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AN ACT relating to teachers. 1
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky: 2
Section 1. KRS 161.030 is amended to read as follows: 3
(1) Notwithstanding the age of the pupil, the certification of all teachers and other 4
school personnel, in public schools only, is vested in the Education Professional 5
Standards Board. When so certified, teachers and other school personnel shall not 6
be required to have licensure, certification, or other forms of approval from any 7
other state agency for the performance of their respective assignments within the 8
common schools, except as provided for by law. All certificates authorized under 9
KRS 161.010 to 161.126 shall be issued in accordance with the administrative 10
regulations of the Education Professional Standards Board. After July 15, 1994, all 11
certificate applications and other data collection instruments of the board shall 12
include a request for voluntary information about the applicant's ethnic background. 13
This information shall be available to help local school districts locate minority 14
candidates. A person who holds a certificate prior to this requirement may request 15
that ethnic information be added to his or her file. Nothing in this section shall 16
preclude the right of an individual in a nonpublic school from seeking voluntary 17
certification by the Education Professional Standards Board. 18
(2) Certificates shall be issued upon written application and in accordance with statutes 19
and regulations in effect at the time of application to persons who have completed, 20
at colleges, universities, or local school district programs approved by the 21
Education Professional Standards Board for the preparation of teachers and other 22
school personnel, the curricula prescribed by the administrative regulations of the 23
Education Professional Standards Board. 24
(3) [(a) Certification of all new teachers and teachers seeking additional certification 25
shall require the successful completion of appropriate assessments prior to 26
certification. The assessments shall be selected by the Education Professional 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 24 RS BR 1970
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Standards Board and shall measure knowledge in the specific teaching field of 1
the applicant, including content of the field and teaching of that content. The 2
Education Professional Standards Board shall determine the minimum 3
acceptable level of achievement on each assessment. The assessments shall 4
measure those concepts, ideas, and facts which are being taught in teacher 5
education programs in Kentucky. Upon successful completion of the 6
assessments and the approved teacher preparation program, a certificate valid 7
for one (1) year shall be issued. 8
(b) If an applicant for teacher certification has completed the approved teacher 9
preparation program and has taken but failed to successfully complete the 10
appropriate assessments selected by the Education Professional Standards 11
Board, a conditional certificate may be issued for a period not to exceed one 12
(1) year, if the employing school district, in collaboration with the teacher 13
education institution, agrees to provide technical assistance and mentoring 14
support to the conditionally certified teacher. The teacher shall retake the 15
assessments during the validity period of the conditional certificate. The 16
conditional certificate shall not be reissued. Upon successful completion of 17
the required assessments, a certificate valid for one (1) year shall be issued 18
and the teacher shall be eligible to participate in the internship program as 19
provided in subsection (5) of this section. The teacher shall not be eligible to 20
participate in the internship program while teaching on the conditional 21
certificate. The Education Professional Standards Board shall promulgate 22
administrative regulations to establish the standards and procedures for 23
issuance of the conditional certificate. 24
(c) If an out-of-state teacher with less than two (2) years' experience comes to 25
Kentucky after the deadline for taking the assessments, a temporary certificate 26
may be issued for a period up to six (6) months provided the local board 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 24 RS BR 1970
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cannot fill the vacant position with a certified teacher. The teacher shall take 1
the assessments if they are administered during the period of the temporary 2
certificate. The certificate shall be extended for the remainder of the year if 3
the teacher successfully completes the assessments. If the teacher fails the 4
assessments, the temporary certificate shall be valid only for the current 5
semester. 6
(4) A reasonable fee to be paid by the teacher and directly related to the actual cost of 7
the administration of the assessments shall be established by the Education 8
Professional Standards Board. Provisions shall be made for persons having less than 9
minimum levels of performance on any assessment to repeat that assessment, and 10
candidates shall be informed of their strengths and weaknesses in the specific 11
performance areas. The Education Professional Standards Board shall provide for 12
confidentiality of the individual assessment scores. Scores shall be available only to 13
the candidate and to the education officials who are responsible for determining 14
whether established certification standards have been met. Scores shall be used only 15
in the assessment for certification of new teachers and of out-of-state teachers with 16
less than two (2) years of teaching experience who are seeking initial certification 17
in Kentucky. 18
(5) Except as provided in subsection (3)(b) of this section, ]All new teachers and out-19
of-state teachers with less than two (2) years of successful teaching experience who 20
are seeking initial certification in Kentucky shall serve a one (1) year internship. 21
The teacher shall be a full-time employee or shall have an annual contract and serve 22
on at least a half-time basis and shall have supervision, assistance, and assessment 23
during the one (1) year internship. The internship may be served in a public school 24
or a nonpublic school which meets the state performance standards as established in 25
KRS 156.160 or which has been accredited by a regional or national accrediting 26
association. Successful completion shall be determined by a majority vote of the 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 24 RS BR 1970
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beginning teacher committee. The internship period shall be counted as experience 1
for the purpose of continuing contract status, retirement eligibility, and benefits for 2
single salary experience increments. Upon successful completion of the beginning 3
teacher program, the one (1) year initial teaching certificate shall be extended for 4
the remainder of the usual duration period established for that particular certificate 5
by Education Professional Standards Board administrative regulations. 6
(4)[(6)] The beginning teacher committee shall be composed of three (3) persons who 7
have successfully completed special training in the supervision and assessment of 8
the performance of beginning teachers as provided in subsection (6)[(8)] of this 9
section, except as provided in paragraph (g) of this subsection. The committee shall 10
consist of a resource teacher, the school principal of the school where the internship 11
is served, and a teacher educator appointed by a state-approved teacher training 12
institution. 13
(a) If more than two (2) teacher interns are employed in the same school, the 14
principal's responsibility may be shared with an assistant principal who holds 15
certification as a principal. 16
(b) In unusual situations, the Education Professional Standards Board may permit 17
the assistant principal to serve in lieu of the principal on a beginning teacher 18
committee. 19
(c) If the teacher training institution is unable to provide a member, the district 20
superintendent shall appoint an instructional supervisor from the school 21
district. 22
(d) If the intern is teaching in a regionally or nationally accredited nonpublic 23
school without a principal, the person filling the principal member position 24
may have other appropriate qualifications as required by administrative 25
regulations promulgated by the Education Professional Standards Board. 26
(e) If the teacher training institution is unable to provide a member to serve on the 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 24 RS BR 1970
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beginning teacher committee in a nonpublic school, the chief officer of the 1
school shall appoint an instructional supervisor or a teacher with like 2
qualifications and responsibilities to serve on the beginning teacher committee 3
in lieu of the teacher educator. 4
(f) The resource teacher shall be appointed by the Education Professional 5
Standards Board with recommendations from the local school district from a 6
pool of qualified resource teachers, and, any statutes to the contrary 7
notwithstanding and to the extent of available appropriations, shall be entitled 8
to be paid a reasonable stipend by the Education Professional Standards Board 9
for work done outside normal working hours. In the case of a resource teacher 10
in a nonpublic school, payment shall be made directly to the resource teacher 11
by the Education Professional Standards Board. Priority shall be given to 12
resource teachers in the following order, except as provided in paragraph (g) 13
of this subsection: 14
1. Teachers with the same certification in the same school; 15
2. Teachers with the same certification in the same district; 16
3. Teachers in the same school; 17
4. Teachers in the same district; and 18
5. Teachers in an adjacent school district. 19
(g) 1. The resource teacher for an individual pursuing initial certification as a 20
baccalaureate level teacher of exceptional children/communication 21
disorders shall be a master's level teacher of exceptional 22
children/communication disorders, if one is available. 23
2. If a master's level teacher of exceptional children/communication 24
disorders is not available, the Education Professional Standards Board 25
may allow a licensed speech-language pathologist to serve on the 26
beginning teacher committee in lieu of a resource teacher. 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 24 RS BR 1970
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(h) The committee shall meet with the beginning teacher a minimum of three (3) 1
times per year for evaluation and recommendation with all committee 2
members present. In addition, each member of the committee shall observe 3
the beginning teacher in the classroom a minimum of three (3) times per year. 4
If the teacher's first year performance is judged by the committee to be less 5
than satisfactory, the teacher shall be provided with an opportunity to repeat 6
the internship one (1) time if the teacher is employed by a school district. 7
(5)[(7)] The resource teacher shall spend a minimum of seventy (70) hours working 8
with the beginning teacher. Twenty (20) of these hours shall be in the classroom 9
setting, and fifty (50) of these hours shall be in consultation other than class time or 10
attending assessment meetings. The resource teacher shall have completed at least 11
four (4) years of successful teaching experience as attested to by his or her 12
immediate supervisor or by having achieved tenure and be able to show evidence of 13
continuing professional development by having achieved a master's degree or its 14
equivalent or the accumulation of two thousand (2,000) hours of continuing 15
professional activities. 16
(6)[(8)] By contract with teacher education institutions in the Commonwealth, the 17
Education Professional Standards Board shall provide special training for persons 18
who will be serving on the beginning teacher committees. Completion of special 19
training shall be evidenced by successfully passing the assessments as prescribed by 20
the Education Professional Standards Board. A principal hired after July 15, 1996, 21
shall be required to complete the beginning teacher committee training program 22
within one (1) year after his or her appointment. 23
(7)[(9)] If an applicant establishes eligibility for a one (1) year certificate[ under the 24
provisions of subsection (3)(a) of this section,] but does not become employed on 25
the basis needed to satisfy the one (1) year internship requirement, the applicant 26
shall be eligible for the issuance of a certificate for substitute teaching as provided 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 24 RS BR 1970
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by the administrative regulations of the Education Professional Standards Board. 1
The applicant shall remain eligible for the one (1) year certificate,[ as provided in 2
subsection (3)(a) of this section,] and for the opportunity to serve the internship for 3
a period of five (5) years after establishing eligibility. If the internship is not 4
completed within the five (5) year period, the applicant must reestablish eligibility 5
by repeating and passing the assessment program in effect for new teachers at that 6
time or by completing a minimum of six (6) graduate hours toward completion of a 7
graduate program required by administrative regulations promulgated by the 8
Education Professional Standards Board. The option for renewal through 9
completion of graduate hours shall be available only for the first reestablishment of 10
eligibility. 11
(8)[(10)] (a) The Education Professional Standards Board shall issue a ten (10) year 12
emeritus certificate to an applicant who has: 13
1. Retired or will retire not more than one (1) year prior to the expiration 14
date of the certificate; 15
2. Met the requirements to receive an emeritus certificate as set forth in 16
administrative regulation promulgated by the Education Professional 17
Standards Board; and 18
3. Completed the required application unless the provisions of KRS 19
161.120 apply. 20
(b) The Education Professional Standards Board shall issue a one (1) time five (5) 21
year exception certificate to an individual: 22
1. Whose certificate has expired; 23
2. Whose rank upon expiration was Rank I or Rank II; 24
3. Who has met the requirements to receive an exception certificate as set 25
forth in administrative regulation promulgated by the Education 26
Professional Standards Board; 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 24 RS BR 1970
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4. Who completed three (3) years of classroom instruction prior to the 1
certificate's expiration; and 2
5. Who has completed the required application unless the provisions of 3
KRS 161.120 apply. 4
(9)[(11)] The Education Professional Standards Board shall approve the curricula of 5
any college or university, or of any department thereof, for the training of teachers, 6
and any nontraditional or alternative teacher preparation program offered in a 7
public or private postsecondary education institution, private contractor, or state 8
agency, and shall also approve the curricula of any local district alternative 9
certification program, when the curricula comply with the administrative 10
regulations of the Education Professional Standards Board for the issuance of 11
certificates and when the institution has met the terms and conditions provided in 12
KRS 161.010 to 161.120. Any student who has completed any of these curricula, as 13
approved by the Education Professional Standards Board, and who has completed 14
the prescribed requirements for the issuance of certificates shall be granted a 15
certificate corresponding to the curricula completed. 16
Section 2. KRS 156.101 is amended to read as follows: 17
(1) The purpose of this section is to encourage and require the maintenance and 18
development of effective instructional leadership in the public schools of the 19
Commonwealth and to recognize that principals, with the assistance of assistant 20
principals, supervisors of instruction, guidance counselors, and directors of special 21
education, have the primary responsibility for instructional leadership in the schools 22
to which they are assigned. 23
(2) For the purpose of this section, "instructional leader" shall be defined as an 24
employee of the public schools of the Commonwealth employed as a principal, 25
assistant principal, supervisor of instruction, guidance counselor, director of special 26
education, or other administrative position deemed by the Education Professional 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 24 RS BR 1970
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Standards Board to require an administrative certificate. 1
(3) In order to carry out the purpose of this section, the Kentucky Board of Education 2
shall establish a statewide program to improve and maintain the quality and 3
effectiveness of instructional leadership in the public schools of the 4
Commonwealth. 5
(4) The instructional leader improvement program shall contain the following 6
provisions: 7
(a) Each instructional leader employed by the public schools of the 8
Commonwealth shall participate in a continuing intensive training program 9
designed especially for instructional leaders; 10
(b) 1. Effective until June 30, 2006, every two (2) years each instructional 11
leader shall complete an intensive training program approved by the 12
Kentucky Board of Education to include no fewer than forty-two (42) 13
participant hours of instruction; 14
2. Effective July 1, 2006, each instructional leader shall annually complete 15
an intensive training program approved by the Kentucky Board of 16
Education to include no fewer than twenty-one (21) participant hours of 17
instruction; 18
(c) The Kentucky Board of Education shall prescribe specific criteria for the 19
training program, which shall include a provision to allow an instructional 20
leader to annually receive three (3) participant hours credit for duties 21
performed as part of a beginning teacher committee pursuant to KRS 22
161.030(4)[(6)]. A maximum of six (6) participant hours credit shall be 23
awarded annually for serving on multiple beginning teacher committees. The 24
Kentucky Department of Education may contract for specific training with 25
qualified agencies or institutions or approve programs offered by training 26
providers, including local district training programs, except that the 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 24 RS BR 1970
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department shall ensure the requirements of paragraph (d) of this subsection 1
are met; and 2
(d) Annually, each local district superintendent shall report to the Kentucky 3
Department of Education any instructional leader who fails to complete the 4
training requirements of paragraph (b) of this subsection and shall place the 5
leader on probation for one (1) year. The Department of Education shall 6
verify completion of the required training. If the required training for the prior 7
year and the current year is not completed during the probationary period, the 8
Department of Education shall forward the information to the Education 9
Professional Standards Board, which shall revoke the instructional leader's 10
certificate. 11
(5) The Kentucky Department of Education shall ensure that training options in human 12
resource management and conflict resolution techniques are available to education 13
leaders throughout the state. 14
(6) This section shall be known as the "Effective Instructional Leadership Act." 15
Section 3. KRS 161.048 is amended to read as follows: 16
(1) The General Assembly hereby finds that: 17
(a) 1. There are persons who have distinguished themselves through a variety 18
of work and educational experiences that could enrich teaching in 19
Kentucky schools; 20
2. There are distinguished scholars who wish to become teachers in 21
Kentucky's public schools, but who did not pursue a teacher preparation 22
program; 23
3. There are persons who should be recruited to teach in Kentucky's public 24
schools as they have academic majors, strong verbal skills as shown by 25
a verbal ability test, and deep knowledge of content, characteristics that 26
empirical research identifies as important attributes of quality teachers; 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 24 RS BR 1970
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4. There are persons who need to be recruited to teach in Kentucky schools 1
to meet the diverse cultural and educational needs of students; and 2
5. There should be alternative procedures to the traditional teacher 3
preparation programs that qualify persons as teachers; 4
(b) There are hereby established alternative certification program options as 5
described in subsections (2) to (10) of this section; 6
(c) It is the intent of the General Assembly that the Education Professional 7
Standards Board inform scholars, persons with exceptional work experience, 8
and persons with diverse backgrounds who have potential as teachers of these 9
options and assist local boards of education in implementing these options and 10
recruitment of individuals who can enhance the education system in 11
Kentucky; 12
(d) The Education Professional Standards Board may reject the application of any 13
candidate who is judged as not meeting academic requirements comparable to 14
those for students enrolled in Kentucky teacher preparation programs; and 15
(e) The Education Professional Standards Board shall promulgate administrative 16
regulations establishing standards and procedures for the alternative 17
certification options described in this section. If the certification option 18
requires employment prior to certification, the procedures shall establish a 19
process for candidates to obtain an eligible for hire letter from the Education 20
Professional Standards Board. 21
(2) Option 1: Certification of a person with exceptional work experience. An individual 22
who has exceptional work experience and has been offered employment in a local 23
school district shall receive a one (1) year provisional certificate with approval by 24
the Education Professional Standards Board of a joint application by the individual 25
and the employing school district under the following conditions: 26
(a) The application contains documentation of all education and work experience; 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 24 RS BR 1970
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(b) The candidate has documented exceptional work experience in the area in 1
which certification is being sought; and 2
(c) The candidate possesses: 3
1. A bachelor's degree or a graduate degree; 4
2. 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 6
average of three (3.0) on a four (4) point scale on the last thirty (30) 7
hours of credit completed, including undergraduate and graduate 8
coursework from a nationally or regionally accredited postsecondary 9
institution; and 10
3. An academic major [or a passing score on the academic content 11
assessment ]in the area in which certification is being sought by the 12
applicant as designated by the Education Professional Standards Board. 13
The candidate shall participate in the teacher internship program under KRS 14
161.030. After successful completion of the internship program, the candidate shall 15
receive a professional certificate and shall be subject to certificate renewal 16
requirements the same as other teachers with a professional certificate. 17
(3) Option 2: Certification through a local school district training program. A local 18
school district or group of school districts may seek approval for a training 19
program. The state-approved local school district training program is an alternative 20
to the college teacher preparation program as a means of acquiring teacher 21
certification for a teacher at any grade level. The training program may be offered 22
for all teaching certificates approved by the Education Professional Standards 23
Board, including interdisciplinary early childhood education, except for specific 24
certificates for teachers of exceptional children. To participate in a state-approved 25
local school district alternative training program, the candidate shall possess: 26
(a) A bachelor's degree or a graduate degree; 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 24 RS BR 1970
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(b) A minimum cumulative grade point average of two and seventy-five 1
hundredths (2.75) on a four (4) point scale or a minimum grade point average 2
of three (3) on a four (4) point scale on the last thirty (30) hours of credit 3
completed, including undergraduate and graduate coursework from a 4
nationally or regionally accredited postsecondary institution; and 5
(c) [A passing score on the academic content assessment in the area in which 6
certification is being sought by the applicant as designated by the Education 7
Professional Standards Board. To be eligible to take an academic content 8
assessment, the applicant shall have completed a thirty (30) hour major in the 9
academic content area or five (5) years of experience in the academic content 10
area as approved by the Education Professional Standards Board; and 11
(d) ]An offer of employment in a school district which has a training program 12
approved by the Education Professional Standards Board. 13
Upon meeting the participation requirements as established in this subsection, the 14
candidate shall be issued a one (1) year provisional certificate by the Education 15
Professional Standards Board. The candidate shall participate in the teacher 16
internship program under KRS 161.030. After successful completion of the 17
internship program, the candidate shall receive a professional certificate and shall 18
be subject to certificate renewal requirements the same as other teachers with a 19
professional certificate. 20
(4) Option 3: Certification of a professional from a postsecondary institution: A 21
candidate who possesses the following qualifications may receive a one (1) year 22
provisional certificate for teaching at any level: 23
(a) A master's degree or doctoral degree in the academic content area for which 24
certification is sought; 25
(b) A minimum of five (5) years of full-time teaching experience, or its 26
equivalent, in the academic content area for which certification is sought in a 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 24 RS BR 1970
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regionally or nationally accredited institution of higher education; and 1
(c) An offer of employment in a school district which has been approved by the 2
Education Professional Standards Board. 3
The candidate shall participate in the teacher internship program under KRS 4
161.030. After successful completion of the internship program, the candidate shall 5
receive a professional certificate and shall be subject to certificate renewal 6
requirements the same as other teachers with professional certificates. 7
(5) Option 4: Certification of an adjunct instructor. A person who has expertise in areas 8
such as art, music, foreign language, drama, science, computer science, and other 9
specialty areas may be employed as an adjunct instructor in a part-time position by 10
a local board of education under KRS 161.046. 11
(6) Option 5: Certification of a veteran of the Armed Forces. The Education 12
Professional Standards Board shall issue a statement of eligibility, valid for five (5) 13
years, for teaching at the elementary, secondary, and secondary career technical 14
education levels to a veteran of the Armed Forces who was honorably discharged 15
from active duty as evidenced by Defense Department Form 214 (DD 214) or 16
National Guard Bureau Form 22 or to a member of the Armed Services currently 17
serving with six (6) or more years of honorable service, including Reserves, 18
National Guard, or active duty. The candidate shall possess: 19
(a) A bachelor's degree or graduate degree; 20
(b) A minimum cumulative grade point average of two and seventy-five 21
hundredths (2.75) on a four (4) point scale or a minimum grade point average 22
of three (3) on a four (4) point scale on the last thirty (30) hours of credit 23
completed, including undergraduate and graduate coursework from a 24
nationally or regionally accredited postsecondary institution; and 25
(c) An academic major [or a passing score on the academic content assessment 26
]in the area in which certification is being sought by the applicant as 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 24 RS BR 1970
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designated by the Education Professional Standards Board. 1
Upon an offer of employment by a school district, the eligible veteran shall receive 2
a one (1) year provisional certificate with approval by the Education Professional 3
Standards Board of a joint application by the veteran and the employing school 4
district. During this year, the veteran shall participate in the teacher internship 5
program under KRS 161.030. After successful completion of the internship 6
program, the veteran shall receive a professional certificate. 7
(7) Option 6: University alternative program. With approval of the Education 8
Professional Standards Board, a university may provide an alternative program that 9
enrolls students in a postbaccalaureate teacher preparation program concurrently 10
with employment as a teacher in a local school district. A student in the alternative 11
program shall be granted a one (1) year provisional certificate and shall participate 12
in the Kentucky teacher internship program, notwithstanding provisions of KRS 13
161.030. A student may not participate in the internship program until the student 14
has successfully completed the assessments required by the board. The one (1) year 15
provisional certificate may be renewed four (4) additional years, and shall be 16
contingent upon the candidate's continued enrollment in the preparation program 17
and compliance with all requirements established by the board. A professional 18
certificate shall be issued upon the teacher candidate's successful completion of the 19
program, the internship program requirements, and all academic content 20
assessments in the specific teaching field of the applicant as designated by the 21
Education Professional Standards Board. 22
(8) Option 7: Certification of a person in a field other than education to teach in 23
elementary, middle, or secondary programs. This option shall not be limited to 24
teaching in shortage areas. An individual certified under provisions of this 25
subsection shall be issued a one (1) year provisional certificate, renewable for a 26
maximum of four (4) additional years with approval of the Education Professional 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 24 RS BR 1970
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Standards Board. 1
(a) The candidate shall possess: 2
1. A bachelor's degree with a declared academic major in the area in which 3
certification is sought or a graduate degree in a field related to the area 4
in which certification is sought; 5
2. A minimum cumulative grade point average of two and seventy-five 6
hundredths (2.75) on a four (4) point scale or a minimum grade point 7
average of three (3) on a four (4) point scale on the last thirty (30) hours 8
of credit completed, including undergraduate and graduate coursework 9
from a nationally or regionally accredited postsecondary institution; and 10
3. A passing score on the GRE or equivalent as designated by the 11
Education Professional Standards Board. A candidate who has a 12
terminal degree shall be exempt from the requirements of this 13
subparagraph[; and 14
4. A passing score on the academic content assessment in the area in which 15
certification is being sought as designated by the Education Professional 16
Standards Board]. 17
(b) Prior to receiving the one (1) year provisional certificate or during the first 18
year of the certificate, the teacher shall complete the following: 19
1. For elementary teaching, the individual shall successfully complete the 20
equivalent of a two hundred forty (240) hour institute, based on six (6) 21
hour days for eight (8) weeks. The providers and the content of the 22
institute shall be approved by the Education Professional Standards 23
Board. The content shall include research-based teaching strategies in 24
reading and math, research on child and adolescent growth, knowledge 25
of individual differences, including teaching exceptional children, and 26
methods of classroom management. 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 24 RS BR 1970
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2. For middle and secondary teaching, the individual shall successfully 1
complete the equivalent of a one hundred eighty (180) hour institute, 2
based on six (6) hour days for six (6) weeks. The providers and the 3
content of the institute shall be approved by the Education Professional 4
Standards Board and shall include research-based teaching strategies, 5
research on child and adolescent growth, knowledge of individual 6
differences, including teaching exceptional children, and methods of 7
classroom management. 8
(c) The candidate shall participate in the teacher internship program under KRS 9
161.030. After successful completion of the internship program, the candidate 10
shall receive a professional certificate and shall be subject to certificate 11
renewal requirements the same as other teachers with a professional 12
certificate. 13
(9) Option 8: Certification of a Teach for America participant to teach in elementary, 14
middle, or high schools. Nothing in this subsection shall conflict with the 15
participation criteria of the Teach for America program. An individual certified 16
under this subsection shall be issued a one (1) year provisional certificate. 17
(a) The candidate shall possess: 18
1. An offer of employment from a local school district; 19
2. A bachelor's degree; and 20
3. A successful completion of the summer training institute and ongoing 21
professional development required by Teach for America, including 22
instruction in goal-oriented, standards-based instruction, diagnosing and 23
assessing students, lesson planning and instructional delivery, classroom 24
management, maximizing learning for diverse students, and teaching 25
methodologies[; and 26
4. A passing score on the academic content assessment in the area in which 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 24 RS BR 1970
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certification is being sought as designated by the Education Professional 1
Standards Board]. 2
(b) The provisional certificate granted under paragraph (a) of this subsection may 3
be renewed two (2) times with a recommendation of the superintendent and 4
approval of the Education Professional Standards Board. 5
(c) A Teach for America participant who is approved for a second renewal of his 6
or her provisional certificate under paragraph (b) of this subsection may 7
participate in the teacher internship program under KRS 161.030. 8
(d) A Teach for America participant shall be issued a professional certificate 9
upon the participant's successful completion of the internship program and 10
assessments relating to teaching of subject matter required by the Education 11
Professional Standards Board under KRS 161.030. 12
(e) Notwithstanding any statute or administrative regulation to the contrary, a 13
teacher certified under this subsection shall have ten (10) years from the date 14
that the teacher successfully completed the internship program to complete a 15
master's degree or fifth year program, or the equivalent as specified by the 16
Education Professional Standards Board in administrative regulation. 17
(10) Option 9: Expedited certification of a person to teach at any grade level through a 18
cooperative program. With approval of the Education Professional Standards 19
Board, a college or university may partner with a school district to develop an 20
expedited certification program that results in a bachelor's degree and initial 21
certification within three (3) school years. 22
(a) The program shall: 23
1. Include a residency or paraprofessional component which employs the 24
person within the participating district for the duration of the program to 25
gain work experience to supplement the expedited program and reduced 26
coursework; 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 24 RS BR 1970
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2. Utilize experienced teachers employed by the district to provide 1
coaching and to mentor the candidates; and 2
3. Be designed to meet the needs of the participating district and may 3
include an emphasis in developing a teacher pipeline for the district's 4
students, improving the numbers of underrepresented populations 5
among the district's workforce, or focusing on increasing the number of 6
teachers with certification areas that are in high demand. 7
(b) A school district entering into a cooperative partnership shall ensure the 8
availability of funding for each candidate employed within the district in the 9
residency or paraprofessional program for the duration of the candidate's 10
participation in the program. However, nothing in this subsection shall be 11
interpreted as requiring the district to continue employing the candidate 12
during the program or after the candidate has received initial certification. 13
(c) A person who has begun a traditional path or another option for certification 14
shall be eligible to transfer into this option if the person meets the program's 15
requirements. 16
(d) If a school district participating in a cooperative partnership determines to end 17
the partnership, the district shall no longer accept new candidates to the 18
program but shall continue the partnership until the district's employed 19
candidates for Option 9 certification complete the program or are no longer 20
employed by the district. 21
(11) A public school teacher certified under subsections (2) to (10) of this section shall 22
be placed on the local district salary schedule for the rank corresponding to the 23
degree held by the teacher. 24
(12) Subsections (1) to (3) of this section notwithstanding, a candidate who possesses 25
the following qualifications may receive certification for teaching programs for 26
exceptional students: 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 24 RS BR 1970
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(a) An out-of-state license to teach exceptional students; 1
(b) A bachelor's or master's degree in the certification area or closely related area 2
for which certification is sought; and 3
(c) Successful completion of the teacher internship program requirement required 4
under KRS 161.030. 5
Section 4. KRS 161.053 is amended to read as follows: 6
(1) The Education Professional Standards Board shall have the authority and 7
responsibility to certify as a teacher of exceptional children/communication 8
disorders, an individual who has: 9
(a) Completed an approved program of preparation that corresponds to the 10
certificate; 11
(b) [Achieved a passing score on an appropriate assessment as determined by the 12
Education Professional Standards Board; 13
(c) ]Fulfilled other requirements for teacher certification as determined by the 14
Education Professional Standards Board, in accordance with KRS Chapter 15
161 and administrative regulations promulgated thereunder; and 16
(c)[(d)] Completed the requirements set forth in subsection (2) of this section. 17
(2) The Education Professional Standards Board shall issue two (2) levels of 18
certification for teachers of exceptional children/communication disorders: 19
(a) Baccalaureate level certification shall be issued to a person who has: 20
1. Completed an approved program of preparation leading to a bachelor's 21
degree in speech-language pathology; 22
2. Been granted licensure as a speech-language pathology assistant from 23
the Kentucky Board of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, 24
under KRS Chapter 334A; and 25
3. Completed the other requirements set forth in subsection (1) of this 26
section; and 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 24 RS BR 1970
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(b) Master's level certification shall be issued to a person who has: 1
1. Completed an approved program of preparation leading to a master's 2
degree in speech-language pathology; and 3
2. Completed the other requirements specified in subsection (1) of this 4
section. 5
(3) A person holding licensure through the Kentucky Board of Speech-Language 6
Pathology and Audiology as a speech-language pathology assistant, but not 7
certified as a teacher of exceptional children/communication disorders, may: 8
(a) Continue to work in the public schools as a classified employee under the 9
provisions of KRS Chapter 334A and administrative regulations promulgated 10
by the Kentucky Board of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology; or 11
(b) Pursue certification as a baccalaureate level teacher of exceptional 12
children/communication disorders while working as a speech-language 13
pathology assistant. 14
(4) Candidates for certification as a teacher of exceptional children/communication 15
disorders shall participate in the teacher internship program under KRS 161.030. 16
(5) A bachelor's level teacher of exceptional children/communication disorders shall 17
work under requirements for speech-language pathology assistants set forth in KRS 18
Chapter 334A. 19
(6) The Education Professional Standards Board shall develop a policy through the 20
promulgation of administrative regulations by June 30, 2001, to permit a speech-21
language pathology assistant with two (2) years or more of successful professional 22
experience pursuing certification as a baccalaureate level teacher of exceptional 23
children to: 24
(a) Substitute prior professional experience for student teaching requirements; 25
and 26
(b) Substitute prior professional experience for beginning teacher internship 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 24 RS BR 1970
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requirements. 1
(7) A teacher of exceptional children/communication disorders shall receive salary and 2
benefits, including membership in the Teachers' Retirement System, commensurate 3
with his or her education, certification, and experience as prescribed by law. Years 4
of experience as a speech-language pathology assistant shall be included in the 5
calculation of all benefits, including membership in the Teachers' Retirement 6
System, for individuals with baccalaureate level certification as a teacher of 7
exceptional children/communication disorders. 8
Section 5. The following KRS section is repealed: 9
161.1222 Pilot teacher internship program -- Report to Interim Joint Committee on 10
Education -- Appropriated funds. 11