, the Minority 2
Teacher Recruitment Policy Oversight Council, established pursuant to 3
section 10-156bb of the general statutes, in consultation with the 4
minority teacher recruitment task force, established pursuant to section 5
10-156aa of the general statutes, shall develop and implement 6
strategies and utilize existing resources to ensure that at least two 7
hundred fifty new minority teachers and administrators, of which at 8
least thirty per cent are men, are hired and employed by local and 9
regional boards of education each year in the state. As used in this 10
section, "minority" has the same meaning as provided in section 10-11
156bb of the general statutes. 12
Sec. 2. Section 10-146c of the general statutes is repealed and the 13
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2019): 14
(a) As used in this section: 15
(1) "State" means a state of the United States, the District of 16
Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico or territories or 17
possessions of the United States; and 18 Substitute Bill No. 1022
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(2) "Educator preparation program" means a program designed to 19
qualify an individual for professional certification as an educator 20
provided by institutions of higher education or other providers, 21
including, but not limited to, an alternate route to certification 22
program. 23
(b) The Commissioner of Education, or the commissioner's designee, 24
as agent for the state shall enter into reciprocity agreements concerning 25
professional certification reciprocity with the chief education officials 26
for each state. If the commissioner is unable to establish a reciprocity 27
agreement with another state, the commissioner may establish or join 28
an interstate agreement pursuant to subsection (c) of this section. 29
[(b)] (c) The Commissioner of Education, or the commissioner's 30
designee, as agent for the state shall establish or join interstate 31
agreements with other states to facilitate the certification of qualified 32
educators from other states. Any such interstate agreement shall 33
include provisions requiring candidates for certification to, at a 34
minimum, (1) hold a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited 35
college or university, (2) have fulfilled post-preparation assessments as 36
approved by the commissioner, and (3) have successfully completed 37
an approved educator preparation program. Notwithstanding the 38
provisions of sections 10-145b and 10-145f, as amended by this act, the 39
State Board of Education shall issue the appropriate professional 40
certificate to any applicant, based on such applicant's qualifications, 41
who satisfies the requirements of the appropriate interstate agreement. 42
[(c)] (d) If the commissioner is unable to establish or join a 43
reciprocity agreement or an interstate agreement with another state, 44
the commissioner may create and make available a recognition 45
statement that specifies the states, assessments and educator 46
preparation programs that the commissioner will recognize for 47
purposes of issuing professional certification under sections 10-145b 48
and 10-145f, as amended by this act. 49
(e) Not later than January 1, 2020, and annually thereafter, the 50 Substitute Bill No. 1022
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commissioner shall submit a progress report on the development and 51
implementation of reciprocity agreements and interstate agreements 52
and any recommendations for legislation to the joint standing 53
committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters 54
relating to education, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-55
4a. 56
Sec. 3. Subsection (d) of section 10-145b of the general statutes is 57
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 58
1, 2019): 59
(d) (1) On and after July 1, [2016] 2019, in order to be eligible to 60
obtain an initial educator certificate, each person shall be required to 61
complete (A) a course of study in special education comprised of not 62
fewer than thirty-six hours, which shall include [an understanding of] 63
(i) instruction on the growth and development of exceptional children, 64
including children with a disability, gifted and talented children and 65
children who may require special education, and (ii) methods for 66
identifying, planning for and working effectively with special needs 67
children in a regular classroom, and (B) a course or courses of study in 68
special education relating to instruction on classroom techniques in 69
reading, differentiated instruction, social-emotional learning, [cultural 70
competencies] culturally responsive pedagogy and practice and 71
assistive technology. The provisions of this subdivision shall not apply 72
to any person who has been issued an initial educator certificate prior 73
to July 1, [2016] 2019. 74
(2) On and after July 1, 2016, in order to be eligible to obtain a 75
provisional educator certificate, each person shall be required to 76
complete a course of study in special education comprised of not fewer 77
than thirty-six hours, which shall include [an understanding of] 78
instruction on the growth and development of exceptional children, 79
including children with a disability, gifted and talented children and 80
children who may require special education, and methods for 81
identifying, planning for and working effectively with special needs 82
children in a regular classroom. 83 Substitute Bill No. 1022
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(3) Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection to the 84
contrary, each applicant for such certificates who has met all 85
requirements for certification except the completion of the course in 86
special education shall be entitled to a certificate (A) for a period not to 87
exceed one year, provided the applicant completed a teacher 88
preparation program either in the state prior to July 1, 1987, or outside 89
the state, or completed the necessary combination of professional 90
experience or coursework as required by the State Board of Education 91
or (B) for a period not to exceed two years if the applicant applies for 92
certification in an area for which a bachelor's degree is not required. 93
(4) Except as otherwise provided in section 10-146c, as amended by 94
this act, upon receipt of a proper application, the State Board of 95
Education shall issue an initial educator certificate in the endorsement 96
area of intermediate administration and supervision, subject to the 97
provisions of subsection (i) of this section relating to denial of 98
applications for certification, to an administrator from another state, 99
territory or possession of the United States or the District of Columbia 100
who (A) has been an administrator under an appropriate certificate 101
issued by another state, territory or possession of the United States or 102
the District of Columbia for three or more years, and (B) holds a 103
master's degree in an appropriate subject matter area, as determined 104
by the State Board of Education. Such applicant shall be exempt from 105
completing the beginning educator program based upon such 106
administrator experience upon a showing of effectiveness as an 107
administrator, as determined by the State Board of Education, which 108
may include, but need not be limited to, a demonstrated record of 109
improving student achievement. 110
Sec. 4. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2019) (a) For the fiscal year ending 111
June 30, 2021, and each fiscal year thereafter, the Office of Higher 112
Education, in collaboration with the Minority Teacher Recruitment 113
Policy Oversight Council, established pursuant to section 10-156bb of 114
the general statutes, and the minority teacher recruitment task force, 115
established pursuant to section 10-156aa of the general statutes, shall, 116 Substitute Bill No. 1022
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within available appropriations, administer a minority educator loan 117
reimbursement grant program for persons who meet the eligibility 118
requirements described in subsection (b) of this section. 119
(b) The program shall provide student loan reimbursement grants to 120
any person who (1) is defined as a minority pursuant to section 10-155l 121
of the general statutes, (2) holds professional certification pursuant to 122
chapter 166 of the general statutes, and (3) is employed as an 123
administrator or a teacher by a local or regional board of education. 124
(c) Any person who satisfies the eligibility requirements prescribed 125
in subsection (b) of this section may receive an annual grant for 126
reimbursement of federal or state educational loans (1) in an amount 127
up to ten per cent of such person's federal or state educational loans 128
but that does not exceed five thousand dollars in any year, and (2) for a 129
period not to exceed ten years. Such person shall only be reimbursed 130
for loan payments made while such person is employed by a local or 131
regional board of education. 132
(d) Persons may apply to the Office of Higher Education for grants 133
under this section at such time and in such manner as the executive 134
director of the Office of Higher Education prescribes. 135
(e) Any unexpended funds appropriated for purposes of this section 136
shall not lapse at the end of the fiscal year but shall be available for 137
expenditure during the next fiscal year. 138
Sec. 5. Section 10a-168a of the general statutes is repealed and the 139
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2019): 140
(a) There is established a Connecticut minority teacher incentive 141
program administered by the Office of Higher Education. 142
(b) Within available appropriations, the program shall provide 143
grants to minority students (1) in teacher education programs for their 144
junior or senior year, or both such years, at any four-year institution of 145
higher education, (2) completing the requirements of such a teacher 146 Substitute Bill No. 1022
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education program as a graduate student, provided such student 147
received a grant pursuant to this section for one year at the 148
undergraduate level, or (3) enrolled in the alternate route to 149
certification program administered through the Office of Higher 150
Education or the Department of Education. No student shall receive a 151
grant under the program for more than two years. Maximum grants 152
shall not exceed five thousand dollars per year. The office shall ensure 153
that at least ten per cent of the grant recipients are minority students 154
who transfer from a Connecticut regional community-technical college. 155
[(c) A minority student who received grants under subsection (b) of 156
this section, and who teaches in a Connecticut public school upon 157
graduation, shall be eligible for reimbursement of federal or state 158
educational loans up to a maximum of two thousand five hundred 159
dollars per year for up to four years of teaching service. 160
(d) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections (b) and (c) of this 161
section, the combined dollar value of grants and loan reimbursements 162
shall not exceed twenty thousand dollars per student.] 163
Sec. 6. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2019) On and after July 1, 2020, any 164
program of school and district leadership preparation leading to 165
professional certification shall include, as part of the curriculum, 166
instruction in culturally responsive pedagogy and practice. 167
Sec. 7. Section 10-145l of the general statutes is repealed and the 168
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2019): 169
On and after July 1, 2010, the State Board of Education shall allow 170
an applicant for certification to teach in a subject shortage area 171
pursuant to section 10-8b or a certified employee seeking to teach in 172
such a subject shortage area to substitute achievement of [an excellent] 173
a satisfactory score, as determined by the State Board of Education, on 174
any appropriate State Board of Education approved subject area 175
assessment for the subject area requirements for certification pursuant 176
to section 10-145f. 177 Substitute Bill No. 1022
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Sec. 8. Section 8-265pp of the general statutes is repealed and the 178
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2019): 179
The Connecticut Housing Finance Authority shall develop and 180
administer a program of mortgage assistance to certified teachers (1) 181
employed by priority school districts pursuant to section 10-266p, (2) 182
employed by transitional school districts pursuant to section 10-263c, 183
(3) employed by the Technical Education and Career System at a 184
technical education and career school located in such priority or 185
transitional school districts, [or] (4) who teach in a subject matter 186
shortage area pursuant to section 10-8b, (5) who graduated from a 187
public high school in an educational reform district, as defined in 188
section 10-262u, or (6) who graduated from an historically black 189
college or university or a Hispanic-serving institution, as those terms 190
are defined in the Higher Education Act of 1965, P.L. 89-329, as 191
amended from time to time and reauthorized by the Higher Education 192
Opportunity Act of 2008, P.L. 110-315, as amended from time to time. 193
Such assistance shall be available to eligible teachers for the purchase 194
of a house as their principal residence, provided, in the case of a 195
teacher employed by a priority or a transitional school district, or by 196
the Technical Education and Career System at a technical education 197
and career school located in a priority or transitional school district, 198
the house is located in such district. In making mortgage assistance 199
available under the program, the authority shall utilize down payment 200
assistance or any other appropriate housing subsidies. The terms of 201
any mortgage assistance shall allow the mortgagee to realize a 202
reasonable portion of the equity gain upon sale of the mortgaged 203
property. 204
Sec. 9. Subsection (b) of section 10-183v of the general statutes is 205
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 206
1, 2019): 207
(b) A teacher receiving retirement benefits from the system may be 208
reemployed for up to one full school year by a local board of 209
education, the State Board of Education or by any constituent unit of 210 Substitute Bill No. 1022
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the state system of higher education (1) in a position [(1)] designated 211
by the Commissioner of Education as a subject shortage area for the 212
school year in which the teacher is being employed, [or] (2) at a school 213
located in a school district identified as a priority school district, 214
pursuant to section 10-266p, for the school year in which the teacher is 215
being employed, (3) if the teacher graduated from a public high school 216
in an educational reform district, as defined in section 10-262u, or (4) if 217
the teacher graduated from an historically black college or university 218
or a Hispanic-serving institution, as those terms are defined in the 219
Higher Education Act of 1965, P.L. 89-329, as amended from time to 220
time and reauthorized by the Higher Education Opportunity Act of 221
2008, P.L. 110-315, as amended from time to time. Notice of such 222
reemployment shall be sent to the board by the employer and by the 223
retired teacher at the time of hire and at the end of the assignment. 224
Such reemployment may be extended for an additional school year, 225
provided the local board of education (A) submits a written request for 226
approval to the Teachers' Retirement Board, (B) certifies that no 227
qualified candidates are available prior to the reemployment of such 228
teacher, and (C) indicates the type of assignment to be performed, the 229
anticipated date of rehire and the expected duration of the assignment. 230
Sec. 10. Subsection (a) of section 10-145b of the general statutes is 231
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 232
1, 2019): 233
(a) The State Board of Education, upon receipt of a proper 234
application, shall issue an initial educator certificate to any person who 235
(1) holds a bachelor's degree or an advanced degree from an institution 236
of higher education [accredited by the Board of Regents for Higher 237
Education or Office of Higher Education or] that is regionally 238
accredited or has received an equivalent accreditation, and (2) has 239
completed (A) an educator preparation program approved by the State 240
Board of Education or the appropriate governing body in the state in 241
which the institution of higher education is located, or (B) an alternate 242
route to certification program approved by the State Board of 243 Substitute Bill No. 1022
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Education or the appropriate governing body in the state in which 244
such alternate route to certification program is located, and satisfies 245
the requirements for a temporary ninety-day certificate, pursuant to 246
subsection (c) of this section, or a resident teacher certificate, pursuant 247
to section 10-145m. In addition, on and after July 1, 2018, each 248
applicant shall have completed a subject area major as defined by the 249
State Board of Education, except (i) as provided in section 10-145l, as 250
amended by this act, or (ii) where an applicant achieves a satisfactory 251
evaluation on an appropriate State Board of Education approved 252
subject area assessment [and] or has completed advanced coursework 253
in a relevant subject area. Each such initial educator certificate shall be 254
valid for three years, except as provided in subsection (c) of this 255
section, and may be extended by the Commissioner of Education for 256
an additional year for good cause upon the request of the 257
superintendent in whose school district such person is employed or 258
upon the request of the assessment team reviewing such person's 259
performance. 260
Sec. 11. Subsections (e) and (f) of section 10-145f of the general 261
statutes are repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof 262
(Effective July 1, 2019): 263
(e) (1) Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, any person 264
who holds a valid teaching certificate that is at least equivalent to an 265
initial educator certificate, as determined by the State Board of 266
Education, and such certificate is issued by a state other than 267
Connecticut in the subject area or endorsement area for which such 268
person is seeking certification in Connecticut shall not be required to 269
successfully complete the competency examination and subject matter 270
assessment pursuant to this section, if such person has either [(1)] (A) 271
successfully completed at least three years of teaching experience or 272
service in the endorsement area for which such person is seeking 273
certification in Connecticut in the past ten years in a public school or a 274
nonpublic school approved by the appropriate state board of 275
education in such other state, or [(2)] (B) holds a master's degree or 276 Substitute Bill No. 1022
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higher in the subject area for which such person is seeking certification 277
in Connecticut. 278
(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, any person who 279
has held a valid teaching certificate issued by the State Board of 280
Education and such certificate has expired shall not be required to 281
successfully complete the subject matter assessment in the 282
endorsement area for which such person is seeking renewal or 283
advancement of such certificate, pursuant to this section, if such 284
person has either (A) successfully completed at least three years of 285
teaching experience or service in a public school or a nonpublic school 286
under a valid teaching certificate issued by the State Board of 287
Education or issued by a state other than Connecticut, in the past ten 288
years in such endorsement area, or (B) holds a master's degree or 289
higher in the subject area for which such person is seeking renewal or 290
advancement of such certificate. 291
(f) (1) Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, any person 292
who has achieved a satisfactory evaluation on an equivalent 293
competency examination or subject area assessment required for 294
educator certification in another state shall not be required to achieve a 295
satisfactory evaluation on the competency examination or subject 296
matter assessment pursuant to this section, provided the State Board of 297
Education determines that the requirements for achieving a 298
satisfactory evaluation on such equivalent competency examination or 299
subject area assessment in another state are at least equivalent to the 300
requirements prescribed by the State Board of Education for achieving 301
a satisfactory evaluation on the competency examination or subject 302
matter assessment pursuant to this section. 303
(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, any person who 304
has previously achieved a satisfactory evaluation on an appropriate 305
State Board of Education approved subject area assessment for a 306
teaching certificate that has expired shall not be required to take the 307
appropriate subject matter assessment currently approved by the State 308
Board of Education, provided the Commissioner of Education 309 Substitute Bill No. 1022
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determines that the requirements for achieving a satisfactory 310
evaluation on such previous subject area assessment are at least 311
equivalent to the requirements prescribed by the State Board of 312
Education for such current subject matter assessment. 313
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
sections:
Section 1 from passage New section
Sec. 2 July 1, 2019 10-146c
Sec. 3 July 1, 2019 10-145b(d)
Sec. 4 July 1, 2019 New section
Sec. 5 July 1, 2019 10a-168a
Sec. 6 July 1, 2019 New section
Sec. 7 July 1, 2019 10-145l
Sec. 8 July 1, 2019 8-265pp
Sec. 9 July 1, 2019 10-183v(b)
Sec. 10 July 1, 2019 10-145b(a)
Sec. 11 July 1, 2019 10-145f(e) and (f)
ED Joint Favorable Subst. C/R APP