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AN ACT relating to educators. 1
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky: 2
Section 1. KRS 160.160 is amended to read as follows: 3
(1) Each school district shall be under the management and control of a board of 4
education consisting of five (5) members, except in counties containing a city of the 5
first class wherein a merger pursuant to KRS 160.041 shall have been accomplished 6
which shall have seven (7) members elected from the divisions and in the manner 7
prescribed by KRS 160.210(5), to be known as the "Board of Education of ...., 8
Kentucky." Each board of education shall be a body politic and corporate with 9
perpetual succession. It may sue and be sued; make contracts; expend funds 10
necessary for liability insurance premiums and for the defense of any civil action 11
brought against an individual board member in his official or individual capacity, or 12
both, on account of an act made in the scope and course of his performance of legal 13
duties as a board member; purchase, receive, hold, and sell property; issue its bonds 14
to build and construct improvements; and do all things necessary to accomplish the 15
purposes for which it is created. Each board of education shall elect a chairman and 16
vice chairman from its membership in a manner and for a term prescribed by the 17
board not to exceed two (2) years. 18
(2) No board of education shall participate in any financing of school buildings, school 19
improvements, appurtenances thereto, or furnishing and equipment, including 20
education technology equipment without: 21
(a) First establishing the cost of the project in advance of financing, based on the 22
receipt of advertised, public, and competitive bids for such project, in 23
accordance with KRS Chapter 424; and 24
(b) Establishing the cost of financing in advance of the sale of any bonds, 25
certificates of participation in any leases, or other evidences of financial 26
commitments issued by or on behalf of such board. Any bonds, leases, 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 25 RS BR 13
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participations, or other financial arrangements shall not involve a final 1
commitment of the board until the purchaser or lender involved shall have 2
been determined by public advertising in accordance with KRS Chapter 424. 3
(3) No board of education shall make a mortgage, lien, or other encumbrance upon any 4
school building owned by the board, or transfer title to any such school building as 5
part of any financing arrangement, without the specific approval of the Department 6
of Education, and without the transaction being entered into pursuant to a detailed 7
plan or procedure specifically authorized by Kentucky statute. 8
(4) Without the approval of the Department of Education, no board may lease, as 9
lessee, a building or public facility that has been or is to be financed at the request 10
of the board or on its behalf through the issuance of bonds by another public body 11
or by a nonprofit corporation serving as an agency and instrumentality of the board, 12
or by a leasing corporation. Any lease, participation, or other financial arrangement 13
shall not involve a final commitment of the board unless and until the purchaser or 14
lender involved in same shall have been determined by public advertising in 15
accordance with KRS Chapter 424. No transaction shall be entered into by the 16
board except upon the basis of public advertising and competitive bidding in 17
accordance with KRS Chapter 424. 18
(5) A school district may issue general obligation bonds in accordance with KRS 19
Chapter 66. 20
(6) Rental payments due by a board under a lease approved by the Department of 21
Education in accordance with subsection (4) of this section, and debt service 22
payments under a general obligation bond issued in accordance with this section, 23
shall be due and payable not less than ten (10) days prior to the interest due date for 24
the bonds, notes, or other debt obligations issued to finance the building or public 25
facility. If a board fails to make a rental payment when due under a lease or a debt 26
service payment when due for a general obligation bond issue, upon notification to 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 25 RS BR 13
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the Department of Education by the paying agent, bond registrar, or trustee for the 1
bonds not less than three (3) days prior to the interest due date, the Department of 2
Education shall withhold or intercept any funds then due the board to the extent of 3
the amount of the required payment on the bonds and remit the amount to the 4
paying agent, bond registrar, or trustee as appropriate. Thereafter, the Department 5
of Education shall resolve the matter with the board and adjust remittances to the 6
board to the extent of the amount paid by the Department of Education on the 7
board's behalf. 8
(7) Bonds, notes, or leases negotiated to provide education technology shall not be sold 9
for longer than seven (7) years or the useful life of the equipment as established by 10
the state technology master plan, whichever is less. 11
(8) Notwithstanding any requirements of public advertising, competitive bidding, or 12
approval by the Department of Education, or any administrative regulation 13
promulgated pursuant to KRS 156.160(1)(o), a local board may authorize the 14
transfer or sale of the district's real or personal property to another governmental or 15
quasi-governmental agency in exchange for money or a similar type of property that 16
equals or exceeds the fair market value of the district property as determined by an 17
independent appraisal conducted by: 18
(a) An individual or organization not affiliated with the district or its officers or 19
employees, using a generally accepted national or professional standard; or 20
(b) A district's officers or employees using a nationally published valuation of 21
property based on the most recent edition of the publication. 22
(9) A local board may adopt a policy establishing requirements that applicants for 23
specified certified positions within the district successfully meet score 24
requirements on appropriate assessments to measure content knowledge, 25
competency in educational practices, or both. A local board establishing score 26
requirements shall identify any assessment that is required for a specified 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 25 RS BR 13
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certified position and the minimum score the district will require of applicants. 1
This information shall be included in any of the district's posts or notices 2
regarding the related vacancy. Any minimum score shall be for an assessment 3
that is valid and reasonably related to the certified position for which the local 4
board establishes the requirement. 5
Section 2. KRS 161.030 is amended to read as follows: 6
(1) Notwithstanding the age of the pupil, the certification of all teachers and other 7
school personnel, in public schools only, is vested in the Education Professional 8
Standards Board. When so certified, teachers and other school personnel shall not 9
be required to have licensure, certification, or other forms of approval from any 10
other state agency for the performance of their respective assignments within the 11
system of public schools, except as provided for by law. All certificates authorized 12
under KRS 161.010 to 161.126 shall be issued in accordance with the 13
administrative regulations of the Education Professional Standards Board. After 14
July 15, 1994, all certificate applications and other data collection instruments of 15
the board shall include a request for voluntary information about the applicant's 16
ethnic background. This information shall be available to help local school districts 17
locate minority candidates. A person who holds a certificate prior to this 18
requirement may request that ethnic information be added to his or her file. Nothing 19
in this section shall preclude the right of an individual in a nonpublic school from 20
seeking voluntary certification by the Education Professional Standards Board. 21
(2) Certificates shall be issued upon written application and in accordance with statutes 22
and regulations in effect at the time of application to persons who have completed, 23
at colleges, universities, or local school district programs approved by the 24
Education Professional Standards Board for the preparation of teachers and other 25
school personnel, the curricula prescribed by the administrative regulations of the 26
Education Professional Standards Board. An approved applicant shall receive a 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 25 RS BR 13
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five (5) year professional certificate. 1
(3)[ (a) Certification of all new teachers and teachers seeking additional certification 2
shall require the successful completion of appropriate assessments prior to 3
certification. The assessments shall be selected by the Education Professional 4
Standards Board and shall measure knowledge in the specific teaching field of the 5
applicant, including content of the field and teaching of that content. The Education 6
Professional Standards Board shall determine the minimum acceptable level of 7
achievement on each assessment. The assessments shall measure those concepts, 8
ideas, and facts which are being taught in teacher education programs in Kentucky. 9
Upon successful completion of the assessments and the approved teacher 10
preparation program, a professional certificate valid for five (5) years shall be 11
issued. 12
(b) If an applicant for teacher certification has completed the approved teacher 13
preparation program and has taken but failed to successfully complete the 14
appropriate assessments selected by the Education Professional Standards Board, a 15
conditional certificate may be issued for a period not to exceed one (1) year. The 16
employing school district, in collaboration with the teacher education institution, 17
shall provide technical assistance and mentoring support to the conditionally 18
certified teacher. The teacher shall retake the assessments during the validity period 19
of the conditional certificate. The conditional certificate shall not be reissued. Upon 20
successful completion of the required assessments, a professional certificate valid 21
for five (5) years shall be issued. The Education Professional Standards Board shall 22
promulgate administrative regulations to establish the standards and procedures for 23
issuance of a 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 may 26
be issued for a period up to six (6) months. The teacher shall take the assessments 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 25 RS BR 13
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during the period of the temporary certificate. If the teacher fails the assessments, 1
the temporary certificate shall be valid only for the current semester. If the teacher 2
passes the assessments, a professional certificate valid for five (5) years shall be 3
issued. 4
(4) A reasonable fee to be paid by the teacher and directly related to the actual cost of 5
the administration of the assessments shall be established by the Education 6
Professional Standards Board. Provisions shall be made for persons having less than 7
minimum levels of performance on any assessment to repeat that assessment, and 8
candidates shall be informed of their strengths and weaknesses in the specific 9
performance areas. The Education Professional Standards Board shall provide for 10
confidentiality of the individual assessment scores. Scores shall be available only to 11
the candidate and to the education officials who are responsible for determining 12
whether established certification standards have been met. Scores shall be used only 13
in the assessment for certification of new teachers and of out-of-state teachers with 14
less than two (2) years of teaching experience who are seeking initial certification 15
in Kentucky. 16
(5)] If an applicant establishes eligibility for a five (5) year professional certificate[ 17
under the provisions of subsection (3)(a) of this section], then the applicant shall 18
also be eligible for the issuance of a certificate for substitute teaching as provided 19
by the administrative regulations of the Education Professional Standards Board. 20
(4)[(6)] (a) The Education Professional Standards Board shall issue a ten (10) year 21
emeritus certificate to an applicant who has: 22
1. Retired or will retire not more than one (1) year prior to the expiration 23
date of the certificate; 24
2. Met the requirements to receive an emeritus certificate as set forth in 25
administrative regulation promulgated by the Education Professional 26
Standards Board; and 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 25 RS BR 13
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3. Completed the required application unless the provisions of KRS 1
161.120 apply. 2
(b) The Education Professional Standards Board shall issue a one (1) time five (5) 3
year exception certificate to an individual: 4
1. Whose certificate has expired; 5
2. Whose rank upon expiration was Rank I or Rank II; 6
3. Who has met the requirements to receive an exception certificate as set 7
forth in administrative regulation promulgated by the Education 8
Professional Standards Board; 9
4. Who completed three (3) years of classroom instruction prior to the 10
certificate's expiration; and 11
5. Who has completed the required application unless the provisions of 12
KRS 161.120 apply. 13
(5)[(7)] The Education Professional Standards Board shall approve the curricula of 14
any college or university, or of any department thereof, for the training of teachers, 15
and any nontraditional or alternative teacher preparation program offered in a 16
public or private postsecondary education institution, private contractor, or state 17
agency, and shall also approve the curricula of any local district alternative 18
certification program, when the curricula comply with the administrative 19
regulations of the Education Professional Standards Board for the issuance of 20
certificates and when the institution has met the terms and conditions provided in 21
KRS 161.010 to 161.120. Any student who has completed any of these curricula, as 22
approved by the Education Professional Standards Board, and who has completed 23
the prescribed requirements for the issuance of certificates shall be granted a 24
certificate corresponding to the curricula completed. 25
(6)[(8)] The issuance of any certificate, except emergency certificates issued pursuant 26
to KRS 161.100, by the Education Professional Standards Board shall not be 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 25 RS BR 13
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dependent upon an offer of employment. The certification process, except for 1
emergency certificates, is independent of any job prospects and certification shall 2
be awarded on the basis of completing a teacher preparation program or an 3
alternative certification pathway[ and passing required assessments]. 4
Section 3. KRS 161.010 is amended to read as follows: 5
As used in KRS 161.020 to 161.134: 6
(1) "College or university work of graduate grade" means academic preparation which 7
extends beyond the usual four (4) year program of undergraduate studies leading to 8
a bachelor's degree and which is completed at a college or university accredited for 9
the graduate level; 10
(2) "Continuing education" means study or other activities to provide professional 11
improvement and personal growth for certified teachers throughout their career. It 12
may include, but shall not be limited to, university courses, an advanced degree, or 13
a combination of field-based experience, individual research, and approved 14
professional development activities, pursuant to KRS 156.095; 15
(3) "Professional certificate" means the document issued to an applicant upon 16
completion of an approved program of preparation[ and successful completion of 17
the assessments in the area in which certification is being sought]; 18
(4) "Provisional certificate" means the document issued to an individual prior to the 19
issuance of a professional certificate; 20
(5) "Standard college or university" means an institution accredited by the Southern 21
Association of Colleges and Schools or by one of the other recognized regional 22
accrediting agencies or by the Education Professional Standards Board; 23
(6) "Student teacher" means an adult who has completed the prerequisite teacher 24
preparation as prescribed by the accredited teacher education institution in which he 25
or she is enrolled, and who is jointly assigned by the institution and a local school 26
district to engage in a period of practice teaching under the direction and 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 25 RS BR 13
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supervision of the administrative and teaching staff of the school district and the 1
institution; and 2
(7) "Teacher's aide" means an adult school employee who works under the direction of 3
the professional administrative and teaching staff in performing, within the 4
limitations of his or her training and competency, certain instructional and 5
noninstructional functions in the school program including, but not limited to, 6
clerical duties, tutoring individual pupils, leading pupils in recreational activities, 7
conducting pupils from place to place, assisting with classroom instruction as 8
directed by the teacher, aiding the school librarian, and preparing and organizing 9
instructional materials and equipment. 10
Section 4. KRS 161.048 is amended to read as follows: 11
(1) The General Assembly hereby finds that: 12
(a) 1. There are persons who have distinguished themselves through a variety 13
of work and educational experiences that could enrich teaching in 14
Kentucky schools; 15
2. There are distinguished scholars who wish to become teachers in 16
Kentucky's public schools, but who did not pursue a teacher preparation 17
program; 18
3. There are persons who should be recruited to teach in Kentucky's public 19
schools as they have academic majors, strong verbal skills as shown by 20
a verbal ability test, and deep knowledge of content, characteristics that 21
empirical research identifies as important attributes of quality teachers; 22
4. There are persons who need to be recruited to teach in Kentucky schools 23
to meet the diverse cultural and educational needs of students; and 24
5. There should be alternative procedures to the traditional teacher 25
preparation programs that qualify persons as teachers; 26
(b) There are hereby established alternative certification program options as 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 25 RS BR 13
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described in subsections (2) to (10) of this section; 1
(c) It is the intent of the General Assembly that the Education Professional 2
Standards Board inform scholars, persons with exceptional work experience, 3
and persons with diverse backgrounds who have potential as teachers of these 4
options and assist local boards of education in implementing these options and 5
recruitment of individuals who can enhance the education system in 6
Kentucky; 7
(d) The Education Professional Standards Board may reject the application of any 8
candidate who is judged as not meeting academic requirements comparable to 9
those for students enrolled in Kentucky teacher preparation programs; and 10
(e) The Education Professional Standards Board shall promulgate administrative 11
regulations establishing standards and procedures for the alternative 12
certification options described in this section. If the certification option 13
requires employment prior to certification, the procedures shall establish a 14
process for candidates to obtain an eligible for hire letter from the Education 15
Professional Standards Board. 16
(2) Option 1: Certification of a person with exceptional work experience. An individual 17
who has exceptional work experience shall receive a one (1) year provisional 18
certificate with approval by the Education Professional Standards Board of an 19
application by the individual under the following conditions: 20
(a) The application contains documentation of all education and work experience; 21
(b) The candidate has documented exceptional work experience in the area in 22
which certification is being sought; and 23
(c) The candidate possesses: 24
1. A bachelor's degree or a graduate degree; 25
2. A minimum cumulative grade point average of two and seventy-five 26
hundredths (2.75) on a four (4) point scale or a minimum grade point 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 25 RS BR 13
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average of three (3.0) on a four (4) point scale on the last thirty (30) 1
hours of credit completed, including undergraduate and graduate 2
coursework from a nationally or regionally accredited postsecondary 3
institution; and 4
3. An academic major [or a passing score on the academic content 5
assessment ]in the area in which certification is being sought by the 6
applicant as designated by the Education Professional Standards Board. 7
After successful completion of one (1) year of teaching and upon the 8
recommendation of the employing school district to the Education Professional 9
Standards Board, the candidate shall receive a professional certificate and shall be 10
subject to certificate renewal requirements the same as other teachers with a 11
professional certificate. 12
(3) Option 2: Certification through a local school district training program. A local 13
school district or group of school districts may seek approval for a training 14
program. The state-approved local school district training program is an alternative 15
to the college teacher preparation program as a means of acquiring teacher 16
certification for a teacher at any grade level. The training program may be offered 17
for all teaching certificates approved by the Education Professional Standards 18
Board, including interdisciplinary early childhood education, except for specific 19
certificates for teachers of exceptional children. To participate in a state-approved 20
local school district alternative training program, the candidate shall possess: 21
(a) A bachelor's degree or a graduate degree; and 22
(b) A minimum cumulative grade point average of two and seventy-five 23
hundredths (2.75) on a four (4) point scale or a minimum grade point average 24
of three (3) on a four (4) point scale on the last thirty (30) hours of credit 25
completed, including undergraduate and graduate coursework from a 26
nationally or regionally accredited postsecondary institution[; and 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 25 RS BR 13
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(c) A passing score on the academic content assessment in the area in which 1
certification is being sought by the applicant as designated by the Education 2
Professional Standards Board. To be eligible to take an academic content 3
assessment, the applicant shall have completed a thirty (30) hour major in the 4
academic content area or five (5) years of experience in the academic content 5
area as approved by the Education Professional Standards Board]. 6
An individual may participate in a local school district training program upon 7
meeting the participation requirements as established in this subsection and 8
approval by the Education Professional Standards Board of an application by the 9
individual. The candidate shall be issued a one (1) year provisional certificate by 10
the Education Professional Standards Board. After successful completion of the 11
local school district training program, one (1) year of teaching, and upon the 12
recommendation of the employing school district to the Education Professional 13
Standards Board, the candidate shall receive a professional certificate and shall be 14
subject to certificate renewal requirements the same as other teachers with a 15
professional certificate. 16
(4) Option 3: Certification of a professional from a postsecondary institution: A 17
candidate who possesses the following qualifications may receive a one (1) year 18
provisional certificate for teaching at any level: 19
(a) A master's degree or doctoral degree in the academic content area for which 20
certification is sought; and 21
(b) A minimum of five (5) years of full-time teaching experience, or its 22
equivalent, in the academic content area for which certification is sought in a 23
regionally or nationally accredited institution of higher education. 24
After successful completion of one (1) year of teaching and upon the 25
recommendation of the employing school district to the Education Professional 26
Standards Board, the candidate shall receive a professional certificate and shall be 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 25 RS BR 13
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subject to certificate renewal requirements the same as other teachers with 1
professional certificates. 2
(5) Option 4: Certification of an adjunct instructor. A person who has expertise in areas 3
such as art, music, foreign language, drama, science, computer science, and other 4
specialty areas may be employed as an adjunct instructor in a part-time position by 5
a local board of education under KRS 161.046. 6
(6) Option 5: Certification of a veteran of the Armed Forces. The Education 7
Professional Standards Board shall issue a statement of eligibility, valid for five (5) 8
years, for teaching at the elementary, secondary, and secondary career technical 9
education levels to a veteran of the Armed Forces who was honorably discharged 10
from active duty as evidenced by Defense Department Form 214 (DD 214) or 11
National Guard Bureau Form 22 or to a member of the Armed Services currently 12
serving with six (6) or more years of honorable service, including Reserves, 13
National Guard, or active duty. The candidate shall possess: 14
(a) A bachelor's degree or graduate degree; 15
(b) 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 average 17
of three (3) on a four (4) point scale on the last thirty (30) hours of credit 18
completed, including undergraduate and graduate coursework from a 19
nationally or regionally accredited postsecondary institution; and 20
(c) An academic major [or a passing score on the academic content assessment 21
]in the area in which certification is being sought by the applicant as 22
designated by the Education Professional Standards Board. 23
The eligible veteran shall receive a one (1) year provisional certificate with 24
approval by the Education Professional Standards Board of an application by the 25
veteran. After successful completion of one (1) year of teaching and upon the 26
recommendation of the employing school district to the Education Professional 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 25 RS BR 13
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Standards Board, the veteran shall receive a professional certificate. 1
(7) Option 6: University alternative program. With approval of the Education 2
Professional Standards Board, a university may provide an alternative program that 3
enrolls students in a postbaccalaureate teacher preparation program concurrently 4
with employment as a teacher in a local school district. A student in the alternative 5
program shall be granted a one (1) year provisional certificate. The one (1) year 6
provisional certificate may be renewed four (4) additional years, and shall be 7
contingent upon the candidate's continued enrollment in the preparation program 8
and compliance with all requirements established by the board. A professional 9
certificate shall be issued upon the teacher candidate's successful completion of the 10
program [and all academic content assessments ]in the specific teaching field of the 11
applicant as designated by the Education Professional Standards Board, and upon 12
the recommendation of the employing school district. 13
(8) Option 7: Certification of a person in a field other than education to teach in 14
elementary, middle, or secondary programs. This option shall not be limited to 15
teaching in shortage areas. An individual certified under provisions of this 16
subsection shall be issued a one (1) year provisional certificate, renewable for a 17
maximum of four (4) additional years with approval of the Education Professional 18
Standards Board. 19
(a) The candidate shall possess: 20
1. A bachelor's degree with a declared academic major in the area in which 21
certification is sought or a graduate degree in a field related to the area 22
in which certification is sought; and 23
2. A minimum cumulative grade point average of two and seventy-five 24
hundredths (2.75) on a four (4) point scale or a minimum grade point 25
average of three (3) on a four (4) point scale on the last thirty (30) hours 26
of credit completed, including undergraduate and graduate coursework 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 25 RS BR 13
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from a nationally or regionally accredited postsecondary institution. 1
(b) Upon meeting the requirements of paragraph (a) of this subsection and 2
enrolling in an approved institute, the Education Professional Standards Board 3
shall issue the candidate a one (1) year provisional certificate or during the 4
first year of the certificate, the teacher shall complete the following: 5
1. For elementary teaching, the individual shall successfully complete a 6
two hundred forty (240) hour institute that is an equivalent of six (6) 7
hour days for eight (8) weeks. The providers and the content of the 8
institute shall be approved by the Education Professional Standards 9
Board. The content shall include research-based teaching strategies in 10
reading and math, research on child and adolescent growth, knowledge 11
of individual differences, including teaching exceptional children, and 12
methods of classroom management. 13
2. For middle and secondary teaching, the individual shall successfully 14
complete a one hundred eighty (180) hour institute that is an equivalent 15
of six (6) hour days for six (6) weeks. The providers and the content of 16
the institute shall be approved by the Education Professional Standards 17
Board and shall include research-based teaching strategies, research on 18
child and adolescent growth, knowledge of individual differences, 19
including teaching exceptional children, and methods of classroom 20
management. 21
(c) The candidate shall receive a professional certificate and shall be subject to 22
certificate renewal requirements the same as other teachers with a professional 23
certificate: 24
1. After meeting the requirements of this option; 25
2. [After obtaining a passing score on the academic content assessment in 26
the area in which certification is being sought; 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 25 RS BR 13
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3. ]After successfully completing one (1) year of teaching; and 1
3.[4.] Upon the recommendation of the employing school district to the 2
Education Professional Standards Board. 3
(9) Option 8: Certification of a Teach for America participant to teach in elementary, 4
middle, or high schools. Nothing in this subsection shall conflict with the 5
participation criteria of the Teach for America program. An individual certified 6
under this subsection shall be issued a one (1) year provisional certificate. 7
(a) The candidate shall possess: 8
1. A bachelor's degree; and 9
2. A successful completion of the summer training institute and ongoing 10
professional development required by Teach for America, including 11
instruction in goal-oriented, standards-based instruction, diagnosing and 12
assessing students, lesson planning and instructional delivery, classroom 13
management, maximizing learning for diverse students, and teaching 14
methodologies[; and 15
3. A passing score on the academic content assessment in the area in which 16
certification is being sought as designated by the Education Professional 17
Standards Board]. 18
(b) The provisional certificate granted under this subsection may be renewed two 19
(2) times with a recommendation of the superintendent and approval of the 20
Education Professional Standards Board. 21
(c) A Teach for America participant shall be issued a professional certificate 22
upon the participant's successful completion of one (1) year of teaching[ and 23
the assessments relating to teaching of subject matter required by the 24
Education Professional Standards Board under KRS 161.030,] and upon the 25
recommendation of the employing school district to the Education 26
Professional Standards Board. 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 25 RS BR 13
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(d) Notwithstanding any statute or administrative regulation to the contrary, a 1
teacher certified under this subsection shall have ten (10) years to complete a 2
master's degree or fifth year program, or the equivalent as specified by the 3
Education Professional Standards Board in administrative regulation. 4
(10) Option 9: Expedited certification of a person to teach at any grade level through a 5
cooperative program. With approval of the Education Professional Standards 6
Board, a college or university may partner with a school district to develop an 7
expedited certification program that results in a bachelor's degree and initial 8
certification within three (3) school years. 9
(a) The program shall: 10
1. Include a residency or paraprofessional component which employs the 11
person within the participating district for the duration of the program to 12
gain work experience to supplement the expedited program and reduced 13
coursework; 14
2. Utilize experienced teachers employed by the district to provide 15
coaching and to mentor the candidates; and 16
3. Be designed to meet the needs of the participating district and may 17
include an emphasis in developing a teacher pipeline for the district's 18
students, improving the numbers of underrepresented populations 19
among the district's workforce, or focusing on increasing the number of 20
teachers with certification areas that are in high demand. 21
(b) A school district entering into a cooperative partnership shall ensure the 22
availability of funding for each candidate employed within the district in the 23
residency or paraprofessional program for the duration of the candidate's 24
participation in the program. However, nothing in this subsection shall be 25
interpreted as requiring the district to continue employing the candidate 26
during the program or after the candidate has received initial certification. 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 25 RS BR 13
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(c) A person who has begun a traditional path or another option for certification 1
shall be eligible to transfer into this option if the person meets the program's 2
requirements. 3
(d) If a school district participating in a cooperative partnership determines to end 4
the partnership, the district shall no longer accept new candidates to the 5
program but shall continue the partnership until the district's employed 6
candidates for Option 9 certification complete the program or are no longer 7
employed by the district. 8
(11) A public school teacher certified under subsections (2) to (10) of this section shall 9
be placed on the local district salary schedule for the rank corresponding to the 10
degree held by the teacher. 11
(12) Subsections (1) to (3) of this section notwithstanding, a candidate who possesses 12
the following qualifications may receive certification for teaching programs for 13
exceptional students: 14
(a) An out-of-state license to teach exceptional students; and 15
(b) A bachelor's or master's degree in the certification area or closely related area 16
for which certification is sought. 17
Section 5. KRS 161.053 is amended to read as follows: 18
(1) The Education Professional Standards Board shall have the authority and 19
responsibility to certify as a teacher of exceptional children/communication 20
disorders, an individual who has: 21
(a) Completed an approved program of preparation that corresponds to the 22
certificate; 23
(b) [Achieved a passing score on an appropriate assessment as determined by the 24
Education Professional Standards Board; 25
(c) ]Fulfilled other requirements for teacher certification as determined by the 26
Education Professional Standards Board, in accordance with KRS Chapter 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 25 RS BR 13
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161 and administrative regulations promulgated thereunder; and 1
(c)[(d)] Completed the requirements set forth in subsection (2) of this section. 2
(2) The Education Professional Standards Board shall issue two (2) levels of 3
certification for teachers of exceptional children/communication disorders: 4
(a) Baccalaureate level certification shall be issued to a person who has: 5
1. Completed an approved program of preparation leading to a bachelor's 6
degree in speech-language pathology; 7
2. Been granted licensure as a speech-language pathology assistant from 8
the Kentucky Board of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, 9
under KRS Chapter 334A; and 10
3. Completed the other requirements set forth in subsection (1) of this 11
section; and 12
(b) Master's level certification shall be issued to a person who has: 13
1. Completed an approved program of preparation leading to a master's 14
degree in speech-language pathology; and 15
2. Completed the other requirements specified in subsection (1) of this 16
section. 17
(3) A person holding licensure through the Kentucky Board of Speech-Language 18
Pathology and Audiology as a speech-language pathology assistant, but not 19
certified as a teacher of exceptional children/communication disorders, may: 20
(a) Continue to work in the public schools as a classified employee under the 21
provisions of KRS Chapter 334A and administrative regulations promulgated 22
by the Kentucky Board of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology; or 23
(b) Pursue certification as a baccalaureate level teacher of exceptional 24
children/communication disorders while working as a speech-language 25
pathology assistant. 26
(4) A bachelor's level teacher of exceptional children/communication disorders shall 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 25 RS BR 13
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work under requirements for speech-language pathology assistants set forth in KRS 1
Chapter 334A. 2
(5) The Education Professional Standards Board shall develop a policy through the 3
promulgation of administrative regulations by June 30, 2001, to permit a speech-4
language pathology assistant with two (2) years or more of successful professional 5
experience pursuing certification as a baccalaureate level teacher of exceptional 6
children to: 7
(a) Substitute prior professional experience for student teaching requirements; 8
and 9
(b) Substitute prior professional experience for beginning teacher internship 10
requirements. 11
(6) A teacher of exceptional children/communication disorders shall receive salary and 12
benefits, including membership in the Teachers' Retirement System, commensurate 13
with his or her education, certification, and experience as prescribed by law. Years 14
of experience as a speech-language pathology assistant shall be included in the 15
calculation of all benefits, including membership in the Teachers' Retirement 16
System, for individuals with baccalaureate level certification as a teacher of 17
exceptional children/communication disorders. 18