Bill Text: CT HB07021 | 2015 | General Assembly | Chaptered
Bill Title: An Act Concerning Teacher Preparation Program Efficacy.
Spectrum: Committee Bill
Status: (Passed) 2015-07-10 - Signed by the Governor [HB07021 Detail]
Download: Connecticut-2015-HB07021-Chaptered.html
Substitute House Bill No. 7021
AN ACT CONCERNING TEACHER PREPARATION PROGRAM EFFICACY.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:
Section 1. (NEW) (Effective from passage) On and after July 1, 2015, the Department of Education shall annually submit a report on the quality of teacher preparation programs leading to professional certification offered at institutions of higher education in the state to the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to education and higher education, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes. Such report shall include, but not be limited to, (1) information and data relating to the extent to which graduates of such teacher preparation programs help their students learn, including, but not limited to, data relating to the academic achievement and progress of the students of such graduates, (2) measures for assessing the classroom teaching performance of such graduates, (3) retention rates in the teaching profession of such graduates, (4) survey results from such graduates and the employers of such graduates regarding such teacher preparation programs, (5) data relating to the employment of such graduates in a teaching position, (6) certification issuance rates, including first-time pass rates for such graduates, and (7) recommendations regarding the recruitment of minority teachers and administrators pursuant to section 10-155l of the general statutes.
Sec. 2. Subsection (j) of section 10-145a of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2015):
(j) On and after July 1, [2015] 2016, any program of teacher preparation leading to professional certification shall require, as part of the curriculum, clinical experience, field experience or student teaching experience in a classroom during four semesters of such program of teacher preparation. Such clinical experience, field experience or student teaching experience shall occur: (1) In a school district that has been categorized by the Department of Education as District Reference Group A, B, C, D or E, and (2) in a school district that has been categorized by the department as District Reference Group F, G, H or I. Such clinical experience, field experience or student teaching experience may include a cooperating teacher serving as a mentor to student teachers, provided such cooperating teacher has received a performance evaluation designation of exemplary or proficient, pursuant to section 10-151b, for the prior school year.