Citations Affected:
IC 20-6.1-12.
Synopsis: Beginning teacher assessment program. Establishes the
beginning teacher assessment program. Provides that a teacher who
holds an initial standard license must complete a performance
assessment before receiving a proficient practitioner license.
Effective: Upon passage; July 1, 2003.
January 15, 2003, read first time and referred to Committee on Education and Career
Development.
A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning
education.
SECTION 1.
IC 20-6.1-12
IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE
AS A NEW CHAPTER TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
JULY 1, 2003]:
Chapter 12. Beginning Teacher Assessment Program
Sec. 1. This chapter applies to an individual who receives an
initial standard or reciprocal license after June 30, 2003.
Sec. 2. As used in this chapter, "assessment plan" means a plan
adopted under section 18 of this chapter.
Sec. 3. As used in this chapter, "assessment program" means the
beginning teacher assessment program established under this
chapter.
Sec. 4. As used in this chapter, "beginning teacher" means an
individual who:
(1) receives an initial standard or reciprocal license;
(2) is employed as a teacher by:
(A) a school corporation or charter school under a contract
described in
IC 20-6.1-4
; or
(B) an accredited nonpublic school; and
(3) has not successfully completed:
(A) an internship program under 515 IAC 1-5-1 or under
this chapter; or
(B) an equivalent program in another state and has less
than two (2) years of creditable teaching experience (as
defined by the board) in another state.
Sec. 5. Notwithstanding
IC 20-6.1-1-1
, as used in this chapter,
"board" refers to the professional standards board.
Sec. 6. As used in this chapter, "designated teacher" means the
teacher identified by a school who has primary academic
responsibility for:
(1) a class; or
(2) the delivery of services specific to a license.
The term includes a teacher of record (as defined in 511
IAC 7-3-50).
Sec. 7. As used in this chapter, "equivalent out-of-state
assessment" means a standards based performance assessment for
beginning teachers established by another state that is recognized
by the board as equivalent to the assessment under this chapter.
Sec. 8. As used in this chapter, "first assessment year" means
one (1) of the following:
(1) For a beginning teacher who begins teaching in an Indiana
public or accredited nonpublic school at the beginning of a
school year, the first year of teaching.
(2) For a beginning teacher who begins teaching in an Indiana
public or accredited nonpublic school after the beginning of
a school year, the remainder of that school year and the next
full school year of teaching.
Sec. 9. As used in this chapter, "internship program" refers to
the beginning internship program established under this chapter.
Sec. 10. As used in this chapter, "mentor" means a teacher who:
(1) has met the qualifications and received the training
required by the board; and
(2) is assigned under section 19 of this chapter.
Sec. 11. As used in this chapter, "performance assessment"
means:
(1) a performance based assessment, if a performance based
assessment has been approved by the board for a licensing
area;
(2) an alternative assessment of experience approved by the
board, if a performance based assessment has not been
approved by the board for the relevant licensing area; or
(3) a general assessment of professional teaching knowledge
or performance related to standards based teaching required
under rules adopted by the board.
Sec. 12. As used in this chapter, "school" includes a public
school, a charter school, or an accredited nonpublic school.
Sec. 13. As used in this chapter, "second assessment year"
means the full school year of teaching in an Indiana public or
accredited nonpublic school that follows the first assessment year.
Sec. 14. As used in this chapter, "teacher training institution"
means a college or university offering a program of teacher
education approved by the board.
Sec. 15. As used in this chapter, "teaching credential" refers to
a license or permit issued by the board.
Sec. 16. The beginning teacher assessment program is
established for the following purposes:
(1) To determine whether a beginning teacher has
demonstrated the competence necessary to attain a proficient
practitioner license through content specific, standards based,
or alterative performance assessments established by the
board.
(2) To collect data to be used by:
(A) teacher training institutions to evaluate and improve
the effectiveness of the training programs; and
(B) the board as a part of the board's accreditation process
for teacher training institutions.
(3) To support beginning teachers in their understanding and
integration of standards based teaching practices into their
classrooms.
(4) To support beginning teachers as new employees.
(5) To identify teaching skills and educational practices
necessary to acquire and maintain excellence in teaching.
(6) To define a program that enables a school to satisfy the
requirements of
IC 20-1-1-6.5.
Sec. 17. (a) A beginning teacher must comply with the following
provisions:
(1) A beginning teacher shall participate in an assessment
program for at least two (2) years. During:
(A) the first assessment year, the beginning teacher is
responsible for:
(i) participating in the activities set forth in the
assessment plan prepared under this chapter; and
compromised by allowing the beginning teacher to continue
teaching during an extended assessment, the board may deny
participation in an extended assessment program. However,
if the beginning teacher's superintendent files a written
appeal with the board and verifies that the school corporation
will assume the direct expenses of the beginning teacher's
extended assessment program, the board shall allow
participation in an extended assessment program.
(c) A beginning teacher participating in an extended assessment
program under this section is entitled to receive additional
assistance to successfully complete the extended program.
(d) If the board has approved an assessment portfolio for a
licensing area in which a beginning teacher is a designated teacher
during the beginning teacher's extended assessment year, the
beginning teacher must submit a portfolio in that licensing area.
(e) A beginning teacher may submit not more than two (2)
additional performance assessments or equivalent out-of-state
assessments during an extended assessment program.
Sec. 22. A beginning teacher who has failed after three (3)
attempts to demonstrate competence through performance
assessments submitted under this chapter may appeal to the board.
Sec. 23. (a) A school's participation in the assessment program
is a condition of accreditation under
IC 20-1-16.
(b) The implementation of and participation in the assessment
program is not a subject of:
(1) bargaining under
IC 20-7.5-1-4
; or
(2) discussion under
IC 20-7.5-1-5.
(c) A beginning teacher who is participating in the assessment
program is entitled to at least the same salary and benefits
ordinarily granted by a school corporation to a teacher with
teaching experience that is comparable to the experience of the
beginning teacher. If a beginning teacher participates in an
extended assessment program, the beginning teacher is entitled to
credit during the third year for the teaching experience gained
during the second year of the assessment program.
(d) For purposes of contract status, if a school corporation
enters into a contract with a teacher who successfully completes
the assessment program, the teacher shall be credited with years
of teaching experience equal to the number of years the beginning
teacher participated in the assessment program. However, a school
corporation is not required to employ a teacher after the
completion of either the first or second year of the assessment
program.
Sec. 24. The board may adopt rules under
IC 4-22-2
, including
portfolio assessment fees, to carry out the purposes of this chapter.
SECTION 2. [EFFECTIVE UPON PASSAGE] (a)
Notwithstanding
IC 20-6.1-12
, as added by this act, the
professional standards board shall carry out the duties imposed
upon it under
IC 20-6.1-12
, as added by this act, under interim
written guidelines approved by the executive director of the
professional standards board.
(b) Interim written guidelines adopted under this SECTION
must include the following concerning mentors under
IC 20-6.1-12
,
as added by this act:
(1) A mentor must demonstrate knowledge of standards based
teaching and the standards a beginning teacher is required to
meet.
(2) Before acting as a mentor, a teacher must either:
(A) complete a mentor training program; or
(B) be enrolled in and committed to completing a mentor
training program.
(3) A mentor must have at least three (3) years of teaching
experience.
(4) A mentor must teach:
(A) in the same school building;
(B) at or near the same grade level; and
(C) in the same subject or discipline;
as the beginning teacher to whom the mentor is assigned.
(5) If a beginning teacher's principal believes there is no
mentor who is willing to serve and who meets the criteria set
forth in subdivisions (3) and (4), the principal:
(A) may appoint a mentor who meets as many of the
criteria as is feasible; and
(B) shall file with the professional standards board a
statement signed by the principal and the beginning
teacher's superintendent that sets forth the reasons a
mentor who does not meet the criteria set forth in
subdivisions (3) and (4) has been appointed for the
beginning teacher.
(c) This SECTION expires on the earlier of the following:
(1) The date rules are adopted under
IC 20-6.1-12
, as added
by this act.
(2) December 31, 2004.
SECTION 3. An emergency is declared for this act.