Introduced Version






SENATE BILL No. 103

_____


DIGEST OF INTRODUCED BILL



Citations Affected: IC 20-6.1-3.

Synopsis: Alternative teacher certification. Establishes the teacher alternative certification program. Requires the professional standards board to administer the program to facilitate the entry into the teaching profession of competent persons holding degrees in fields other than teaching and to allow competent persons who do not hold a teaching license to earn and be issued a teaching license. Requires the professional standards board to establish details of the teacher alternative certification program. Requires each accredited teacher training school and department that issues a master's degree to establish a one year master's degree course of study that constitutes the higher education component of the program. Requires the professional standards board to issue an initial standard teacher license to a qualified program participant who successfully completes both the higher education component of the program and a teacher internship program.

Effective: July 1, 2001.





Kenley




    January 8, 2001, read first time and referred to Committee on Education.







Introduced

First Regular Session 112th General Assembly (2001)


PRINTING CODE. Amendments: Whenever an existing statute (or a section of the Indiana Constitution) is being amended, the text of the existing provision will appear in this style type, additions will appear in this style type, and deletions will appear in this style type.
Additions: Whenever a new statutory provision is being enacted (or a new constitutional provision adopted), the text of the new provision will appear in this style type. Also, the word NEW will appear in that style type in the introductory clause of each SECTION that adds a new provision to the Indiana Code or the Indiana Constitution.
Conflict reconciliation: Text in a statute in this style type or this style type reconciles conflicts between statutes enacted by the 2000 General Assembly.

SENATE BILL No. 103



    A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning education.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Indiana:

    SECTION 1. IC 20-6.1-3-3 IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2001]: Sec. 3. (a) The board shall designate:
        (1) the grade average required for each kind of license; and
        (2) the kinds of license to which the teachers' minimum salary laws apply, including nonrenewable one (1) year limited licenses.
    (b) The board shall determine details of licensing not provided in this chapter. These details may include requirements regarding:
        (1) the conversion of one kind of license into another;
        (2) the accreditation of teacher training schools and departments;
        (3) the exchange and renewal of licenses;
        (4) the endorsement of another state's license;
        (5) the acceptance of credentials from teacher training institutions of another state;
        (6) the academic and professional preparation for each kind of license;
        (7) the granting of permission to teach a high school subject area

related to the subject area for which the teacher holds a license;
        (8) the issuance of licenses on credentials;
        (9) the kind of license for each school position;
        (10) the size of an elementary school requiring a licensed principal; and
        (11) the teacher alternative certification program established by section 11 of this chapter; and
         (12) other related matters.
However, the board shall, not later than December 31, 1984, establish at least one (1) system for renewing a teaching license that does not require a graduate degree.
    (c) The board shall periodically publish bulletins regarding:
        (1) the details described in subsection (b);
        (2) information on the kinds of licenses issued;
        (3) the rules governing the issuance of each kind of license; and
        (4) other similar matters.
    SECTION 2. IC 20-6.1-3-11 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2001]: Sec. 11. (a) As used in this section, "program" refers to the teacher alternative certification program established by subsection (b).
    (b) The teacher alternative certification program is established to do the following:
        (1) Facilitate the entry into the teaching profession of competent persons holding degrees in fields other than teaching.
        (2) Allow competent persons who do not hold a teaching license to earn and be issued a teaching license through participation in and satisfactory completion of the program.

    (c) Subject to the requirements of this section, the board shall develop and administer the program. The board shall determine the details of the program that are not included in this section, including the details of the following:
        (1) Eligibility for participation in the program.
        (2) The higher education component.
        (3) The teacher internship program component.
    (d) A person who wishes to participate in the program must meet the following requirements:
        (1) Have one (1) of the following from an accredited institution of higher education:
            (A) A bachelor's degree with a grade point average of at least 2.5 on a 4.0 point scale (or the equivalent).


            (B) A graduate degree with a grade point average of at least 2.5 on a 4.0 point scale (or the equivalent).
        (2) Meet other requirements established by the board.
    (e) Each accredited teacher training school and department that offers a master's degree shall establish a course of study that constitutes the higher education component of the program and meets the following requirements:
        (1) Includes at least thirty (30) credit hours of study or the equivalent that can be completed by a person in one (1) calendar year of full-time study.
        (2) Terminates in the issuance of a master's degree to a person who successfully completes the course of study.
        (3) Emphasizes instruction in education methodology and practices with a focus on the communication of knowledge to students.
        (4) Is approved by the commission for higher education.
        
(5) Meets other requirements established by the board.
    (f) The board shall grant an initial standard license to a program participant who does the following:
        (1) Receives a master's degree for successfully completing the higher education component of the program.
        (2) Participates successfully in a teacher internship program that includes implementation in a classroom of the teaching skills learned in the higher education component of the program.
        (3) Upon completion of the teacher internship program, receives a successful assessment of teaching skills from the administrator of the school where the teacher internship program takes place.
        (4) Meets other requirements established by the board.
    (g) The board may adopt rules under IC 4-22-2 to administer this section.