Senate bill NO. 373

INTRODUCED BY D. Salomon, F. Anderson, C. Knudsen, M. Bertoglio, B. Ler, E. Buttrey, L. Jones, J. Fuller, J. Small, M. Cuffe, G. Hertz, J. Ellsworth, C. Sprunger

By Request of the ****

A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: "AN ACT REVISING LAWS RELATED TO TEACHER CERTIFICATION; ESTABLISHING ALTERNATIVE TEACHER CREDENTIALING; PROVIDING REQUIREMENTS FOR APPLICANTS SEEKING ALTERNATIVE CREDENTIALING AND FOR ALTERNATIVE TEACHER CERTIFICATION and endorsement programs APPROVED by the board of public education upon the recommendation of the superintendent of public instruction; AMENDING SECTION 20-4-104, MCA; and PROVIDING AN IMMEDIATE EFFECTIVE DATE.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MONTANA:

Section 1. Alternative teacher credentialing. (1) The superintendent of public instruction shall issue a class 2 standard certificate to an applicant who meets all of the following requirements:

(a)        the applicant holds a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university;

(b)        the applicant passes a criminal history background check in the manner prescribed under rules adopted by the board of public education;

(c)        the applicant completes coursework related to Indian education for all, pursuant to Title 20, chapter 1, part 5, that is required of other class 2 standard certificate applicants under rules adopted by the board of public education; and

(d)        the applicant has successfully completed an alternative teacher certification and endorsement program that includes the following:

(i)         subject-area content training in the area in which the applicant seeks to be certified and endorsed; and

(ii)         pedagogical training that covers effective instructional delivery, classroom management and organization, assessment, instructional design, and professional learning and leadership.

(2)        An individual who successfully completes an alternative teacher certification and endorsement program and who is granted a class 2 standard certificate under this section:

(a)        is authorized to teach the subjects and grade levels corresponding with the individual's completed alternative teacher certification and endorsement program; and

(b)        may be required by the board of public education to participate in a district mentorship and induction program in the first year of full-time employment.

(3)        The state shall treat an individual who successfully earns a class 2 standard certificate under this section in the same manner as an individual who completes a traditional teacher preparation program and is issued a class 2 standard certificate, including following the same process for certifications under 20-4-106 that require a class 2 standard certificate as a prerequisite to other certifications.

(4)        For purposes of this part, the following definitions apply:

(a)        "Alternative teacher certification and endorsement program" means a teacher certification and endorsement program that meets the requirements of this section, and has been approved by the board of public education upon recommendation of the superintendent of public instruction. The approval of an alternative teacher certification and endorsement program may not require a supervised teaching experience or licensure from another state or any characteristic except as provided in this section and must require either:

(i)         affiliation with or status as a public or private institution of higher education; or

 (ii)        that the alternative teacher certification and endorsement program is accepted for teacher licensure in at least five states and has operated for at least 10 years.

(b)        "Certification and endorsement" means the classifications of teacher and specialist certificates and the corresponding subject fields for endorsement according to the board of education policy for certification endorsement as referenced in 20-4-106.

Section 2. Section 20-4-104, MCA, is amended to read:

"20-4-104. Qualifications. (1) A person may be certified as a teacher when the person satisfies the following qualifications. The person:

(a)        is 18 years of age or older;

(b)        is of good moral and professional character;

(c)        (i) has completed the teacher education program of a unit of the Montana university system or an essentially equivalent program at an accredited institution of equal rank and standing as that of any unit of the Montana university system, and the training is evidenced by at least a bachelor's degree and a certification of the completion of the teacher education program, except as provided for in 20-4-106(1)(d);

(ii)         possesses a current certification from the national board for professional teaching standards; or

(iii)        possesses a current educator license from another state or country and successful experience as determined by the board of public education; or

(iv)        has completed the alternative teacher certification and endorsement program provided for in [section 1]; and

(d)        has subscribed to the following oath or affirmation before an officer authorized by law to administer oaths:

"I solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support The Constitution of the United States of America and The Constitution of the State of Montana."

(2)        Any person may be certified as a specialist when the person satisfies the requirements of subsections (1)(a) and (1)(b) and the requirement for a specialist certificate provided in 20-4-106(2)."

Section 3. Codification instruction. [Section 1] is intended to be codified as an integral part of Title 20, chapter 4, part 1, and the provisions of Title 20, chapter 4, part 1, apply to [section 1].

Section 4. Effective date. [This act] is effective on passage and approval.