Providing alternative certification for principals and providing alternative certification programs for teachers
H. B. 207
(By Mr. Speaker, (Mr. Thompson) and Delegate Armstead)
[By Request of the Executive]
[Introduced July 17, 2010; referred to the
Committee on Education.]
A BILL to amend and reenact §18A-3-1a of the Code of West Virginia,
1931, as amended, relating to alternative principal and
teacher certification; authorizing alternative principal and
teacher certification programs; defining certain terms;
setting forth procedures for approving alternative education
programs by education providers; providing for alternative
instructional requirements; establishing eligibility
standards; setting forth certain requirements for training and
induction; providing criteria for recommendations and
decisions affecting rehiring and hiring; and requiring certain
legislative rules.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That §18A-3-1a of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended,
be amended and reenacted to read as follows:
ARTICLE 3. TRAINING, CERTIFICATION, LICENSING, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT.
§18A-3-1a. Alternative programs for the education of teachers and
principals; legislative rules required.
(a) Definitions. -- For the purposes of this section, the
following terms have the meaning ascribed to them, unless the
context in which a term is used clearly requires a different
meaning:
(1) "Alternative program principal certificate" means a
certificate issued for one year to a candidate who does not meet
the standard educational requirements for principal certification;
(2) "Alternative program teacher certificate" means a
certificate issued for one year to a candidate who does not meet
the standard educational requirements for teacher certification;
(3) "Approved education provider" means an entity whose
alternative education programs leading to certification have been
approved by the state board; and
(4) "Area of critical need and shortage" means an opening in
an established, existing or newly-created position which has been
posted at least two times in accordance with section seven-a,
article four of this chapter and for which no fully-qualified
applicant has been employed.
(a) By August 15, 2005, the state board, after consultation
with the Secretary of Education and the Arts, shall promulgate
rules in accordance with the provisions of article three-b, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code for the approval and operation of
teacher education programs which are an alternative to the regular
college or university programs for the education of teachers.
(b) Establishment of alternative education programs. --
By October 1, 2010, after consultation with the Secretary of
Education and the Arts and the Chancellor of the Higher Education
Policy Commission, the state board shall promulgate a legislative
rule or rules in accordance with article three-b, chapter twenty-
nine-a of this code to implement the provisions of this section.
The proposed rule or rules shall be submitted to the Legislative
Oversight Commission on Education Accountability for review prior
to adoption. The rule or rules shall include, but are not limited
to, the following issues:
(1) Separate procedures for the approval and operation of each
of the alternative teacher education programs and the alternative
principal education programs as provided in this section:
(A) These programs are an alternative to the regular college
or university programs for the education of teachers and principals
and may be offered by schools, school districts, consortia of
schools, regional educational service agencies or other approved
education providers; and
(B) Each program is separate from other programs established
by this section;
(2) Procedures for approving an entity to be an approved education provider as defined in this section. Approval is
required prior to implementation by the entity of a program leading
to certification to teach in the public schools of this state;
(3) Provisions for setting tuition charges to offset program
costs; and
(4) An alternative program for license and certificate renewal
for teachers whose license and certification to teach in the public
schools of the state have expired. The alternative program shall
permit the teacher to complete a program of professional
development approved by the state board equivalent to, and in lieu
of, the minimum semester hours of instruction required for renewal
of the expired certificate.
(c) Alternative teacher education program. --
(1) To participate in an approved alternative teacher
education program, the candidate must hold an alternative program
teacher certificate issued by the state superintendent and endorsed
for the instructional field in which the candidate seeks
certification. An alternative program teacher certificate is a
certificate issued for one year to a candidate who does not meet
the standard educational requirements for certification.
(2) The certificate may be renewed no more than two times
twice and no individual may hold an alternative program teacher
certificate for a period exceeding three years. The alternative
program teacher certificate shall be considered is equivalent to a professional teaching certificate for the purpose of the issuance
of issuing a continuing contract.
(3) To be eligible for an alternative program teacher
certificate, an applicant shall meet the following criteria:
(1)(A) Possess at least a bachelor's degree from a regionally
accredited institution of higher education in a discipline taught
in the public schools, except that the rules established pursuant
to subsection (b) of this section by the board may exempt from this
requirement candidates for alternative certification to teach in
selected vocational and technical areas who have at least ten
years' experience in the subject field; from this requirement
(2)(B) Pass an appropriate state board approved the same basic
skills and subject matter test or tests required by the state board
for traditional program candidates to become certified in the area
for which licensure is being sought;
(3)(C) Be a citizen of the Hold United States citizenship; be
of good moral character and be physically, mentally and emotionally
qualified to perform the duties of a teacher; and have attained
(D) Attain the age of eighteen years on or before October 1 of
the year in which the alternative program teacher certificate is
issued;
(4)(E) Have been offered Receive a formal offer of employment
in an area of critical need and shortage by from a county board
superintendent; in an area of critical need and shortage and
(5)(F) Qualify for employment following a criminal history
check pursuant to section ten of this article.
(4) Persons A person who satisfy satisfies the requirements
set forth in subdivisions (1) through (5) subdivision (3) of this
subsection shall be granted a formal document which will enable
them authorizing him or her to work in a public school in West
Virginia.
(b) The rules adopted by the board shall include provisions
for the approval of alternative teacher education programs which
may be offered by schools, school districts, consortia of schools,
or regional educational service agency and for the setting of
tuition charges to offset the program costs. An approved
alternative teacher education program shall be in effect for a
school, school district, consortium of schools or regional
educational service agency before an alternative program teacher
may be employed in that school, school district, consortium of
schools or regional educational service agency.
(5) A person holding an alternative program teacher
certificate shall enroll in an approved alternative teacher
education program. An approved alternative program shall provide
provides essential knowledge and skills to alternative program
teachers through the following phases of training:
(1)(A) Instruction. -- The alternative preparation program
shall provide a minimum of eighteen semester hours of instruction from a college or university or equivalent instruction through a
program approved by the state board in the areas of student
assessment; development and learning; curriculum; classroom
management; the use of educational computers and other technology;
and special education and diversity. All programs shall contain a
minimum of three semester hours of instruction or equivalent
instruction approved by the state board in special education and
diversity out of the minimum eighteen required semester hours or
equivalent instruction approved by the state board.
(2) (B) Phase I. -- Phase I shall consist consists of a period
of intensive, on-the-job supervision by an assigned mentor and the
school administrator for a period of not less fewer than two weeks
and no more than four weeks. The assigned mentor shall meet the
requirements for a beginning teacher internship mentor set forth in
section two-b of this article and shall be paid the stipend
authorized pursuant to that section. During this time, the teacher
The state board shall provide, in its rule for the approval and
operation of this program, requirements for the frequency and
duration of time periods for the person holding an alternative
certificate to observe in the classroom of the mentor. The person
holding an alternative certificate shall be observed daily by the
mentor or the school administrator during this phase. This phase
shall include includes an orientation to the policies, organization
and curriculum of the employing district. The alternative program teacher shall begin to receive formal instruction in those areas
listed in paragraph (A) subdivision (1) of this subsection
subdivision.
(3)(C) Phase II. -- Phase II shall consist consists of a
period of intensive, on-the-job supervision beginning the first day
following the completion of Phase I and continuing for a period of
at least ten weeks.
(i) During Phase II, the alternative program teacher shall be
is visited and critiqued no less than at least one time per week by
members of a professional support team, as defined in subsection
(c) subdivision (6) of this section subsection, and shall be is
observed and formally evaluated by the appropriately certified
members of the team at the end of five weeks and again at five-week
intervals until the completion of this phase. at the end of ten
weeks by the appropriately certified members of the team
(ii) At the end of the ten-week period completion of this
phase, the alternative program teacher shall receive a formal
written progress report from the chairperson of the support team.
(iii) The alternative program teacher shall continue to
receive formal instruction in those areas listed above under in
paragraph (A), subdivision (1) of this subsection subdivision.
(4)(D) Phase III. -- Phase III shall consist consists of an
additional period of continued supervision and evaluation of no
less fewer than twenty weeks duration. The professional support team will determine determines the requirements of this phase, with
but those requirements shall include at least one formal evaluation
being conducted at the completion of the phase. The alternative
program teacher shall continue to receive formal instruction in
those areas listed above in paragraph (A) subdivision (1) of this
subsection subdivision, and receive shall be given opportunities to
observe the teaching of experienced colleagues.
(c) (6) Professional support team. --
(A) Training and supervision of alternative program teachers
shall be are provided by a professional support team comprised of
a school principal, or his or her designee, an experienced
classroom teacher who satisfies the requirements for mentor for the
Beginning Educator Internship as specified in pursuant to section
two-b of this article, a college or university education faculty
member, and a curriculum supervisor or other central office
administrator with certification and training relevant to the
training and supervision of the alternative program candidate. The
professional support team also may include a representative of an
approved education provider.
(B) Districts or schools which do not employ curriculum
supervisors or have been unable to establish a relationship with a
college or university shall provide for comparable expertise on the
team.
(C) The school principal, or his or her designee, shall serve serves as chairperson of the team.
(D) The duration of each of the three phases of the program
specified in paragraphs (B), (C) and (D), subdivision (5) of this
subsection, in excess of the minimum durations provided in those
paragraphs, shall be determined by the professional support team
within guidelines provided by the state board in its rule for the
approval and operation of this program.
(E) In addition to other duties assigned to it under this
section and section one-b of this article, the professional support
team shall submit a written evaluation of the alternative program
teacher to the county superintendent. The written evaluation shall
be in a form specified by the county superintendent and submitted
on a date specified by the county superintendent that is prior to
the first Monday of May. The evaluation shall report the progress
of the alternative program teacher toward meeting the academic and
performance requirements of the program.
(d)(F) The training for professional support team members
shall be is coordinated and provided by the Center for Professional
Development in coordination with the school district, consortium of
schools, regional educational service agency, and institution of
higher education and approved education provider, or any
combination of these agencies as set forth in the plan approved by
the state board pursuant to subsection (e) subdivision (7) of this
section.
(e)(7) A school, school district, consortium of schools, or
regional educational service agency or other education provider
seeking to employ approval for an alternative certification program
teacher must shall submit a plan to the state board. and receive
approval
(A) No alternative certification program may be implemented
prior to receiving state board approval.
(B) Each plan shall describe how the proposed training program
will accomplish the key elements of an alternative program for the
education of teachers as set forth in this section. Each school,
school district, consortium of schools or regional educational
service agency shall show evidence in its plan of having sought
joint sponsorship of their training program with institutions of
higher education.
(f) The state board shall promulgate a rule in accordance with
article three-b, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code for the
approval and operation of alternative education programs to prepare
highly qualified special education teachers that
(d) Alternative highly qualified special education teacher
education program. --
(1) These programs are separate from the programs established
under the other provisions of this section and are applicable only
to teachers who have at least a bachelor's degree in a program for
the preparation of teachers from a regionally accredited institution of higher education.
(2) These programs are subject to the other provisions of this
section only to the extent specifically provided for in the rule.
(3) These programs may be an alternative to the regular
college and university programs for the education of special
education teachers and also may address the content area
preparation of certified special education teachers.
(4) The programs shall incorporate professional development to
the maximum extent possible to help teachers who are currently
certified in special education to obtain the required content area
preparation.
(5) Participation in an alternative education program pursuant
to this subsection shall may not affect any rights, privileges or
benefits to which the participant otherwise would otherwise be
entitled as a regular employee and nor does it may not alter any
rights, privileges or benefits of participants on continuing
contract status. The state board shall report to the Legislative
Oversight Commission on Education Accountability on the programs
authorized under this subsection during the July, 2005, interim
meetings or as soon thereafter as practical prior to implementation
of the programs.
(g) The state board shall promulgate a rule in accordance with
article three-b, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code for the
approval and operation of alternative education programs to prepare highly qualified special education teachers that
(e) Additional alternative education program to prepare highly
qualified special education teachers. --
(1) These programs are separate from the programs established
under the other provisions of this section and are applicable only
to persons who hold a bachelor's degree from a regionally
accredited institution of higher education.
(2) These programs are subject to the other provisions of this
section only to the extent specifically provided for in this the
rule.
(3) These programs may be an alternative to the regular
college and university programs for the education of special
education teachers and also may address the content area
preparation of such these persons. The state board shall report to
the Legislative Oversight Commission on Education Accountability on
the programs authorized under this subsection during the July,
2005, interim meetings or as soon thereafter as practical prior to
implementation of the programs.
(h) For the purposes of this section, "area of critical need
and shortage" means an opening in an established, existing or newly
created position which has been posted in accordance with the
provisions of section seven-a, article four of this chapter, and
for which no fully qualified applicant has been employed.
(f) Alternative principal education program. --
(1) To participate in an approved alternative principal
education program, the candidate must hold an alternative program
principal certificate issued by the state superintendent and
endorsed for the programmatic level in which the candidate seeks
certification.
(2) The certificate may be renewed twice and no individual may
hold an alternative program principal certificate for a period
exceeding three years.
(3) The alternative program principal certificate is
equivalent to a valid administrative certificate for the purpose of
issuing a written contract.
(4) To be eligible for an alternative program principal
certificate, an applicant shall meet the following criteria:
(A) Possess at least a master's degree from a regionally
accredited institution of higher education in a field related to
the public school program;
(B) Hold United States citizenship; be of good moral character
and physically, mentally and emotionally qualified to perform the
duties of a principal;
(C) Attain the age of twenty-one years on or before October 1
of the year in which the alternative program principal certificate
is issued;
(D) Receive a formal offer of employment in a principal or
assistant principal position from a county superintendent in an established, existing or newly-created position which has been
posted at least two times in accordance with section seven-a,
article four of this chapter and for which no fully-qualified
applicant has been employed;
(E) Qualify for employment following a criminal history check
pursuant to section ten of this article; and
(F) Have at least three years of experience as a classroom
teacher in the public schools.
(5) A person who satisfies the requirements pursuant to
subdivision (4) of this subsection shall be granted a formal
document authorizing him or her to work in a public school in West
Virginia.
(6) A person holding an alternative program principal
certificate shall enroll in an approved alternative principal
education program under this section or at a state institution of
higher education authorized to prepare administrative personnel for
certification valid in the public schools.
(7) An approved alternative program provides essential
knowledge and skills to alternative program principals through the
following phases of training:
(A) Instruction. -- The alternative principal education
program provides instruction in interpersonal and collaborative
skills, establishing and supporting a learning mission, fostering
student learning, building and sustaining culture, promoting continuous professional growth, providing support systems for
student success, managing operations, maintaining connections to
family and community and sustaining the continuous improvement
process. The alternative program principal shall also complete
the requirements for conducting personnel evaluations; and
(B) Induction. -- The alternative principal education program
includes an intense, two-year induction that provides essential
support through a professional support team led by a qualified
mentor.
(i) (g) Continued employment. -- The recommendation to rehire
an alternative education program teacher, principal or assistant
principal pursuant to section eight-a, article two of this chapter
is subject to the position being posted and no fully qualified
applicant being employed: Provided, That this provision does not
apply to teachers who hold a valid West Virginia professional
teaching certificate and who are employed under a program operated
pursuant to subsection (f) is subject to satisfactory progress in
the applicable alternative education program by the holder of the
alternative program certificate.
(j) (h) Preference. -- When making decisions affecting the
hiring of an alternative program teacher, principal or assistant
principal under the provisions of this section, a county board
shall give preference to applicants who hold a valid West Virginia
professional teaching certificate for the position.
NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to provide alternative
certification for principals and to allow approved education
providers to provide alternative certification programs for
teachers.
Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from
the present law, and underscoring indicates new language that would
be added.
