HOUSE Amended 2nd Reading January 27, 2006Second Regular Session Sixty-fifth General Assembly STATE OF COLORADO ENGROSSED This Version Includes All Amendments Adopted on Second Reading in the House of Introduction LLS NO. 06-0389.01 Julie Pelegrin HOUSE BILL 06-1023 HOUSE SPONSORSHIP King, SENATE SPONSORSHIP (None), House Committees Senate Committees Education A BILL FOR AN ACT Concerning educator licensure. Bill Summary (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced and does not necessarily reflect any amendments that may be subsequently adopted.) Sections 1-4: Allows a person who completes a teacher in residence program to immediately qualify to receive a professional teacher license. Changes the term "resident teacher" to "teacher in residence". Clarifies that a person need not complete an induction program while working under an initial teacher license if the person completes the induction program while working under a teacher in residence authorization. Recognizes that a person who completes a teacher induction program while working under a temporary educator eligibility authorization or a teacher in residence authorization but not an adjunct instructor authorization may apply completion of the induction program to the requirements for obtaining a professional teacher license. Makes conforming amendments. Sections 5 and 6: Allows the department of education to extend an alternative teacher license for up to one year if the licensee provides proof that he or she is unable to complete the alternative teacher preparation program in one year for reasons other than incompetence. Section 7: In specifying the type of work experience a person must demonstrate to obtain an initial principal license, allows the person to provide evidence of successful experience as a licensed or unlicensed teacher or special services provider. Deletes the requirement that a person hold a masters degree to obtain a professional principal license. Recognizes that a person who completes a principal induction program while working under an interim authorization may apply completion of the induction program to the requirements for obtaining a professional principal license. Section 8: Recognizes that a person who completes an administrator induction program while working under an interim authorization may apply completion of the induction program to the requirements for obtaining a professional administrator license. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado: SECTION 1. 22-32-110.3 (4), (5), and (7), Colorado Revised Statutes, are amended to read: 22-32-110.3. Board of education - specific powers - teacher in residence program. (4) (a) A school district may employ a person to teach as a resident teacher teacher in residence even though the person is not licensed pursuant to article 60.5 of this title if the person holds a teacher in residence authorization issued pursuant to section 22-60.5-111 (8). The resident teacher in residence may teach under the supervision of an administrator with an assigned, licensed teacher serving as a mentor and shall enroll in such teacher preparation courses as the school district deems necessary for the resident teacher in residence and for which the school district has contracted with an institution of higher education. Supervision for a resident teacher in residence shall include an annual minimum of one hundred hours of observation and supervision in the classroom. (b) (I) Any person employed by a school district as a resident teacher in residence shall hold at least a baccalaureate degree from an accepted institution of higher education, as defined in section 22-60.5-102 (1). Except as otherwise provided in subparagraph (II) of this paragraph (b), a person may be employed as a resident teacher in residence for a total of two years. A person employed by a school district as a resident teacher in residence shall meet the content-area education requirements specified by rule of the state board of education. (II) A person may be employed as a resident teacher in residence for a total of three years for the purpose of receiving a special education teaching endorsement pursuant to section 22-60.5-106 (2). (c) On completion of the two-year or three-year residency program, the resident teacher shall obtain whichever is applicable, the department of education may issue an initial teacher license pursuant to section 22-60.5-201 (1) (b) in order to the teacher in residence or, if the teacher in residence successfully completes an induction program and completes the requirements prescribed in section 22-60.5-201 (1) (b) (II.5) for an initial teacher license during the two-year residency program, the department of education may issue a professional teacher license to the teacher in residence upon application. Upon completion of the two-year or three-year residency program, whichever is applicable, to be employed by the school district as a teacher, the teacher in residence shall obtain either an initial teacher license or a professional teacher license. (d) Any person seeking entry into a teacher in residence program shall, prior to acceptance into a teacher in residence program, pass an assessment of subject matter knowledge, appropriate to the person's teaching assignment, administered by the department of education. Any person who fails to pass the subject matter assessment shall not be eligible for enrollment in a residency program until he or she has passed the subject matter assessment. (e) A resident teacher in residence shall be considered a probationary teacher for purposes of section 22-63-203; except that, for a resident teacher in residence, the three continuous years of employment necessary to become a nonprobationary teacher shall not begin until the resident teacher in residence begins his or her second year in the teacher in residence program. (f) Beginning with the 2003-04 school year, any teacher holding an emergency authorization and entering his or her second or subsequent year of employment as a teacher, regardless of whether the teacher is employed within the same school district or a different school district, may continue to teach only if employed as a resident teacher in residence pursuant to this section. (5) (a) Within thirty days after employment of a person as a resident teacher in residence, the school district shall notify the department of education of the resident teacher's name and address of the teacher in residence and such other information as may be necessary to assist the department of education in providing pertinent information under the requirements of paragraph (b) of this subsection (5). (b) The department of education shall provide information to each resident teacher in residence concerning the requirements for teacher licensure as specified in section 22-60.5-201 and by rule of the state board of education. (7) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section to the contrary, a school district may hire a person to teach as a resident teacher in residence for any portion of the two-year residency program if the person completes all remaining requirements for an approved program of preparation within two years after being hired as a resident teacher in residence. SECTION 2. 22-60.5-201 (1) (c) (I) (B) and (1) (c) (II.7), Colorado Revised Statutes, are amended to read: 22-60.5-201. Types of teacher licenses issued - term. (1) The department of education is designated as the sole agency authorized to issue the following teacher licenses to persons of good moral character: (c) Professional teacher license. (I) Except as otherwise provided in subparagraphs (II), (II.5), and (II.7) of this paragraph (c), the department of education may, in its discretion, issue a professional teacher license to any applicant who: (B) Has completed an approved induction program and has been recommended for licensure by the school districts that provided such induction program; except that the applicant need not complete an approved induction program as an initial teacher licensee if the applicant previously completed an induction program while teaching under an adjunct instructor authorization, an emergency authorization, or a temporary educator eligibility authorization, an interim authorization, or a teacher in residence authorization or if the school district in which the applicant is employed has obtained a waiver of the induction program requirement pursuant to section 22-60.5-114 (2). If the applicant is employed by a school district that has obtained a waiver of the induction program requirement, the applicant shall demonstrate completion of any requirements specified in the school district's plan for support, assistance, and training of initially licensed educators; and (II.7) The department of education may issue a professional teacher license to an applicant who meets the requirements specified in section 22-32-110.3 (4) (c) or section 22-60.5-111 (4) (c) (II) or (5) (e) (II). SECTION 3. 22-63-201 (2) (b), Colorado Revised Statutes, is amended to read: 22-63-201. Employment - license required - exception. (2) (b) A school district may hire a person who holds an alternative teacher license to teach as an alternative teacher pursuant to an alternative teacher contract as described in section 22-60.5-207. A school district may hire a person who holds a teacher in residence authorization to teach as a resident teacher in residence pursuant to a teacher in residence program implemented by the school district or a board of cooperative services pursuant to section 22-32-110.3. SECTION 4. 22-63-402, Colorado Revised Statutes, is amended to read: 22-63-402. Services - disbursements. No order or warrant for the disbursement of school district moneys shall be drawn in favor of any person for services as a teacher, except for services performed for a junior college district or in an adult education program, unless such person either holds a valid teacher's license or authorization from the department of education or is employed as a resident teacher in residence pursuant to section 22-32-110.3. Such license, authorization, or residency shall be duly registered in the administrative office of the school district wherein the services are to be rendered. A teacher shall either hold a valid license or authorization or be employed as a resident teacher in residence during all periods of employment by a school district. Any person who performs services as a teacher without either possessing a valid teacher's license or authorization or being employed as a resident teacher in residence shall forfeit all claim to compensation out of school district moneys for the time during which services are performed without such license, authorization, or residency. SECTION 5. 22-60.5-201 (1) (a) (IV), Colorado Revised Statutes, is amended to read: 22-60.5-201. Types of teacher licenses issued - term. (1) The department of education is designated as the sole agency authorized to issue the following teacher licenses to persons of good moral character: (a) Alternative teacher license. (IV) An alternative teacher license shall be valid in any school district or accredited independent school which that provides an alternative teacher program and shall entitle its holder to work exclusively as an alternative teacher pursuant to the terms of an alternative teacher contract. Any An alternative teacher license issued pursuant to this paragraph (a) shall be valid for a period of one year after the date of issuance; except that the department of education may extend the validity of an alternative teacher license for up to one additional year based upon proof that the alternative teacher licensee has been unable to complete the requirements of the alternative teacher program within one year for reasons other than incompetence. SECTION 6. 22-60.5-102 (4) and (5), Colorado Revised Statutes, are amended to read: 22-60.5-102. Definitions. As used in this article, unless the context otherwise requires: (4) "Alternative teacher contract" means a one-year contract entered into for an alternative teacher position by any holder of an alternative teacher license and any school district or accredited independent school which that has an alternative teacher program. (5) "Alternative teacher program" means a one-year program of study and training for teacher preparation for persons of demonstrated knowledge and ability who hold an alternative teacher license pursuant to section 22-60.5-201 (1) (a) which that meets the standards of and has been approved by the state board of education and that upon completion leads to a recommendation for licensure by the school district or districts or the accredited independent school providing such program. SECTION 7. 22-60.5-301 (1) (b) (I) (C) and (1) (b) (I.5), Colorado Revised Statutes, is amended to read: 22-60.5-301. Types of principal licenses issued - term. (1) The department of education is designated as the sole agency authorized to issue the following principal licenses to persons of good moral character: (b) Professional principal license. (I) Except as otherwise provided in subparagraph (I.5) of this paragraph (b), the department of education may, in its discretion, issue a professional principal license to any applicant who: (C) Has completed an approved induction program for principals and has been recommended for licensure by the school districts that provided such induction program; except that the applicant need not complete an approved induction program as an initial principal licensee if the applicant previously completed an induction program while employed under an emergency authorization, an interim authorization, or a principal authorization or if the school district in which the applicant is employed has obtained a waiver of the induction program requirement pursuant to section 22-60.5-114 (2). If the applicant is employed by a school district that has obtained a waiver of the induction program requirement, the applicant shall demonstrate completion of any requirements specified in the school district's plan for support, assistance, and training of initially licensed educators. (I.5) The department of education may issue a professional principal license to an applicant who: (A) Meets the requirements specified in section 22-60.5-111 (4) (c) (II) or (14) (e) (II); and (B) Holds an earned master's degree from an accepted institution of higher education. SECTION 8. 22-60.5-306 (1) (b) (I) (C), Colorado Revised Statutes, is amended to read: 22-60.5-306. Types of administrator licenses issued - term. (1) The department of education is designated as the sole agency authorized to issue the following types of administrator licenses to persons of good moral character: (b) Professional administrator license. (I) Except as otherwise provided in subparagraph (I.5) of this paragraph (b), the department of education may, in its discretion, issue a professional administrator license to any applicant who: (C) Has completed an approved induction program for administrators and has been recommended for licensure by the school districts that provided such induction program; except that the applicant need not complete an approved induction program as an initial administrator licensee if the applicant previously completed an induction program while employed under an emergency authorization, or a temporary educator eligibility authorization, or an interim authorization or if the school district in which the applicant is employed has obtained a waiver of the induction program requirement pursuant to section 22-60.5-114 (2). If the applicant is employed by a school district that has obtained a waiver of the induction program requirement, the applicant shall demonstrate completion of any requirements specified in the school district's plan for support, assistance, and training of initially licensed educators. SECTION 9. Safety clause. The general assembly hereby finds, determines, and declares that this act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, and safety.