SENATE FILE 132

BY  McKINLEY

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to testing requirements for applicants for teacher licensure or endorsement.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

   Section 1.  Section 272.2, Code 2011, is amended by adding the following new subsection:
   NEW SUBSECTION.  19.  Adopt rules that require any applicant for a teacher license or for renewal of a teacher license to take the praxis II principles of learning and teaching test for the appropriate grade level and a praxis II teaching foundations test in the appropriate subject area. If the applicant is applying for an Iowa endorsement, the board shall require the applicant to take a praxis II subject assessment for each endorsement the applicant seeks. However, the rules shall exempt an applicant from the testing requirements of this subsection if the applicant provides the board with evidence that the applicant has taken the appropriate praxis II tests and the applicant’s scores on the tests meet or exceed the qualifying scores approved by the board.
EXPLANATION
   This bill requires the board of educational examiners to adopt rules requiring that a person who applies to the board of educational examiners for a teacher license, renewal of a teacher license, or for an endorsement to teach in a specific subject area, must take a praxis II principles of learning and teaching test and a praxis II teaching foundations test, as well as a subject assessment for each endorsement the applicant seeks, unless the applicant provides the board with evidence that the applicant has taken the appropriate praxis II tests and the applicant’s scores on the tests meet or exceed the qualifying scores approved by the board.
   The praxis II principles of learning and teaching test measures general pedagogical knowledge. The teaching foundations test measures pedagogy. The subject assessment measures general and subject-specific teaching skills and knowledge.