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Second Regular Session

Sixty-first General Assembly

LLS NO. 98­0612.01 JJC HOUSE BILL 98­1290

STATE OF COLORADO

BY REPRESENTATIVE Dean;

also SENATOR B. Alexander.

EDUCATION

A BILL FOR AN ACT

CONCERNING WAIVERS OF REQUIREMENTS WITHIN TITLE 22 OF THE COLORADO REVISED STATUTES.

Bill Summary

(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced and does not necessarily reflect any amendments that may be subsequently adopted.)

Allows a school district to waive the requirement that a person who completed a teacher preparation program between July 1, 1994 and July 1, 1995, must demonstrate professional competencies before renewing a provisional teacher license, if the person scored within 10% of the passing score.


Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:

SECTION 1.  22­60.5­201 (1) (b) (I) (C) and (1) (b) (III) (A), Colorado Revised Statutes, are amended, and the said 22­60.5­201 (1) (b) (III) is further amended BY THE ADDITION OF A NEW SUB­SUBPARAGRAPH, to read:

22­60.5­201.  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:

(b)  Provisional teacher license. (I)  Except as otherwise provided in subparagraph (II) of this paragraph (b), the department of education, in its discretion, may issue a provisional teacher license to any applicant who:

(C)  Has demonstrated professional competencies in subject areas as specified by rule and regulation of the state board of education pursuant to section 22­60.5­203; except that any applicant who has completed an approved program of preparation for teachers or an alternative teacher program on or after July 1, 1994, but prior to July 1, 1995, need not demonstrate professional competencies to receive a provisional teacher license, but shall demonstrate professional competencies to renew the provisional teacher license AS SPECIFIED IN SUB­SUBPARAGRAPHS (A) AND (A.5) OF SUBPARAGRAPH (III) OF THIS PARAGRAPH (b) or to receive a professional teacher license pursuant to paragraph (c) of this subsection (1).

(III) (A)  A provisional teacher license shall be valid in any school districts that provide an approved induction program for teachers or have obtained a waiver of the approved induction program requirement pursuant to section 22­60.5­114 (2). Except as otherwise provided in sub­subparagraph (B) SUB­SUBPARAGRAPHS (A.5) AND (B) of this subparagraph (III), any provisional license issued pursuant to this paragraph (b) shall be valid for a period of three years after the date of issuance and is renewable only once for an additional period of three years. EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE PROVIDED IN SUB­SUBPARAGRAPH (A.5) OF THIS SUBPARAGRAPH (III), any applicant who completed an approved program of preparation for teachers or an alternative teacher program on or after July 1, 1994, but prior to July 1, 1995, and received a provisional teacher license without demonstrating professional competencies shall demonstrate professional competencies prior to renewing the provisional teacher license.

(A.5)  A SCHOOL DISTRICT THAT EMPLOYS A PERSON WHO COMPLETED AN APPROVED PROGRAM OF PREPARATION FOR TEACHERS OR AN ALTERNATIVE TEACHER PROGRAM ON OR AFTER JULY 1, 1994, BUT PRIOR TO JULY 1, 1995, MAY WAIVE THE REQUIREMENT THAT SUCH PERSON HAVE A PASSING SCORE ON THE ASSESSMENT OF PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCIES ADMINISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 22­60.5­203 PRIOR TO RENEWAL OF SUCH PERSON=S PROVISIONAL TEACHER LICENSE, BUT A SCHOOL DISTRICT MAY GRANT SUCH A WAIVER ONLY TO PERSONS WHO SCORED WITHIN TEN PERCENT OF THE PASSING SCORE. IF A SCHOOL DISTRICT ELECTS TO WAIVE SUCH REQUIREMENT, IT SHALL SO NOTIFY THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION. UPON RECEIPT OF SUCH NOTIFICATION, THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION SHALL RENEW THE PROVISIONAL TEACHER LICENSE. A PROVISIONAL TEACHER LICENSE RENEWED PURSUANT TO A WAIVER GRANTED BY A SCHOOL DISTRICT UNDER THIS SUB­SUBPARAGRAPH (A.5) MAY BE RENEWED FOR ONE OR MORE ADDITIONAL THREE­YEAR PERIODS.

SECTION 2.  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.