Assigned to ED AS
PASSED BY COMMITTEE
Assigned to ED AS
PASSED BY COMMITTEE
ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Third Legislature, Second Regular Session
AMENDED
teachers; certification requirements
Purpose
Transfers teacher certification statutes to a new section of statute.
Background
The State Board of Education (SBE) oversees teacher certification and issues teaching certificates. An applicant with a fingerprint clearance card who has a valid teaching certificate from another state and is in good standing with that state 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, career and technical education (CTE), STEM and classroom-based teaching certificates (A.R.S. §§ 15-203; 15-553; and 15-782.01).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the State General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Transfers teacher certification requirements to a new section of statute.
2. Directs the SBE to adopt rules for the issuance of the following certificates to reflect the source of the teacher's training:
a) Standard Teaching Certificate;
b) Alternative Teaching Certificate;
c) Subject-Matter Expert Standard Teaching Certificate;
d) Classroom-Based Standard Teaching Certificate; and
e) CTE Teaching Certificate.
3. Requires all certificated teachers to have a bachelor's degree except teachers who:
a) provide instruction in CTE and are otherwise exempt;
b) have a Native American Language Certificate;
c) have a Teaching Intern Certificate;
d) have a Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps Certificate; or
e) have an Athletic Coaching Certificate.
4. Removes the authorization for a general equivalency diploma to be substituted for a high school diploma for Emergency Substitute Teachers.
5. Includes CTE Certificates in the requirements for certificate renewal and reciprocity.
6. Includes certificates for exchange teachers in the requirements for reciprocity and expired certificate renewal.
7. Requires applicants for elementary teaching certificates to complete 45 classroom hours, or three credit hours, in reading instruction, including training on instructional assessments, practices and interventions to improve student reading proficiency.
8. Directs the Legislative Council to prepare conforming legislation for consideration in the Fifty‑Fourth Legislature, First Regular Session.
9. Makes technical changes.
10. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Amendments Adopted by Committee
1. Requires applicants for elementary teaching certificates to complete 45 classroom hours, or three credit hours, in reading instruction, including training on instructional assessments, practices and interventions to improve student reading proficiency.
2. Changes Postbaccalaureate Teaching Certificate back to Alternative Teaching Certificate.
3. Removes certificates for exchange teachers from being included in current renewal requirements.
4. Changes a cross-reference in the reciprocal discipline statute.
House Action Senate Action
ED 2/12/18 DPA 9-1-0-1 ED 3/22/18 DPA 6-0-1
3rd Read 2/22/18 42-14-4
Prepared by Senate Research
March 27, 2018
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