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AN ACT relating to Option 9 alternative teacher certification programs. 1
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky: 2
ď˘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 25 RS BR 140
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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. If the certification option 5
requires employment prior to certification, the procedures shall establish a 6
process for candidates to obtain an eligible for hire letter from the Education 7
Professional Standards Board. 8
(2) Option 1: Certification of a person with exceptional work experience. An individual 9
who has exceptional work experience shall receive a one (1) year provisional 10
certificate with approval by the Education Professional Standards Board of an 11
application by the individual under the following conditions: 12
(a) The application contains documentation of all education and work experience; 13
(b) The candidate has documented exceptional work experience in the area in 14
which certification is being sought; and 15
(c) The candidate possesses: 16
1. A bachelor's degree or a graduate degree; 17
2. A minimum cumulative grade point average of two and seventy-five 18
hundredths (2.75) on a four (4) point scale or a minimum grade point 19
average of three (3.0) on a four (4) point scale on the last thirty (30) 20
hours of credit completed, including undergraduate and graduate 21
coursework from a nationally or regionally accredited postsecondary 22
institution; and 23
3. An academic major or a passing score on the academic content 24
assessment in the area in which certification is being sought by the 25
applicant as designated by the Education Professional Standards Board. 26
After successful completion of one (1) year of teaching and upon the 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 25 RS BR 140
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recommendation of the employing school district to the Education Professional 1
Standards Board, the candidate shall receive a professional certificate and shall be 2
subject to certificate renewal requirements the same as other teachers with a 3
professional certificate. 4
(3) Option 2: Certification through a local school district training program. A local 5
school district or group of school districts may seek approval for a training 6
program. The state-approved local school district training program is an alternative 7
to the college teacher preparation program as a means of acquiring teacher 8
certification for a teacher at any grade level. The training program may be offered 9
for all teaching certificates approved by the Education Professional Standards 10
Board, including interdisciplinary early childhood education, except for specific 11
certificates for teachers of exceptional children. To participate in a state-approved 12
local school district alternative training program, the candidate shall possess: 13
(a) A bachelor's degree or a graduate degree; 14
(b) A minimum cumulative grade point average of two and seventy-five 15
hundredths (2.75) on a four (4) point scale or a minimum grade point average 16
of three (3) on a four (4) point scale on the last thirty (30) hours of credit 17
completed, including undergraduate and graduate coursework from a 18
nationally or regionally accredited postsecondary institution; and 19
(c) A passing score on the academic content assessment in the area in which 20
certification is being sought by the applicant as designated by the Education 21
Professional Standards Board. To be eligible to take an academic content 22
assessment, the applicant shall have completed a thirty (30) hour major in the 23
academic content area or five (5) years of experience in the academic content 24
area as approved by the Education Professional Standards Board. 25
An individual may participate in a local school district training program upon 26
meeting the participation requirements as established in this subsection and 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 25 RS BR 140
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approval by the Education Professional Standards Board of an application by the 1
individual. The candidate shall be issued a one (1) year provisional certificate by 2
the Education Professional Standards Board. After successful completion of the 3
local school district training program, one (1) year of teaching, and upon the 4
recommendation of the employing school district to the Education Professional 5
Standards Board, the candidate shall receive a professional certificate and shall be 6
subject to certificate renewal requirements the same as other teachers with a 7
professional certificate. 8
(4) Option 3: Certification of a professional from a postsecondary institution: A 9
candidate who possesses the following qualifications may receive a one (1) year 10
provisional certificate for teaching at any level: 11
(a) A master's degree or doctoral degree in the academic content area for which 12
certification is sought; and 13
(b) A minimum of five (5) years of full-time teaching experience, or its 14
equivalent, in the academic content area for which certification is sought in a 15
regionally or nationally accredited institution of higher education. 16
After successful completion of one (1) year of teaching and upon the 17
recommendation of the employing school district to the Education Professional 18
Standards Board, the candidate shall receive a professional certificate and shall be 19
subject to certificate renewal requirements the same as other teachers with 20
professional certificates. 21
(5) Option 4: Certification of an adjunct instructor. A person who has expertise in areas 22
such as art, music, foreign language, drama, science, computer science, and other 23
specialty areas may be employed as an adjunct instructor in a part-time position by 24
a local board of education under KRS 161.046. 25
(6) Option 5: Certification of a veteran of the Armed Forces. The Education 26
Professional Standards Board shall issue a statement of eligibility, valid for five (5) 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 25 RS BR 140
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years, for teaching at the elementary, secondary, and secondary career technical 1
education levels to a veteran of the Armed Forces who was honorably discharged 2
from active duty as evidenced by Defense Department Form 214 (DD 214) or 3
National Guard Bureau Form 22 or to a member of the Armed Services currently 4
serving with six (6) or more years of honorable service, including Reserves, 5
National Guard, or active duty. The candidate shall possess: 6
(a) A bachelor's degree or graduate degree; 7
(b) A minimum cumulative grade point average of two and seventy-five 8
hundredths (2.75) on a four (4) point scale or a minimum grade point average 9
of three (3) on a four (4) point scale on the last thirty (30) hours of credit 10
completed, including undergraduate and graduate coursework from a 11
nationally or regionally accredited postsecondary institution; and 12
(c) An academic major or a passing score on the academic content assessment in 13
the area in which certification is being sought by the applicant as designated 14
by the Education Professional Standards Board. 15
The eligible veteran shall receive a one (1) year provisional certificate with 16
approval by the Education Professional Standards Board of an application by the 17
veteran. After successful completion of one (1) year of teaching and upon the 18
recommendation of the employing school district to the Education Professional 19
Standards Board, the veteran shall receive a professional certificate. 20
(7) Option 6: University alternative program. With approval of the Education 21
Professional Standards Board, a university may provide an alternative program that 22
enrolls students in a postbaccalaureate teacher preparation program concurrently 23
with employment as a teacher in a local school district. A student in the alternative 24
program shall be granted a one (1) year provisional certificate. The one (1) year 25
provisional certificate may be renewed four (4) additional years, and shall be 26
contingent upon the candidate's continued enrollment in the preparation program 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 25 RS BR 140
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and compliance with all requirements established by the board. A professional 1
certificate shall be issued upon the teacher candidate's successful completion of the 2
program and all academic content assessments in the specific teaching field of the 3
applicant as designated by the Education Professional Standards Board, and upon 4
the recommendation of the employing school district. 5
(8) Option 7: Certification of a person in a field other than education to teach in 6
elementary, middle, or secondary programs. This option shall not be limited to 7
teaching in shortage areas. An individual certified under provisions of this 8
subsection shall be issued a one (1) year provisional certificate, renewable for a 9
maximum of four (4) additional years with approval of the Education Professional 10
Standards Board. 11
(a) The candidate shall possess: 12
1. A bachelor's degree with a declared academic major in the area in which 13
certification is sought or a graduate degree in a field related to the area 14
in which certification is sought; and 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) on a four (4) point scale on the last thirty (30) hours 18
of credit completed, including undergraduate and graduate coursework 19
from a nationally or regionally accredited postsecondary institution. 20
(b) Upon meeting the requirements of paragraph (a) of this subsection and 21
enrolling in an approved institute, the Education Professional Standards Board 22
shall issue the candidate a one (1) year provisional certificate or during the 23
first year of the certificate, the teacher shall complete the following: 24
1. For elementary teaching, the individual shall successfully complete a 25
two hundred forty (240) hour institute that is an equivalent of six (6) 26
hour days for eight (8) weeks. The providers and the content of the 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 25 RS BR 140
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institute shall be approved by the Education Professional Standards 1
Board. The content shall include research-based teaching strategies in 2
reading and math, research on child and adolescent growth, knowledge 3
of individual differences, including teaching exceptional children, and 4
methods of classroom management. 5
2. For middle and secondary teaching, the individual shall successfully 6
complete a one hundred eighty (180) hour institute that is an equivalent 7
of six (6) hour days for six (6) weeks. The providers and the content of 8
the institute shall be approved by the Education Professional Standards 9
Board and shall include research-based teaching strategies, research on 10
child and adolescent growth, knowledge of individual differences, 11
including teaching exceptional children, and methods of classroom 12
management. 13
(c) The candidate shall receive a professional certificate and shall be subject to 14
certificate renewal requirements the same as other teachers with a professional 15
certificate: 16
1. After meeting the requirements of this option; 17
2. After obtaining a passing score on the academic content assessment in 18
the area in which certification is being sought; 19
3. After successfully completing one (1) year of teaching; and 20
4. Upon the recommendation of the employing school district to the 21
Education Professional Standards Board. 22
(9) Option 8: Certification of a Teach for America participant to teach in elementary, 23
middle, or high schools. Nothing in this subsection shall conflict with the 24
participation criteria of the Teach for America program. An individual certified 25
under this subsection shall be issued a one (1) year provisional certificate. 26
(a) The candidate shall possess: 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 25 RS BR 140
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1. A bachelor's degree; 1
2. A successful completion of the summer training institute and ongoing 2
professional development required by Teach for America, including 3
instruction in goal-oriented, standards-based instruction, diagnosing and 4
assessing students, lesson planning and instructional delivery, classroom 5
management, maximizing learning for diverse students, and teaching 6
methodologies; and 7
3. A passing score on the academic content assessment in the area in which 8
certification is being sought as designated by the Education Professional 9
Standards Board. 10
(b) The provisional certificate granted under this subsection may be renewed two 11
(2) times with a recommendation of the superintendent and approval of the 12
Education Professional Standards Board. 13
(c) A Teach for America participant shall be issued a professional certificate 14
upon the participant's successful completion of one (1) year of teaching and 15
the assessments relating to teaching of subject matter required by the 16
Education Professional Standards Board under KRS 161.030, and upon the 17
recommendation of the employing school district to the Education 18
Professional Standards Board. 19
(d) Notwithstanding any statute or administrative regulation to the contrary, a 20
teacher certified under this subsection shall have ten (10) years to complete a 21
master's degree or fifth year program, or the equivalent as specified by the 22
Education Professional Standards Board in administrative regulation. 23
(10) Option 9: Expedited certification of a person to teach at any grade level through a 24
cooperative program. With approval of the Education Professional Standards 25
Board, a college or university may partner with a school district to develop an 26
expedited certification program that results in a bachelor's degree and initial 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 25 RS BR 140
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certification within three (3) school years. 1
(a) The program shall: 2
1. Include a residency or paraprofessional component which employs the 3
person within the participating district for the duration of the program to 4
gain work experience to supplement the expedited program and reduced 5
coursework. The employment may include substitute teaching, subject 6
to the requirements of KRS 161.102; 7
2. Utilize experienced teachers employed by the district to provide 8
coaching and to mentor the candidates; and 9
3. Be designed to meet the needs of the participating district and may 10
include an emphasis in developing a teacher pipeline for the district's 11
students, improving the numbers of underrepresented populations 12
among the district's workforce, or focusing on increasing the number of 13
teachers with certification areas that are in high demand. 14
(b) A school district entering into a cooperative partnership shall ensure the 15
availability of funding for each candidate employed within the district in the 16
residency or paraprofessional program for the duration of the candidate's 17
participation in the program. However, nothing in this subsection shall be 18
interpreted as requiring the district to continue employing the candidate 19
during the program or after the candidate has received initial certification. 20
(c) A person who has begun a traditional path or another option for certification 21
shall be eligible to transfer into this option if the person meets the program's 22
requirements. 23
(d) If a school district participating in a cooperative partnership determines to end 24
the partnership, the district shall no longer accept new candidates to the 25
program but shall continue the partnership until the district's employed 26
candidates for Option 9 certification complete the program or are no longer 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 25 RS BR 140
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employed by the district. 1
(11) A public school teacher certified under subsections (2) to (10) of this section shall 2
be placed on the local district salary schedule for the rank corresponding to the 3
degree held by the teacher. 4
(12) Subsections (1) to (3) of this section notwithstanding, a candidate who possesses 5
the following qualifications may receive certification for teaching programs for 6
exceptional students: 7
(a) An out-of-state license to teach exceptional students; and 8
(b) A bachelor's or master's degree in the certification area or closely related area 9
for which certification is sought. 10