 |
ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Fifth Legislature, Second Regular Session
AMENDED
baccalaureate degrees; substitute certificates
Purpose
Adds a substitute certificate to the certificates for which a person is not required to have a baccalaureate degree. Requires the Arizona Department of Education (ADE) to award substitute certificates to certain eligible emergency substitute certificate holders and waive the certification fees.
Background
To receive a teaching certificate or other certificate from the State Board of Education (SBE), a person must meet prescribed education, experience and proficiency requirements that vary based on certificate type. The holder of a substitute certificate may substitute in the temporary absence of a regular contract teacher in prekindergarten programs through grade 12 and may not be assigned a contract teaching position. To qualify for a substitute certificate, a person must have a baccalaureate degree and a valid fingerprint clearance card. A substitute certificate is valid for six years and renewable by reapplication (A.A.C. R7-2-614).
A certificated teacher must have a baccalaureate degree, except for a candidate for: 1) a Native American language certificate; 2) a student teaching intern certificate; 3) a junior reserve officer training corps certificate; 4) an athletic coaching certificate; or 5) an emergency substitute certificate. A person who provides instruction in STEM or career and technical education may also be exempt from the baccalaureate degree requirement as outlined (A.R.S. § 15-501.01). Requirements for these certificates are prescribed by the SBE (A.A.C. R7-2-614).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Adds a substitute certificate to the certificates for which a person is not required to have a baccalaureate degree.
2. Requires ADE to:
a) establish a process to award a substitute certificate to an eligible person who receives an emergency substitute certificate in the time frame beginning January 24, 2022, and until the general effective date; and
b) waive the certification fee for an applicant who is awarded a substitute certificate through the ADE-established process.
3. Makes technical changes.
4. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Amendments Adopted by Committee of the Whole
· Requires ADE to establish a process to award a substitute certificate to a person certificated as an emergency substitute in the specified time frame and waive the certification fee.
Senate Action
ED 2/8/22 DP 4-3-1
Prepared by Senate Research
February 23, 2022
LB/KJA/slp