KRS 161.167: Program to encourage persons to enter Kentucky teaching profession --

Reports.

(1) By January 1, 2001, the Kentucky Department of Education, with help from

representatives of the Education Professional Standards Board, the Council on

Postsecondary Education, the Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority, the

Association of Independent Kentucky Colleges and Universities, public and private

not-for-profit postsecondary institutions, and local educational agencies, shall

develop a plan, includin g timelines for implementation, for a multidimensional

recruitment and information program, to encourage persons to enter the teaching

profession and to seek employment in Kentucky.

(2) The program shall not supplant or diminish current efforts required in KRS

161.165.

(3) The components of the program shall include:

(a) Early recruitment programs to inform middle and high school students about

the potential of teaching as a career;

(b) Programs to encourage paraprofessionals in schools, as well as other

nontraditional students, to pursue additional education to become teachers;

(c) Programs to enlist highly skilled career employees in specific content areas to

pursue teaching as a second career;

(d) Options for recruiting persons with liberal arts and scien ces majors and

current students with nondeclared majors into nontraditional and accelerated

teacher preparation programs;

(e) Marketing strategies for informing the public of the importance of high

quality teaching to student achievement, the value of teac hers to society as a

whole, the benefits and rewards of teaching, and the options for entering

teacher preparation, including scholarship information; and

(f) Expanding the Kentucky Department of Education's electronic bulletin board

for certified vacancie s in local school districts to include an option for

potential teachers to voluntarily post their availability for education positions

within the state.

(4) No later than March 15, 2001, the Department of Education shall present a status

report of the recr uitment and information program to the Interim Joint Committee

on Education; and no later than October 15, 2001, the Department of Education

shall present to the Interim Joint Committee on Education and the Interim Joint

Committee on Appropriations and Rev enue a summary report with

recommendations.