HF 2385 (LSB 5560HV (1) 84)

HOUSE FILE 2385

BY  COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

(SUCCESSOR TO HF 2208)

A BILL FOR

An Act providing for the licensure of applicants with professional employment in mathematics-related or science-related fields as teachers for secondary school-level mathematics and science courses. 
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 272.2, Code Supplement 2011, is amended by adding the following new subsection:
   NEW SUBSECTION.  19.  Adopt rules to license as a secondary teacher endorsed to teach only mathematics or science, an applicant who has not graduated from an approved practitioner preparation program but who, at a minimum, holds a bachelor’s degree with a major course of study in mathematics or science from an accredited postsecondary institution; has at least six thousand hours of successful, recent, and relevant employment in a mathematics-related or science-related profession; and successfully passes the educational testing services’ Praxis II subject examination for biology and general science if the endorsement sought is to teach a science course, or the educational testing services’ Praxis II mathematics content and knowledge examination if the endorsement sought is for mathematics.
EXPLANATION
   This bill directs the board of educational examiners to adopt rules to license as a secondary teacher endorsed to teach only mathematics or science, an applicant who has not graduated from an approved practitioner preparation program but who, at a minimum, holds a bachelor’s degree with a major in mathematics or science from an accredited postsecondary institution; has at least 6,000 hours of employment in a mathematics-related or science-related profession; and successfully passes the educational testing services’ Praxis II biology and general science test if the endorsement sought is to teach a science course, or the educational testing services’ Praxis II mathematics content and knowledge test if the endorsement sought is for mathematics.