HSB 632 (LSB 5359YC (6) 89)

HOUSE FILE _____ 

BY  (PROPOSED COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION BILL BY CHAIRPERSON HITE)

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to licenses issued by the board of educational examiners.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 272.2, subsection 1, Code 2022, is amended by adding the following new paragraph:
   NEW PARAGRAPH.  d.  Rules adopted pursuant to this subsection establishing criteria for applicants for licenses who have completed a teacher preparation program outside of the state and who are applying for the applicant’s first Iowa teaching license shall not require the applicant to be an Iowa resident if the applicant provides the board with a copy of an offer of employment as a teacher from a school located in this state.
    Sec. 2.  Section 272.2, subsection 13, Code 2022, is amended to read as follows:
   13.  Adopt rules to provide for nontraditional preparation options for licensing persons who hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university, who do not meet other requirements for licensure.  The rules shall, at a minimum, require the board to do all of the following:
   a.  Issue a teacher intern license for instruction in grades six through twelve to a qualified applicant while the applicant concurrently completes the additional educational requirements provided in paragraph “b”. A qualified applicant must meet all of the following requirements:
   (1)  The applicant must have graduated from an accredited college or university with a cumulative grade point average of two and three quarters on a four-point scale, or its equivalent, as determined by the accredited college or university.
   (2)  The applicant must have at least three years of postbaccalaureate work experience.
   (3)  The applicant must submit with the application a copy of an offer of employment from a school.
   (4)  The applicant must complete at least fifteen additional hours of in-person coursework, including pedagogy training.
   b.  Require an applicant who has been granted a teacher intern license pursuant to paragraph “a”, prior to applying for an initial teaching license, to work under the direct supervision of an instructional coach or a mentor leader assigned by the school district or accredited nonpublic school, including during co-teaching and planning time.
   c.  Allow a licensee who has completed the requirements provided in paragraph “b” to apply for an initial teaching license if the school that employed the licensee under paragraph “b” recommends that the licensee be allowed to apply for an initial teaching license.
    Sec. 3.  Section 272.2, Code 2022, is amended by adding the following new subsection:
   NEW SUBSECTION.  27.  Adopt rules pursuant to chapter 17A that allow an individual seeking a career and technical secondary authorization to apply, and if eligible, be issued the secondary authorization prior to accepting an offer of employment with a school.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill relates to licenses issued by the board of educational examiners.
   Current law authorizes the board of educational examiners to issue a regional exchange teaching license to an applicant who has completed a teacher preparation program outside of the state and who is applying for the applicant’s first Iowa teaching license if, among other requirements, the applicant is a resident of the state. The bill removes the requirement that such an applicant be a resident of this state if the applicant provides the board with a copy of an offer of employment as a teacher from a school located in this state.
   Current law requires the board to adopt rules to provide for nontraditional preparation options for licensing persons who hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university and who do not meet other requirements for licensure. The bill provides that the rules shall require the board to issue a teacher intern license to a qualified applicant. The bill specifies the requirements that a qualified applicant must meet. The bill also provides that the rules shall require an applicant who has been granted a teacher intern license to meet certain specified requirements prior to applying for an initial teaching license. The bill requires the board to allow an applicant who has completed those requirements to apply for an initial teaching license if the school that employed the licensee recommends that the licensee be allowed to apply for an initial teaching license.
   The bill requires the board to adopt rules that allow an individual seeking a career and technical secondary authorization to apply, and if eligible, be issued the secondary authorization prior to accepting an offer of employment with a school.