State SealARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

 

HB 2534: teachers; certification requirements

PRIME SPONSOR: Representative Carter, LD 15

BILL STATUS: Caucus & COW

                ED: DPA 9-1-0-1

Legend: CTE – Career and Technical Education FPCC – Fingerprint Clearance Card JTED – Joint Technical Education District SBE – State Board of Education STEM – Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Amendments – BOLD and Stricken (Committee)

Abstract

☐ Prop 105 (45 votes) ☐ Prop 108 (40 votes) ☐ Emergency (40 votes) ☐ Fiscal NoteRelating to teaching certificates.

Provisions

1.       Transfers teacher certification statutes to a new section of statute. (Sec. 2)

2.       Instructs SBE to issue the following teaching certificates that reflect the source of each teacher's training:

a.       Standard Teaching Certificate;

b.       Postbaccalaureate Teaching Certificate;

Currently named Alternative Teaching Certificate

c.        Subject-Matter Expert Teaching Certificate;

d.       Classroom-Based Teaching Certificate; and

e.       CTE Teaching Certificate. (Sec. 2)

3.       Requires all certificated teachers, except those who provide instruction in CTE, to have a bachelor's degree. (Sec. 2)

4.       Removes the authorization for a GED to be substituted for a high school diploma for Emergency Substitute Teacher Certification. (Sec. 1)

5.       Limits 12-year issuance and renewal to Standard Teaching Certificates. (Sec. 2)

6.       Excludes Standard Teaching Certificates from eligibility for renewal of an expired certificate, and any endorsements or approved areas related to the certificate, within 2-10 years of expiration. (Sec. 2)

7.       Directs Legislative Council to prepare proposed legislation conforming the Arizona Revised Statutes to this act for consideration in the next legislative session. (Sec. 3)

8.       Makes technical and conforming changes. (Sec. 1, 2) (ED)

Current Law

SBE oversees teacher certification and issues teaching certificates by grade levels and subject areas. An applicant who has a valid teaching certificate from another state, a FPCC and is in good standing is eligible for a comparable standard certificate in Arizona. An in-state applicant for a standard teaching certificate may complete the required training through an alternative teacher and administrator preparation program, coursework and experience or professional experience. In addition to standard teaching certificates, SBE also oversees Substitute, CTE, STEM and Classroom-Based Teaching Certificates (A.R.S. §§ 15-203, 15-553 and 15-782.01).

Certificates are issued and renewed for 12 years, and cannot require more than 15 hours of continuing education credits per year for renewal. Additionally, a certificate and endorsements related to a certificate may be renewed between 2 and 10 years after it expires if the certificate holder is in good standing, has at least 10 years of verified experience and a valid FPCC. All certificates require a bachelor's degree, except for CTE Teaching Certificates, Subject-Matter Expert Standard Teaching Certificate and Emergency Substitute Teaching Certificate (A.R.S. §§ 15-203 and 15-782.01).

 

 

 

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Fifty-third Legislature                  HB 2534

Second Regular Session                               Version 2: Caucus & COW

 

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