2018 Connecticut General Statutes
Title 10 - Education and Culture
Chapter 166 - Teachers and Superintendents
Section 10-145a - (Formerly Sec. 10-146). Specific components of teacher preparation programs.

(a) Any candidate in a program of teacher preparation leading to professional certification shall be encouraged to successfully complete an intergroup relations component of such a program which shall be developed with the participation of both sexes, and persons of various ethnic, cultural and economic backgrounds. Such intergroup relations program shall have the following objectives: (1) The imparting of an appreciation of the contributions to American civilization of the various ethnic, cultural and economic groups composing American society and an understanding of the life styles of such groups; (2) the counteracting of biases, discrimination and prejudices; and (3) the assurance of respect for human diversity and personal rights. The State Board of Education, the Board of Regents for Higher Education, the Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities and the Commission on Women, Children and Seniors shall establish a joint committee composed of members of the four agencies, which shall develop and implement such programs in intergroup relations.

(b) Any candidate in a program of teacher preparation leading to professional certification shall be encouraged to complete a (1) health component of such a program, which includes, but need not be limited to, human growth and development, nutrition, first aid, disease prevention and community and consumer health, and (2) mental health component of such a program, which includes, but need not be limited to, youth suicide, child abuse and alcohol and drug abuse.

(c) Any candidate in a program of teacher preparation leading to professional certification shall complete a school violence, bullying, as defined in section 10-222d, and suicide prevention and conflict resolution component of such a program.

(d) On and after July 1, 1998, any candidate in a program of teacher preparation leading to professional certification shall complete a computer and other information technology skills component of such program, as applied to student learning and classroom instruction, communications and data management.

(e) On and after July 1, 2006, any program of teacher preparation leading to professional certification shall include, as part of the curriculum, instruction in literacy skills and processes that reflects current research and best practices in the field of literacy training. Such instruction shall (1) be incorporated into requirements of student major and concentration, and (2) on and after July 1, 2015, include not fewer than twelve clock hours of instruction in the detection and recognition of, and evidence-based structured literacy interventions for, students with dyslexia, as defined in section 10-3d.

(f) On and after July 1, 2006, any program of teacher preparation leading to professional certification shall include, as part of the curriculum, instruction in the concepts of second language learning and second language acquisition and processes that reflects current research and best practices in the field of second language learning and second language acquisition. Such instruction shall be incorporated into requirements of student major and concentration.

(g) On and after July 1, 2011, any program of teacher preparation leading to professional certification may permit teaching experience in a nonpublic school, approved by the State Board of Education, and offered through a public or private institution of higher education to count towards the preparation and eligibility requirements for an initial educator certificate, provided such teaching experience is completed as part of a cooperating teacher program, in accordance with the provisions of subsection (d) of section 10-220a.

(h) On and after July 1, 2012, any candidate entering a program of teacher preparation leading to professional certification shall be required to complete training in competency areas contained in the professional teaching standards established by the State Board of Education, including, but not limited to, development and characteristics of learners, evidence-based and standards-based instruction, evidence-based classroom and behavior management, assessment and professional behaviors and responsibilities and the awareness and identification of the unique learning style of gifted and talented children, social and emotional development and learning of children, and cultural competency. The training in social and emotional development and learning of children shall include instruction concerning a comprehensive, coordinated social and emotional assessment and early intervention for children displaying behaviors associated with social or emotional problems, the availability of treatment services for such children and referring such children for assessment, intervention or treatment services. The training in cultural competency shall include instruction concerning the awareness of students’ background and experience that lead to the development of skills, knowledge and behaviors that enable educators and students to build positive relationships and work effectively in cross-cultural situations.

(i) On and after July 1, 2016, any program of teacher preparation leading to professional certification shall require, as part of the curriculum, clinical experience, field experience or student teaching experience in a classroom during four semesters of such program of teacher preparation. Such clinical experience, field experience or student teaching experience shall occur: (1) In a school district that has been categorized by the Department of Education as District Reference Group A, B, C, D or E, and (2) in a school district that has been categorized by the department as District Reference Group F, G, H or I. Such clinical experience, field experience or student teaching experience may include a cooperating teacher serving as a mentor to student teachers, provided such cooperating teacher has received a performance evaluation designation of exemplary or proficient, pursuant to section 10-151b, for the prior school year.

(j) On and after July 1, 2012, any program of teacher preparation leading to professional certification shall include, as part of the curriculum, instruction in the implementation of student individualized education programs as it relates to the provision of special education and related services, including, but not limited to, the provision of services to gifted and talented children.

(1949 Rev., S. 1433; February, 1965, P.A. 140, S. 2; 1967, P.A. 555, S. 62; 1969, P.A. 753, S. 34; 1971, P.A. 370, S. 3; 1972, P.A. 204, S. 1, 2; P.A. 73-632, S. 1, 5; P.A. 74-331, S. 1, 7; P.A. 75-372, S. 3; P.A. 77-573, S. 24, 30; P.A. 78-218, S. 94, 95, 212; P.A. 80-405, S. 3, 4; P.A. 82-218, S. 37, 46; P.A. 84-241, S. 2, 5; May Sp. Sess. P.A. 86-1, S. 22, 58; P.A. 87-499, S. 6, 34; P.A. 89-168, S. 3; P.A. 94-221, S. 4; P.A. 95-259, S. 13, 32; P.A. 96-244, S. 52, 63; P.A. 04-75, S. 1; 04-227, S. 2; P.A. 08-160, S. 8; June 19 Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-1, S. 1; P.A. 11-48, S. 285; 11-127, S. 2; 11-232, S. 8; P.A. 12-116, S. 35, 42; 12-173, S. 2; P.A. 13-133, S. 1; 13-261, S. 10; P.A. 14-39, S. 2; P.A. 15-97, S. 2; 15-108, S. 9; 15-243, S. 2; May Sp. Sess. P.A. 16-3, S. 142; P.A. 17-14, S. 4.)

History: 1965 act required passing of hygiene examination for certification to teach grades above the fifth rather than the third grade and included as part of hygiene knowledge the effects of alcohol and narcotics on personality development; 1967 act replaced “narcotics” with “controlled drugs”; 1969 act included in hygiene knowledge of the effects of nicotine or tobacco and made provision for the necessary training of teachers and guidance personnel; 1971 act required passing of hygiene examination for all certifications to teach not just for those above the fifth grade and included administrators in training provision; 1972 act added Subsec. (a) defining “equivalency”, “alternate” and “internship”, made former provisions Subsec. (b) and added provisions concerning internships for certification and equivalencies or alternates to present certification requirements; P.A. 73-632 deleted provisions added to Subsec. (b) in 1972, dropped provision allowing exemption from hygiene examination, required passing of hygiene examination for supervisor’s certificate as well as for teaching certificate and referred to “drugs” rather than “controlled drugs”, deleting specific effects and provision for training programs; P.A. 74-331 amended Subsec. (a) to extend applicability to entire chapter, to substitute “equivalent” for “equivalency”, to delete definitions of “alternate” and “internship” and to add definitions of “provisional certification period”, “provisional teaching certificate”, “standard teaching certificate” and “one year” and amended Subsec. (b) to reflect recognition of the two different types of certificates; Sec. 10-146 was transferred to Sec. 10-145a in 1975; P.A. 75-372 added Subsec. (c) re intergroup relations programs; P.A. 77-573 replaced commission for higher education with board of higher education; P.A. 78-218 deleted Subsec. (a), relettering remaining subsections accordingly, and amended Subsec. (b), formerly (c), to delete references to July 1, 1977, and to July 1, 1976, and to delete reference to advisory board on state certification of teachers as an agency involved in developing intergroup relations programs; P.A. 80-405 required development of intergroup programs with participation of both sexes and included permanent commission on the status of women as an agency involved in developing such programs; P.A. 82-218 replaced board of higher education with board of governors pursuant to reorganization of higher education system, effective March 1, 1983; P.A. 84-241 added “of higher education” to board of governors’ title; May Sp. Sess. P.A. 86-1 in Subsec. (a) substituted “issue” for “grant”, provided for certificates to administer, added provisions re regulations re administrator and supervisor certificates, deleted requirement re examination in hygiene and the effects of nicotine or tobacco, alcohol and drugs; P.A. 87-499 in Subsec. (a) provided that the state board of education may issue certificates to serve in positions requiring certification pursuant to regulations and that regulations shall provide that qualifications to maintain any special service certificate incorporate continuing education provisions; P.A. 89-168 added a new Subsec. (c) re the mental health component in a program of teacher preparation; P.A. 94-221 added Subsec. (d) re school violence prevention and conflict resolution as component of teacher preparation programs; P.A. 95-259 added Subsec. (c)(1) re health component, effective July 6, 1995; P.A. 96-244 added Subsec. (e) requiring teacher candidate programs to provide training in computer and other information technology skills, effective June 6, 1996; P.A. 04-75 added Subsec. (f) requiring teacher training programs to provide instruction in literacy skills, effective July 1, 2004; P.A. 04-227 added Subsec. (g) requiring teacher training programs to provide instruction in second language learning and acquisition, effective July 1, 2004; P.A. 08-160 amended Subsec. (d) to add language re bullying and suicide prevention, effective July 1, 2009; June 19 Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-1 made a technical change in Subsec. (a) and added Subsec. (h) re competency area training, effective July 1, 2009; pursuant to P.A. 11-48, “Board of Governors of Higher Education” was changed editorially by the Revisors to “Board of Regents for Higher Education” in Subsec. (b), effective July 1, 2011; P.A. 11-127 added new Subsec. (h) re nonpublic school teaching experience as part of teacher preparation program and redesignated existing Subsec. (h) as Subsec. (i), effective July 1, 2011; P.A. 11-232 amended Subsec. (d) by deleting “be encouraged to” and adding “as defined in section 10-222d” re bullying, effective July 1, 2011; P.A. 12-116 amended Subsec. (a) by replacing “continuing education” with “professional development” and making a conforming change in the corresponding internal reference, and added Subsec. (j) re requirement, on and after July 1, 2015, of four semesters of clinical experience, field experience or student teaching experience in a classroom as part of teacher preparation program, effective July 1, 2012 (Revisor’s note: An internal reference in P.A. 12-116, S. 42, to “section 62 of this act” was determined by the Revisors to properly refer to section 39 of said act and was therefore codified in Subsec. (a) as “section 10-148a”); P.A. 12-173 added provision, codified by the Revisors as Subsec. (k), re instruction in implementation of student individualized education programs, effective July 1, 2012; P.A. 13-133 amended Subsec. (i) to add provisions requiring training in social and emotional development and learning of children, effective July 1, 2013; P.A. 13-261 amended Subsecs. (i) and (k) to add provisions re gifted and talented children, effective July 1, 2013; P.A. 14-39 amended Subsec. (f) by designating existing provision re requirements of student major and concentration as Subdiv. (1) and adding Subdiv. (2) re dyslexia, effective July 1, 2014; P.A. 15-97 amended Subsec. (f) by adding “not fewer than twelve clock hours of instruction in”, “structured literacy” and internal reference to definition of dyslexia in Subdiv. (2), effective July 1, 2015; P.A. 15-108 amended Subsec. (i) by adding provisions re training in cultural competency, effective July 1, 2015; P.A. 15-243 amended Subsec. (j) by replacing “2015” with “2016”, adding Subdivs. (1) and (2) re district reference groups and adding provision re cooperating teachers serving as mentors, effective July 1, 2015; May Sp. Sess. P.A. 16-3 amended Subsec. (b) by replacing “Permanent Commission on the Status of Women” with “Commission on Women, Children and Seniors”, effective July 1, 2016; P.A. 17-14 deleted former Subsec. (a) re certificates of qualification, and redesignated existing Subsecs. (b) to (k) as Subsecs. (a) to (j), effective July 1, 2017.