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161.048 Alternative certification program -- Purpose -- Options -- Testing and
eligibility requirements -- Salary schedule.
(1)
(2)
The General Assembly hereby finds that:
(a) 1.
There are persons who have distinguished themselves through a
variety of work and educational experiences that could enrich
teaching in Kentucky schools;
2.
There are distinguished scholars who wish to become teachers in
Kentucky's public schools, but who did not pursue a teacher
preparation program;
3.
There are persons who should be recruited to teach in Kentucky's
public schools as they have academic majors, strong verbal skills as
shown by a verbal ability test, and deep knowledge of content,
characteristics that empirical research identifies as important
attributes of quality teachers;
4.
There are persons who need to be recruited to teach in Kentucky
schools to meet the diverse cultural and educational needs of
students; and
5.
There should be alternative procedures to the traditional teacher
preparation programs that qualify persons as teachers.
(b) There are hereby established alternative certification program options as
described in subsections (2) to (9) of this section.
(c) It is the intent of the General Assembly that the Educational Professional
Standards Board inform scholars, persons with exceptional work
experience, and persons with diverse backgrounds who have potential as
teachers of these options and assist local boards of education in
implementing these options and recruitment of individuals who can
enhance the education system in Kentucky.
(d) The Education Professional Standards Board shall promulgate
administrative regulations establishing standards and procedures for the
alternative certification options described in this section.
Option 1: Certification of a person with exceptional work experience. An
individual who has exceptional work experience and has been offered
employment in a local school district shall receive a one (1) year provisional
teaching certificate with approval by the Education Professional Standards
Board of a joint application by the individual and the employing school district
under the following conditions:
(a) The application contains documentation of all education and work
experience;
(b) The candidate has documented ten (10) years of exceptional work
experience in the area in which certification is being sought;
(c) The candidate possesses:
1. a.
A minimum of a bachelor's degree, with a cumulative grade
point average of two and five-tenths (2.5) on a four (4) point
scale or a grade point average of three (3.0) on a four (4) point
scale on the last sixty (60) hours of credit completed, including
(3)
undergraduate and graduate coursework from a nationally or
regionally accredited postsecondary institution; or
b.
A graduate degree with a cumulative grade point average of
two and five-tenths (2.5) on a four (4) point scale or a grade
point average of three (3.0) on a four (4) point scale on the last
sixty (60) hours of credit completed, including undergraduate
and graduate coursework from a nationally or regionally
accredited postsecondary institution; and
2.
An academic major or a passing score on the academic content
assessment designated by the Education Professional Standards
Board; and
(d) The candidate shall participate in the teacher internship program under
subsections (5), (6), (7), and (8) of KRS 161.030. After successful
completion of the internship, the candidate shall receive a regular
professional certificate and shall be subject to certificate renewal
requirements the same as any other teacher with a regular professional
certificate.
Option 2: Certification through a local district training program. A local district
or group of districts may seek approval for a training program. The
state-approved local district training program is an alternative to the college
teacher preparation program as a means of acquiring teacher certification for a
teacher at any grade level. The training program may be offered for all teaching
certificates approved by Education Professional Standards Board, including
interdisciplinary early childhood education, except for specific certificates for
teachers of exceptional children. To participate in a state-approved local district
alternative training program, the candidate shall:
(a) Possess a bachelor's degree with a grade point average of two and five
tenths (2.5) on a four (4) point scale or, upon approval by the Education
Professional Standards Board, at least a grade point average of two (2)
on a four (4) point scale if the candidate has exceptional life experience
related to teaching and has completed the bachelor's degree at least five
(5) years prior to submitting an application to the program.
(b) Pass written tests designated by the Education Professional Standards
Board for content knowledge in the specific teaching field of the applicant
with minimum scores in each test as set by the Education Professional
Standards Board. To be eligible to take a subject field test, the applicant
shall have completed a thirty (30) hour major in the academic content
area or five (5) years of experience in the academic content area as
approved by the Education Professional Standards Board.
(c) Have been offered employment in a school district which has a training
program approved by the Education Professional Standards Board.
(d) Upon meeting the participation requirements as established in this
subsection, the candidate shall be issued a one (1) year provisional
certificate by the Education Professional Standards Board. The regular
provisional certificate shall be issued upon satisfactory completion of the
program and the teacher testing internship program pursuant to KRS
161.030.
(e)
(4)
(5)
(6)
(7)
The Education Professional Standards Board may reject the application
of any candidate who is judged as not meeting academic requirements
comparable to those for students enrolled in Kentucky teacher
preparation programs.
Option 3: Certification of a professional from a postsecondary institution: A
candidate who possesses the following qualifications may receive alternative
certification for teaching at any level:
(a) A master's degree or doctoral degree in the academic content area for
which certification is sought;
(b) A minimum of five (5) years of full-time teaching experience, or its
equivalent, in the academic content area for which certification is sought
in a regionally or nationally accredited institution of higher education; and
(c) Successful completion of the teacher internship requirement imposed
under KRS 161.030.
Option 4: Certification of an adjunct instructor. A person who has expertise in
areas such as art, music, foreign language, drama, science, and other
specialty areas may be employed as an adjunct instructor in a part-time
position by a local board of education under KRS 161.046. An individual
certified as an adjunct instructor shall not be deemed "highly qualified" under
the provisions of the federal No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, 20 U.S.C. secs.
6301 et seq.
Option 5: Certification of a veteran of the Armed Forces. The Education
Professional Standards Board shall issue a statement of eligibility, valid for five
(5) years, to a veteran for teaching at the elementary, secondary, and
secondary vocational education levels with the following qualifications:
(a) 1.
Discharged or released from active duty under honorable conditions
after six (6) or more years of continuous active duty immediately
before the discharge or release; or
2.
Completed a total of at least ten (10) years of active duty service,
ten (10) years of service officially credited toward armed services
retirement, or ten (10) years' combination of such service;
(b) At least a bachelor's degree in the content area or closely related area for
which certification is sought, issued by a regionally or nationally
accredited institution of higher education;
(c) A grade point average of two and five-tenths (2.5) on a four (4) point
scale for a bachelor's degree or an advanced degree; and
(d) A passing score on the written exit assessment examination designated
by the Education Professional Standards Board for content knowledge.
Upon an offer of employment by a school district, the eligible veteran shall
receive a one (1) year provisional teaching certificate with approval by the
Education Professional Standards Board of a joint application by the veteran
and the employing school district. During this year, the veteran shall participate
in the teacher internship program under subsections (5), (6), (7), and (8) of
KRS 161.030. Upon successful completion of the internship program, the
veteran shall receive a regular professional certificate.
Option 6: University alternative program. With approval of the Education
(8)
Professional Standards Board, a university may provide an alternative program
that enrolls students in a postbaccalaureate teacher preparation program
concurrently with employment as a teacher in a local school district. A student
in the alternative program shall be granted a temporary provisional certificate
and shall be a candidate in the Kentucky teacher internship program,
notwithstanding provisions of KRS 161.030. A student may not participate in
the internship program until the student has successfully completed the
assessments required by the board. The temporary provisional certificate shall
be valid for a maximum of one (1) year, and may be renewed two (2) additional
years, and shall be contingent upon the candidate's continued enrollment in the
preparation program and compliance with all requirements established by the
board. A professional certificate shall be issued upon the teacher candidate's
successful completion of the program, the internship requirements, and all
assessments required by the board.
Option 7: Certification of a person in a field other than education to teach in
elementary, middle, or secondary programs. This option shall not be limited to
teaching in shortage areas.
(a) An individual certified under provisions of this subsection shall be issued
a one (1) year temporary provisional teaching certificate, renewable for a
maximum of two (2) additional years with approval of the Education
Professional Standards Board provided that the candidate:
1.
Possesses a bachelor's degree with a declared academic major in
the area in which certification is sought and a cumulative grade point
average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, or a professional or graduate degree
in a field related to the area in which certification is sought;
2.
Has a minimum score of five hundred (500) on the verbal section
and a minimum score of four (4) on the analytical writing section of
the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). In addition, teachers of
mathematics and physical and biological sciences shall have a
minimum score of four hundred fifty (450) on the quantitative section
of the GRE. A candidate who has a professional degree shall be
exempt from the requirements of this subparagraph; and
3.
Passes written tests designated by the Education Professional
Standards Board for content knowledge in the specific teaching field
of the applicant with minimum scores in each test as set by the
board.
(b) Prior to receiving the temporary provisional certificate or during the first
year of the certificate, the teacher shall complete the following:
1.
For elementary teaching, the individual shall successfully complete
the equivalent of a two hundred forty (240) hour institute, based on
six (6) hour days for eight (8) weeks. The providers and the content
of the institute shall be approved by the Education Professional
Standards Board. The content shall include research-based
teaching strategies in reading and math, research on child and
adolescent growth, knowledge of individual differences, including
teaching exceptional children, and methods of classroom
management.
2.
(9)
For middle and secondary teaching, the individual shall successfully
complete the equivalent of a one hundred eighty (180) hour institute,
based on six (6) hour days for six (6) weeks. The providers and the
content of the institute shall be approved by the Education
Professional Standards Board and shall include research-based
teaching strategies, research on child and adolescent growth,
knowledge of individual differences, including teaching exceptional
children, and methods of classroom management.
(c) The candidate shall participate in the teacher internship program under
subsections (5), (6), (7), and (8) of KRS 161.030. After successful
completion of the internship program, the candidate shall receive a
regular professional certificate.
Option 8:
Certification of a Teach for America participant to teach in
elementary, middle, or high schools. Nothing in this subsection shall conflict
with the participation criteria of the Teach for America program.
(a) An individual certified under this subsection shall be issued a one (1) year
temporary provisional teaching certificate if the candidate:
1.
Has an offer of employment from a local school district;
2. Possesses a bachelor's degree;
3.
Successfully completes the summer training institute and ongoing
professional development required by Teach for America, including
instruction in goal-oriented, standards-based instruction, diagnosing
and assessing students, lesson planning and instructional delivery,
classroom management, maximizing learning for diverse students,
and teaching methodologies; and
4.
Successfully passes written tests designated by the Education
Professional Standards Board for content knowledge in the specific
teaching field of the candidate with minimum scores in each test as
set by the board.
(b) The temporary provisional certificate granted under paragraph (a) of this
subsection may be renewed two (2) times with a recommendation of the
superintendent and approval of the Education Professional Standards
Board.
(c) A Teach for America participant who is approved for a second renewal of
his or her temporary provisional certificate under paragraph (b) of this
subsection may participate in the internship program under KRS 161.030.
(d) A Teach for America participant shall be issued a professional certificate
upon the participant's successful completion of the internship program
and assessments relating to teaching of subject matter required by the
Education Professional Standards Board under KRS 161.030.
(e) Notwithstanding any statute or administrative regulation to the contrary, a
teacher certified under this subsection shall have ten (10) years from the
date that the teacher successfully completed the internship program to
complete a master's degree or fifth year program, or the equivalent as
specified by the Education Professional Standards Board in administrative
regulation.
(f)
(10)
(11)
(12)
(13)
(14)
Alternative certification under this subsection shall be considered a pilot
program and shall be an option from July 15, 2010, until the federal Race
to the Top funding program under Sections 14005 and 14006 of the
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, Pub. L. No. 111-5, is
completed, except that the Education Professional Standards Board may
promulgate administrative regulations in accordance with KRS Chapter
13A to make this a permanent option.
A public school teacher certified under subsections (2) to (9) of this section
shall be placed on the local district salary schedule for the rank corresponding
to the degree held by the teacher.
Veterans who were discharged or released from active duty under honorable
conditions after six (6) or more years of continuous active duty immediately
before the discharge or release, and who have at least four (4) years of
occupational experience in the area in which they seek certification as a
vocational industrial education teacher, shall apply for certification under and
meet the requirements of the administrative regulations promulgated by the
Education Professional Standards Board.
Subsections (1) to (3) of this section notwithstanding, a candidate who
possesses the following qualifications may receive certification for teaching
programs for exceptional students:
(a) An out-of-state license to teach exceptional students;
(b) A bachelor's or master's degree in the certification area or closely related
area for which certification is sought; and
(c) Successful completion of the teacher internship requirement required
under KRS 161.030.
A teacher who is fully certified in Kentucky and who is seeking an additional
certification is not required to repeat the Kentucky teacher internship program.
Under KRS 161.030(5), a candidate for alternative certification may serve his
or her internship in a nonpublic school.
Effective:July 15, 2010
History: Amended 2010 Ky. Acts ch. 79, sec. 1, effective July 15, 2010. -Amended 2008 Ky. Acts ch. 177, sec. 1, effective July 15, 2008. -- Amended
2005 Ky. Acts ch. 111, sec. 2, effective June 20, 2005. -- Amended 2004 Ky.
Acts ch. 117, sec. 3, effective July 13, 2004. -- Amended 2000 Ky. Acts ch. 161,
sec. 1, effective July 14, 2000. -- Amended 1998 Ky. Acts ch. 514, sec. 8,
effective July 15, 1998; and ch. 589, sec. 1, effective July 15, 1998. -- Amended
1996 Ky. Acts ch. 137, sec. 1, effective July 15, 1996; and ch. 343, sec. 6,
effective July 15, 1996. -- Created 1990 Ky. Acts ch. 476, Pt. II, sec. 58,
effective July 13, 1990.
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