2010 Tennessee Code
Title 49 - Education
Chapter 5 - Personnel
Part 52 - Career Ladder for Teachers
49-5-5203 - Term and renewal of teaching licenses.

49-5-5203. Term and renewal of teaching licenses.

(a)  (1)  The initial certificate for career level I, career level II and career level III teachers shall be valid for ten (10) years and shall be renewable for additional periods of ten (10) years.

     (2)  The license for an apprentice teacher shall be valid for three (3) years. If a teacher is denied a professional license and certification as a career level I teacher at the end of the third year of employment, that teacher upon request shall receive a new apprentice teacher license, which shall be valid for one (1) year.

(b)  (1)  In addition to the other requirements provided for in this part, a teacher with a bachelor's degree only shall complete one (1) academic course or one (1) professional education course that focuses on methodology or teaching skills as part of the certification renewal process each ten (10) years. Credit shall be granted only for upper division level courses in the respective areas of certification that are completed with an attained three (3) point grade point average, on a four (4) point grading system. A teacher may complete upper division courses in another subject if they are taken with the goal of broadening the areas of certification. A teacher may complete upper division courses in areas of need identified through the evaluation process; however, the teacher shall provide, with the application for renewal, written verification of the need signed by the teacher's immediate supervisor before the courses may be counted for certificate renewal.

     (2)  When necessary, an LEA shall adjust the work schedule of a career level II or career level III teacher employed under an eleven- or twelve-month contract to enable the teacher to complete the upper division courses required by this section.

     (3)  A person employed to teach a vocational or other course where a college degree is not required shall not be required to complete the upper level courses provided for in this subsection (b).

(c)  (1)  Any apprentice teacher seeking a professional license or career level I teacher seeking recertification found not to meet minimum competency standards under the evaluation process set out in § 49-5-5205(i) may appeal to the state board of education.

     (2)  If a request for review is filed with the state board of education, any termination of the payment of the salary supplement the teacher is already receiving shall be deferred pending the state board of education's final determination of the request for review.

     (3)  If the state board of education determines that the person seeking review is qualified to receive the certificate being applied for, the board shall issue the proper certificate and, thereafter, the person shall receive the proper salary supplement in accordance with part 50, this part and parts 53-55 of this chapter.

     (4)  If the state board of education determines that the person seeking review is not qualified to receive the certificate being applied for, the board shall issue the person any other certificate to which the person may be entitled under part 50, this part and parts 53-55 of this chapter and, thereafter, the person shall receive the salary supplement to which the person is entitled.

(d)  Any teacher holding a career level II teacher certificate whose certificate is not renewed in due course because of the teacher's failure to meet the relevant certification standards shall, at the expiration of the career level II teacher's certificate and if minimum competency standards are met, be issued a career level I teacher certificate that shall be valid for ten (10) years and shall be subject to renewal in the same manner as other career level I teacher certificates.

(e)  Any teacher holding a career level III teacher certificate whose certificate is not renewed in due course because of the teacher's failure to meet the relevant certification standards shall, at the expiration of career level III teacher's certificate and if minimum competency standards are met, be issued a career level II teacher certificate that shall be valid for ten (10) years and shall be subject to renewal in the same manner as other career level II certificates.

(f)  Any career level certificate may be extended by the state board of education for a period of time not to exceed one (1) year if a person's illness, disability or family hardship prevents the completion of the evaluation for the purpose of recertification.

[Acts 1984 (1st E.S.), ch. 7, § 28; 1985, ch. 465, § 34; 1987, ch. 26, § 1; 1987, ch. 308, §§ 46, 47, 53; 1988, ch. 777, §§ 1, 2; 1990, ch. 948, § 20; 1993, ch. 32, §§ 10, 11; 1999, ch. 34, § 6.]