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.
January 8, 2001, read first time and referred to Committee on Education.
A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning
education.
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.