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AN ACT relating to teacher certification and declaring an emergency. 1
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky: 2
Section 1. KRS 161.048 is amended to read as follows: 3
(1) The General Assembly hereby finds that: 4
(a) 1. There are persons who have distinguished themselves through a variety 5
of work and educational experiences that could enrich teaching in 6
Kentucky schools; 7
2. There are distinguished scholars who wish to become teachers in 8
Kentucky's public schools, but who did not pursue a teacher preparation 9
program; 10
3. There are persons who should be recruited to teach in Kentucky's public 11
schools as they have academic majors, strong verbal skills as shown by 12
a verbal ability test, and deep knowledge of content, characteristics that 13
empirical research identifies as important attributes of quality teachers; 14
4. There are persons who need to be recruited to teach in Kentucky schools 15
to meet the diverse cultural and educational needs of students; and 16
5. There should be alternative procedures to the traditional teacher 17
preparation programs that qualify persons as teachers; 18
(b) There are hereby established alternative certification program options as 19
described in subsections (2) to (10) of this section; 20
(c) It is the intent of the General Assembly that the Education Professional 21
Standards Board inform scholars, persons with exceptional work experience, 22
and persons with diverse backgrounds who have potential as teachers of these 23
options and assist local boards of education in implementing these options and 24
recruitment of individuals who can enhance the education system in 25
Kentucky; 26
(d) The Education Professional Standards Board may reject the application of any 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 23 RS SB 49/EN
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candidate who is judged as not meeting academic requirements comparable to 1
those for students enrolled in Kentucky teacher preparation programs; and 2
(e) The Education Professional Standards Board shall promulgate administrative 3
regulations establishing standards and procedures for the alternative 4
certification options described in this section. 5
(2) Option 1: Certification of a person with exceptional work experience. An individual 6
who has exceptional work experience and has been offered employment in a local 7
school district shall receive a one (1) year provisional certificate with approval by 8
the Education Professional Standards Board of a joint application by the individual 9
and the employing school district under the following conditions: 10
(a) The application contains documentation of all education and work experience; 11
(b) The candidate has documented exceptional work experience in the area in 12
which certification is being sought; and 13
(c) The candidate possesses: 14
1. A bachelor's degree or a graduate degree; 15
2. A minimum cumulative grade point average of two and seventy-five 16
hundredths (2.75) on a four (4) point scale or a minimum grade point 17
average of three (3.0) on a four (4) point scale on the last thirty (30) 18
hours of credit completed, including undergraduate and graduate 19
coursework from a nationally or regionally accredited postsecondary 20
institution; and 21
3. An academic major or a passing score on the academic content 22
assessment in the area in which certification is being sought by the 23
applicant as designated by the Education Professional Standards Board. 24
The candidate shall participate in the teacher internship program under KRS 25
161.030. After successful completion of the internship program, the candidate shall 26
receive a professional certificate and shall be subject to certificate renewal 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 23 RS SB 49/EN
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requirements the same as other teachers with a professional certificate. 1
(3) Option 2: Certification through a local school district training program. A local 2
school district or group of school districts may seek approval for a training 3
program. The state-approved local school district training program is an alternative 4
to the college teacher preparation program as a means of acquiring teacher 5
certification for a teacher at any grade level. The training program may be offered 6
for all teaching certificates approved by the Education Professional Standards 7
Board, including interdisciplinary early childhood education, except for specific 8
certificates for teachers of exceptional children. To participate in a state-approved 9
local school district alternative training program, the candidate shall possess: 10
(a) A bachelor's degree or a graduate degree; 11
(b) A minimum cumulative grade point average of two and seventy-five 12
hundredths (2.75) on a four (4) point scale or a minimum grade point average 13
of three (3) on a four (4) point scale on the last thirty (30) hours of credit 14
completed, including undergraduate and graduate coursework from a 15
nationally or regionally accredited postsecondary institution; 16
(c) A passing score on the academic content assessment in the area in which 17
certification is being sought by the applicant as designated by the Education 18
Professional Standards Board. To be eligible to take an academic content 19
assessment, the applicant shall have completed a thirty (30) hour major in the 20
academic content area or five (5) years of experience in the academic content 21
area as approved by the Education Professional Standards Board; and 22
(d) An offer of employment in a school district which has a training program 23
approved by the Education Professional Standards Board. 24
Upon meeting the participation requirements as established in this subsection, the 25
candidate shall be issued a one (1) year provisional certificate by the Education 26
Professional Standards Board. The candidate shall participate in the teacher 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 23 RS SB 49/EN
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internship program under KRS 161.030. After successful completion of the 1
internship program, the candidate shall receive a professional certificate and shall 2
be subject to certificate renewal requirements the same as other teachers with a 3
professional certificate. 4
(4) Option 3: Certification of a professional from a postsecondary institution: A 5
candidate who possesses the following qualifications may receive a one (1) year 6
provisional certificate for teaching at any level: 7
(a) A master's degree or doctoral degree in the academic content area for which 8
certification is sought; 9
(b) A minimum of five (5) years of full-time teaching experience, or its 10
equivalent, in the academic content area for which certification is sought in a 11
regionally or nationally accredited institution of higher education; and 12
(c) An offer of employment in a school district which has been approved by the 13
Education Professional Standards Board. 14
The candidate shall participate in the teacher internship program under KRS 15
161.030. After successful completion of the internship program, the candidate shall 16
receive a professional certificate and shall be subject to certificate renewal 17
requirements the same as other teachers with professional certificates. 18
(5) Option 4: Certification of an adjunct instructor. A person who has expertise in areas 19
such as art, music, foreign language, drama, science, computer science, and other 20
specialty areas may be employed as an adjunct instructor in a part-time position by 21
a local board of education under KRS 161.046. 22
(6) Option 5: Certification of a veteran of the Armed Forces. The Education 23
Professional Standards Board shall issue a statement of eligibility, valid for five (5) 24
years, for teaching at the elementary, secondary, and secondary career technical 25
education levels to a veteran of the Armed Forces who was honorably discharged 26
from active duty as evidenced by Defense Department Form 214 (DD 214) or 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 23 RS SB 49/EN
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National Guard Bureau Form 22 or to a member of the Armed Services currently 1
serving with six (6) or more years of honorable service, including Reserves, 2
National Guard, or active duty. The candidate shall possess: 3
(a) A bachelor's degree or graduate degree; 4
(b) A minimum cumulative grade point average of two and seventy-five 5
hundredths (2.75) on a four (4) point scale or a minimum grade point average 6
of three (3) on a four (4) point scale on the last thirty (30) hours of credit 7
completed, including undergraduate and graduate coursework from a 8
nationally or regionally accredited postsecondary institution; and 9
(c) An academic major or a passing score on the academic content assessment in 10
the area in which certification is being sought by the applicant as designated 11
by the Education Professional Standards Board. 12
Upon an offer of employment by a school district, the eligible veteran shall receive 13
a one (1) year provisional certificate with approval by the Education Professional 14
Standards Board of a joint application by the veteran and the employing school 15
district. During this year, the veteran shall participate in the teacher internship 16
program under KRS 161.030. After successful completion of the internship 17
program, the veteran shall receive a professional certificate. 18
(7) Option 6: University alternative program. With approval of the Education 19
Professional Standards Board, a university may provide an alternative program that 20
enrolls students in a postbaccalaureate teacher preparation program concurrently 21
with employment as a teacher in a local school district. A student in the alternative 22
program shall be granted a one (1) year provisional certificate and shall participate 23
in the Kentucky teacher internship program, notwithstanding provisions of KRS 24
161.030. A student may not participate in the internship program until the student 25
has successfully completed the assessments required by the board. The one (1) year 26
provisional certificate may be renewed four (4)[two (2)] additional years, and shall 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 23 RS SB 49/EN
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be contingent upon the candidate's continued enrollment in the preparation program 1
and compliance with all requirements established by the board. A professional 2
certificate shall be issued upon the teacher candidate's successful completion of the 3
program, the internship program requirements, and all academic content 4
assessments in the specific teaching field of the applicant as designated by the 5
Education Professional Standards Board. 6
(8) Option 7: Certification of a person in a field other than education to teach in 7
elementary, middle, or secondary programs. This option shall not be limited to 8
teaching in shortage areas. An individual certified under provisions of this 9
subsection shall be issued a one (1) year provisional certificate, renewable for a 10
maximum of four (4)[two (2)] additional years with approval of the Education 11
Professional Standards Board. 12
(a) The candidate shall possess: 13
1. A bachelor's degree with a declared academic major in the area in which 14
certification is sought or a graduate degree in a field related to the area 15
in which certification is sought; 16
2. A minimum cumulative grade point average of two and seventy-five 17
hundredths (2.75) on a four (4) point scale or a minimum grade point 18
average of three (3) on a four (4) point scale on the last thirty (30) hours 19
of credit completed, including undergraduate and graduate coursework 20
from a nationally or regionally accredited postsecondary institution; 21
3. A passing score on the GRE or equivalent as designated by the 22
Education Professional Standards Board. A candidate who has a 23
terminal degree shall be exempt from the requirements of this 24
subparagraph; and 25
4. A passing score on the academic content assessment in the area in which 26
certification is being sought as designated by the Education Professional 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 23 RS SB 49/EN
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Standards Board. 1
(b) Prior to receiving the one (1) year provisional certificate or during the first 2
year of the certificate, the teacher shall complete the following: 3
1. For elementary teaching, the individual shall successfully complete the 4
equivalent of a two hundred forty (240) hour institute, based on six (6) 5
hour days for eight (8) weeks. The providers and the content of the 6
institute shall be approved by the Education Professional Standards 7
Board. The content shall include research-based teaching strategies in 8
reading and math, research on child and adolescent growth, knowledge 9
of individual differences, including teaching exceptional children, and 10
methods of classroom management. 11
2. For middle and secondary teaching, the individual shall successfully 12
complete the equivalent of a one hundred eighty (180) hour institute, 13
based on six (6) hour days for six (6) weeks. The providers and the 14
content of the institute shall be approved by the Education Professional 15
Standards Board and shall include research-based teaching strategies, 16
research on child and adolescent growth, knowledge of individual 17
differences, including teaching exceptional children, and methods of 18
classroom management. 19
(c) The candidate shall participate in the teacher internship program under KRS 20
161.030. After successful completion of the internship program, the candidate 21
shall receive a professional certificate and shall be subject to certificate 22
renewal requirements the same as other teachers with a professional 23
certificate. 24
(9) Option 8: Certification of a Teach for America participant to teach in elementary, 25
middle, or high schools. Nothing in this subsection shall conflict with the 26
participation criteria of the Teach for America program. An individual certified 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 23 RS SB 49/EN
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under this subsection shall be issued a one (1) year provisional certificate. 1
(a) The candidate shall possess: 2
1. An offer of employment from a local school district; 3
2. A bachelor's degree; 4
3. A successful completion of the summer training institute and ongoing 5
professional development required by Teach for America, including 6
instruction in goal-oriented, standards-based instruction, diagnosing and 7
assessing students, lesson planning and instructional delivery, classroom 8
management, maximizing learning for diverse students, and teaching 9
methodologies; and 10
4. A passing score on the academic content assessment in the area in which 11
certification is being sought as designated by the Education Professional 12
Standards Board. 13
(b) The provisional certificate granted under paragraph (a) of this subsection may 14
be renewed two (2) times with a recommendation of the superintendent and 15
approval of the Education Professional Standards Board. 16
(c) A Teach for America participant who is approved for a second renewal of his 17
or her provisional certificate under paragraph (b) of this subsection may 18
participate in the teacher internship program under KRS 161.030. 19
(d) A Teach for America participant shall be issued a professional certificate 20
upon the participant's successful completion of the internship program and 21
assessments relating to teaching of subject matter required by the Education 22
Professional Standards Board under KRS 161.030. 23
(e) Notwithstanding any statute or administrative regulation to the contrary, a 24
teacher certified under this subsection shall have ten (10) years from the date 25
that the teacher successfully completed the internship program to complete a 26
master's degree or fifth year program, or the equivalent as specified by the 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 23 RS SB 49/EN
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Education Professional Standards Board in administrative regulation. 1
(10) Option 9: Expedited certification of a person to teach at any grade level through a 2
cooperative program. With approval of the Education Professional Standards 3
Board, a college or university may partner with a school district to develop an 4
expedited certification program that results in a bachelor's degree and initial 5
certification within three (3) school years. 6
(a) The program shall: 7
1. Include a residency or paraprofessional component which employs the 8
person within the participating district for the duration of the program to 9
gain work experience to supplement the expedited program and reduced 10
coursework; 11
2. Utilize experienced teachers employed by the district to provide 12
coaching and to mentor the candidates; and 13
3. Be designed to meet the needs of the participating district and may 14
include an emphasis in developing a teacher pipeline for the district's 15
students, improving the numbers of underrepresented populations 16
among the district's workforce, or focusing on increasing the number of 17
teachers with certification areas that are in high demand. 18
(b) A school district entering into a cooperative partnership shall ensure the 19
availability of funding for each candidate employed within the district in the 20
residency or paraprofessional program for the duration of the candidate's 21
participation in the program. However, nothing in this subsection shall be 22
interpreted as requiring the district to continue employing the candidate 23
during the program or after the candidate has received initial certification. 24
(c) A person who has begun a traditional path or another option for certification 25
shall be eligible to transfer into this option if the person meets the program's 26
requirements. 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 23 RS SB 49/EN
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(d) If a school district participating in a cooperative partnership determines to end 1
the partnership, the district shall no longer accept new candidates to the 2
program but shall continue the partnership until the district's employed 3
candidates for Option 9 certification complete the program or are no longer 4
employed by the district. 5
(11) A public school teacher certified under subsections (2) to (10) of this section shall 6
be placed on the local district salary schedule for the rank corresponding to the 7
degree held by the teacher. 8
(12) Subsections (1) to (3) of this section notwithstanding, a candidate who possesses 9
the following qualifications may receive certification for teaching programs for 10
exceptional students: 11
(a) An out-of-state license to teach exceptional students; 12
(b) A bachelor's or master's degree in the certification area or closely related area 13
for which certification is sought; and 14
(c) Successful completion of the teacher internship program requirement required 15
under KRS 161.030. 16
Section 2. Any person granted an emergency teaching certificate pursuant to 17
KRS 161.100 by the Education Professional Standards board during the 2022-2023 18
school year shall be eligible to renew that emergency certificate for the 2023-2024 school 19
year, notwithstanding any administrative regulation to the contrary. 20
Section 3. Whereas recruiting and retaining certified teachers is crucial to the 21
success, health, and financial well-being of all citizens of the Commonwealth, an 22
emergency is declared to exist, and this Act takes effect upon its passage and approval by 23
the Governor or upon its otherwise becoming a law. 24