KRS 161.049: Professional support teams -- Training program -- Alternate training

program.

(1) As used in this section, "professional support team" means a school principal, an

experienced teacher, a college or university faculty member, and an instructio nal

supervisor. If an instructional supervisor or college or university faculty member is

not available, the district shall assign a member with comparable experience. The

school principal shall serve as the chairman of the team.

(2) The Education Professi onal Standards Board shall establish a training program for

professional support teams which shall be implemented by the board or contracted

with another agency. The training shall include content and procedures for the

evaluation of teacher candidates. Co mpletion of the training shall be evidenced by

successfully passing the examinations prescribed by the board.

(3) A local school district seeking to hire a teacher pursuant to KRS 161.048(3) shall

submit a plan for a local district alternative training pro gram to the Education

Professional Standards Board and have it approved in accordance with

administrative regulations established by the Board. The district shall show

evidence that it has sought joint sponsorship of the program with a college or

university. No local school district shall employ a teacher seeking certification in a

state-approved local district training program unless it has submitted a plan and

received approval by the Education Professional Standards Board.

(4) Each state approved local d istrict alternative training program shall provide the

teacher candidate with essential knowledge and skills and include, but not be

limited to, the following components:

(a) A full-time seminar and practicum of no less than eight (8) weeks' duration

prior to the time the candidate assumes responsibility for a classroom. The

content of the formal instruction shall be prescribed by the Education

Professional Standards Board and shall include an introduction to basic

teaching skills through supervised teachin g experiences with students, as well

as an orientation on the policies, organization, and curriculum of the

employing district.

(b) A period of classroom supervision while the candidate assumes responsibility

on a one-half (1/2) time basis for a classroom and continuing for eighteen (18)

weeks. During this period, the candidate shall be visited and critiqued no less

than one (1) time per week by one (1) or more members of a professional

support team appointed by the local district and assigned according to the

administrative regulations adopted by the Education Professional Standards

Board. The candidate shall be formally evaluated at the end of five (5) weeks,

at the end of the second five (5) weeks, and at the end of the last eight (8)

weeks by the members of the team. During this period, the candidate shall

continue formal instruction which emphasizes student assessment, child

development, learning, curriculum, instruction of exceptional children, and

school and classroom organization.

(c) An additional period of at least eighteen (18) weeks continued supervision of

the teacher candidate who may be assigned full-time classroom duties. During

this period the teacher candidate shall be critiqued at least once per month and

shall be observed formally and evalu ated at least twice. No more than two (2)

months shall pass without a formal observation. Formal instruction shall also

continue during this period. In addition, opportunities shall be provided for

the teacher candidate to observe the teaching of experienced teachers.

(5) At least two hundred fifty (250) hours of formal instruction shall be provided in all

three (3) phases of the program combined.

(6) At the conclusion of the alternative training program, the chair of the support team

shall prepare a compre hensive evaluation report on the teacher candidate's

performance. This report shall be submitted to the Education Professional Standards

Board and shall contain a recommendation as to whether the teacher candidate shall

be issued a teaching certificate. Th e support team shall make one (1) of the

following recommendations:

(a) Approved: recommends issuance of the certificate;

(b) Insufficient: recommends the candidate be allowed to seek reentry into a

teacher preparation program; or

(c) Disapproved: recommends the candidate not be allowed to enter a teacher

preparation program.