KRS 161.048: Legislative findings -- Alternative certification program -- Purpose --

Options -- Testing and eligibility requirements -- Salary schedule.

(1) The General Assembly hereby finds that:

(a) 1. There are persons who have distinguished themselves through a variety

of work and educational experiences that could enrich teaching in

Kentucky schools;

2. There are distinguished scholars who wish to become teachers in

Kentucky's public schools, but who did not pursue a teacher preparation

program;

3. There are persons who should be recruited to teach in Kentucky's public

schools as they have academic majors, strong verbal skills as shown by

a verbal ability test, and deep knowledge of content, characteristics that

empirical research identifies as important attributes of quality teachers;

4. There are persons who need to be recruited to teach in Kentucky schools

to meet the diverse cultural and educational needs of students; and

5. There should be alternative procedures to the traditional teacher

preparation programs that qualify persons as teachers;

(b) There are hereby established alternative certification program options as

described in subsections (2) to (10) of this section;

(c) It is the intent of the General Assembly that the Education Professional

Standards Board inform scholars, persons with exceptional work experience,

and persons with diverse backgrounds who have potential as teachers of these

options and assist local boards of education in implementing these options and

recruitment of individuals who can enhance the education system in

Kentucky;

(d) The Education Professional Standards Board may reject the application of any

candidate who is judged as not meeting academic requirements comparable t o

those for students enrolled in Kentucky teacher preparation programs; and

(e) The Education Professional Standards Board shall promulgate administrative

regulations establishing standards and procedures for the alternative

certification options described in this section. If the certification option

requires employment prior to certification, the procedures shall establish a

process for candidates to obtain an eligible for hire letter from the Education

Professional Standards Board.

(2) Option 1: Certification of a person with exceptional work experience. An individual

who has exceptional work experience shall receive a one (1) year provisional

certificate with approval by the Education Professional Standards Board of an

application by the individual under the following conditions:

(a) The application contains documentation of all education and work experience;

(b) The candidate has documented exceptional work experience in the area in

which certification is being sought; and

(c) The candidate possesses:

1. A bachelor's degree or a graduate degree;

2. A minimum cumulative grade point average of two and seventy -five

hundredths (2.75) on a four (4) point scale or a minimum grade point

average of three (3.0) on a four (4) point scale on the last thirty (30)

hours of credit completed, including undergraduate and graduate

coursework from a nationally or regionally accredited postsecondary

institution; and

3. An academic major or a passing score on the academic content

assessment in the area in which certification i s being sought by the

applicant as designated by the Education Professional Standards Board.

After successful completion of one (1) year of teaching and upon the

recommendation of the employing school district to the Education Professional

Standards Board, the candidate shall receive a professional certificate and shall be

subject to certificate renewal requirements the same as other teachers with a

professional certificate.

(3) Option 2: Certification through a local school district training program. A lo cal

school district or group of school districts may seek approval for a training

program. The state-approved local school district training program is an alternative

to the college teacher preparation program as a means of acquiring teacher

certification for a teacher at any grade level. The training program may be offered

for all teaching certificates approved by the Education Professional Standards

Board, including interdisciplinary early childhood education, except for specific

certificates for teachers of exceptional children. To participate in a state -approved

local school district alternative training program, the candidate shall possess:

(a) A bachelor's degree or a graduate degree;

(b) A minimum cumulative grade point average of two and seventy -five

hundredths (2.75) on a four (4) point scale or a minimum grade point average

of three (3) on a four (4) point scale on the last thirty (30) hours of credit

completed, including undergraduate and graduate coursework from a

nationally or regionally accredited postsecondary institution; and

(c) A passing score on the academic content assessment in the area in which

certification is being sought by the applicant as designated by the Education

Professional Standards Board. To be eligible to take an academic con tent

assessment, the applicant shall have completed a thirty (30) hour major in the

academic content area or five (5) years of experience in the academic content

area as approved by the Education Professional Standards Board.

An individual may participate in a local school district training program upon

meeting the participation requirements as established in this subsection and

approval by the Education Professional Standards Board of an application by the

individual. The candidate shall be issued a one ( 1) year provisional certificate by

the Education Professional Standards Board. After successful completion of the

local school district training program, one (1) year of teaching, and upon the

recommendation of the employing school district to the Educatio n Professional

Standards Board, the candidate shall receive a professional certificate and shall be

subject to certificate renewal requirements the same as other teachers with a

professional certificate.

(4) Option 3: Certification of a professional from a postsecondary institution: A

candidate who possesses the following qualifications may receive a one (1) year

provisional certificate for teaching at any level:

(a) A master's degree or doctoral degree in the academic content area for which

certification is sought; and

(b) A minimum of five (5) years of full -time teaching experience, or its

equivalent, in the academic content area for which certification is sought in a

regionally or nationally accredited institution of higher education.

After successful co mpletion of one (1) year of teaching and upon the

recommendation of the employing school district to the Education Professional

Standards Board, the candidate shall receive a professional certificate and shall be

subject to certificate renewal requirements the same as other teachers with

professional certificates.

(5) Option 4: Certification of an adjunct instructor. A person who has expertise in areas

such as art, music, foreign language, drama, science, computer science, and other

specialty areas may be e mployed as an adjunct instructor in a part -time position by

a local board of education under KRS 161.046.

(6) Option 5: Certification of a veteran of the Armed Forces. The Education

Professional Standards Board shall issue a statement of eligibility, valid for five (5)

years, for teaching at the elementary, secondary, and secondary career technical

education levels to a veteran of the Armed Forces who was honorably discharged

from active duty as evidenced by Defense Department Form 214 (DD 214) or

National Guard Bureau Form 22 or to a member of the Armed Services currently

serving with six (6) or more years of honorable service, including Reserves,

National Guard, or active duty. The candidate shall possess:

(a) A bachelor's degree or graduate degree;

(b) A minimum cumulative grade point average of two and seventy -five

hundredths (2.75) on a four (4) point scale or a minimum grade point average

of three (3) on a four (4) point scale on the last thirty (30) hours of credit

completed, including undergraduate an d graduate coursework from a

nationally or regionally accredited postsecondary institution; and

(c) An academic major or a passing score on the academic content assessment in

the area in which certification is being sought by the applicant as designated

by the Education Professional Standards Board.

The eligible veteran shall receive a one (1) year provisional certificate with

approval by the Education Professional Standards Board of an application by the

veteran. After successful completion of one (1) yea r of teaching and upon the

recommendation of the employing school district to the Education Professional

Standards Board, the veteran shall receive a professional certificate.

(7) Option 6: University alternative program. With approval of the Education

Professional Standards Board, a university may provide an alternative program that

enrolls students in a postbaccalaureate teacher preparation program concurrently

with employment as a teacher in a local school district. A student in the alternative

program s hall be granted a one (1) year provisional certificate. The one (1) year

provisional certificate may be renewed four (4) additional years, and shall be

contingent upon the candidate's continued enrollment in the preparation program

and compliance with all requirements established by the board. A professional

certificate shall be issued upon the teacher candidate's successful completion of the

program and all academic content assessments in the specific teaching field of the

applicant as designated by the Ed ucation Professional Standards Board, and upon

the recommendation of the employing school district.

(8) Option 7: Certificati on of a person in a field other than education to teach in

elementary, middle, or secondary programs. This option shall not be limited to

teaching in shortage areas. An individual certified under provisions of this

subsection shall be issued a one (1) year provisional certificate, renewable for a

maximum of four (4) additional years with approval of the Education Professional

Standards Board.

(a) The candidate shall possess:

1. A bachelor's degree with a declared academic major in the area in which

certification is sought or a graduate degree in a field related to the area

in which certification is sought; and

2. A minimum cumulative grade point average of two and seventy -five

hundredths (2.75) on a four (4) point scale or a minimum grade point

average of three (3) on a four (4) point scale on the last thirty (30) hours

of credit completed, including undergraduate and graduate coursework

from a nationally or regionally accredited postsecondary institution.

(b) Upon meeting the requirements of paragraph (a) of this subsection and

enrolling in an approved institute, the Education Professional Standards Board

shall issue the candidate a one (1) year provisional certificate or during the

first year of the certificate, the teacher shall complete the following:

1. For elementary teaching, the individual shall successfully complete a

two hundred forty (240) hour institute that is an equivalent of six (6)

hour days for eight (8) weeks. The providers and the content of the

institute shall be approved by the Education Pr ofessional Standards

Board. The content shall include research -based teaching strategies in

reading and math, research on child and adolescent growth, knowledge

of individual differences, including teaching exceptional children, and

methods of classroom management.

2. For middle and secondary teaching, the individual shall successfully

complete a one hundred eighty (180) hour institute that is an equivalent

of six (6) hour days for six (6) weeks. The providers and the content of

the institute shall be appro ved by the Education Professional Standards

Board and shall include research -based teaching strategies, research on

child and adolescent growth, knowledge of individual differences,

including teaching exceptional children, and methods of classroom

management.

(c) The candidate shall receive a professional certificate and shall be subject to

certificate renewal requirements the same as other teachers with a professional

certificate:

1. After meeting the requirements of this option;

2. After obtaining a passi ng score on the academic content assessment in

the area in which certification is being sought;

3. After successfully completing one (1) year of teaching; and

4. Upon the recommendation of the employing school district to the

Education Professional Standards Board.

(9) Option 8: Certification of a Teach for America participant to teach in elementary,

middle, or high schools. Nothing in this subsection shall conflict with the

participation criteria of the Teach for America program. An individual certified

under this subsection shall be issued a one (1) year provisional certificate.

(a) The candidate shall possess:

1. A bachelor's degree;

2. A successful completion of the summer training institute and ongoing

professional development required by Teach for Amer ica, including

instruction in goal-oriented, standards-based instruction, diagnosing and

assessing students, lesson planning and instructional delivery, classroom

management, maximizing learning for diverse students, and teaching

methodologies; and

3. A passing score on the academic content assessment in the area in which

certification is being sought as designated by the Education Professional

Standards Board.

(b) The provisional certificate granted under this subsection may be renewed two

(2) times with a recommendation of the superintendent and approval of the

Education Professional Standards Board.

(c) A Teach for America participant shall be issued a professional certificate

upon the participant's successful completion of one (1) year of teaching and

the assessments relating to teaching of subject matter required by the

Education Professional Standards Board under KRS 161.030, and upon the

recommendation of the employing school district to the Education

Professional Standards Board.

(d) Notwithstanding a ny statute or administrative regulation to the contrary, a

teacher certified under this subsection shall have ten (10) years to complete a

master's degree or fifth year program, or the equivalent as specified by the

Education Professional Standards Board in administrative regulation.

(10) Option 9: Expedited certification of a person to teach at any grade level through a

cooperative program. With approval of the Education Professional Standards

Board, a college or university may partner with a school distri ct to develop an

expedited certification program that results in a bachelor's degree and initial

certification within three (3) school years.

(a) The program shall:

1. Include a residency or paraprofessional component which employs the

person within the participating district for the duration of the program to

gain work experience to supplement the expedited program and reduced

coursework;

2. Utilize experienced teachers employed by the district to provide

coaching and to mentor the candidates; and

3. Be de signed to meet the needs of the participating district and may

include an emphasis in developing a teacher pipeline for the district's

students, improving the numbers of underrepresented populations

among the district's workforce, or focusing on increasing the number of

teachers with certification areas that are in high demand.

(b) A school district entering into a cooperative partnership shall ensure the

availability of funding for each candidate employed within the district in the

residency or paraprofess ional program for the duration of the candidate's

participation in the program. However, nothing in this subsection shall be

interpreted as requiring the district to continue employing the candidate

during the program or after the candidate has received initial certification.

(c) A person who has begun a traditional path or another option for certification

shall be eligible to transfer into this option if the person meets the program's

requirements.

(d) If a school district participating in a cooperative partnership determines to e nd

the partnership, the district shall no longer accept new candidates to the

program but shall continue the partnership until the district's employed

candidates for Option 9 certification complete the program or are no longer

employed by the district.

(11) A public school teacher certified under subsections (2) to (10) of this section shall

be placed on the local district salary schedule for the rank corresponding to the

degree held by the teacher.

(12) Subsections (1) to (3) of this section notwithstandin g, a candidate who possesses

the following qualifications may receive certification for teaching programs for

exceptional students:

(a) An out-of-state license to teach exceptional students; and

(b) A bachelor's or master's degree in the certification area or closely related area

for which certification is sought.