The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part of the
legislative instrument, were prepared by Cheryl Serrett.
DIGEST
SB 197 Original 2023 Regular Session Peacock
Present law requires the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) to provide for the
certification of teachers, which includes qualifications and requirements to indicate proficiency of
the teacher to educate at the grade level and in the assigned subjects.
Proposed law redesignates various provisions of present law relative to teacher and educator
certification and makes technical changes.
Present law requires certified teachers to have completed an approved teacher education program
and prescribes the minimum requirements for students entering an approved teacher education
program.
Proposed law provides for conditional acceptance of students into approved teacher education
programs.
Present law requires an applicant in an undergraduate teacher education program to take coursework
in the teaching of reading. Prohibits any secondary teacher from using more than three semester
hours of teaching of reading for certification purposes.
Proposed law provides appropriate teaching of reading courses and removes the maximum hours
allowed to be used for certification purposes.
Proposed law changes the recipient of required reports in present law from the legislature to BESE
and requires the posting of the reports on the BESE and state Department of Education (LDOE)
website.
Present law allows certain persons who have not completed an approved teacher education program
to teach on a provisional certificate in an area with a shortage of certified teachers.
Proposed law provides that a person with a bachelor's degree may teach on a provisional certificate
in a shortage area in a secondary school.
Present law provides for the certification of principals and superintendents. Requires that a principal
who is certified from another state and who has four years of successful experience in that state may
be certified in Louisiana after one year of successful employment in Louisiana as a principal. Further
provides that an out-of-state principal who has not passed the required assessment may be granted
a three-year nonrenewable provisional certificate in order to take the exam.
Proposed law removes the requirement that a successful out-of-state principal have one year of successful employment prior to certification in Louisiana. Changes the length of the provisional
certificate to five years to match the provisions of teachers.
Present law requires BESE to prescribe the qualification standards for school psychologists, which
shall at a minimum be equal to the requirements set by the National Association of School
Psychologists. Further provides for the certification of persons who meet those qualifications.
Proposed law allows BESE to deem certified a person who meets the qualifications.
Present law allows for certain individuals to appeal a denial of a certification. Further prohibits
appeals from persons who have been convicted of or plead nolo contendere to certain crimes listed
in R.S. 15:587.1(C). However, present law provides exceptions and allows appeals from individuals
convicted of or who have pled guilty to certain crimes relative to the manufacture and distribution
of drugs.
Proposed law removes the ability for persons who have been convicted of or plead nolo contendere
to the manufacture and distribution of drugs to appeal the denial of their teaching certification.
Present law requires that persons who have been convicted of or plead nolo contendere to a felony
offense to report the conviction or plea to their employing school district.
Proposed law requires the person to also report the conviction or plea to the LDOE. Further requires
the LDOE upon receiving the notification to request a new criminal background check and revoke
the certification of any person who has been convicted of or who has entered a plea for a crime listed
in R.S. 15:587.1(C).
Present law provides for criminal history checks and requires the checks to be done for employment
and certification purposes; however requires the employer to run a check for employment purposes
and the department to run a check for credentialing purposes.
Proposed law provides that the department shall be the central fingerprint repository for
administrators, teachers, and other employees who have educator credentials or teaching
authorizations. Provides for the process for the LDOE to share information on the person with the
local school board employing the person or where the person is seeking employment.
Proposed law repeals present law provisions that prohibit BESE from limiting the number of times
a temporary teaching permit may be issued.
Proposed law repeals present law requiring BESE to issue teacher authorizations for persons not
required to be certified.
Present law was limited to only ascertaining whether the person had submitted fraudulent documents
or if proper background checks had been done by the employing school.
Present law continues to require all schools to perform background checks on applicants and prohibits anyone from being employed in a school who has been convicted of or plead nolo
contendere to any crime listed in R.S. 15:587.1(C).
Effective upon signature of the governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action.
(Amends R.S. 17:7(6), 7.1, and 15(B) and (C); adds R.S. 17:8.1-8.9; repeals R.S. 17:7(6)(e) and
(10))