SB 20: "An Act relating to recognition of certificates of out-of-state teachers."
00 SENATE BILL NO. 20 01 "An Act relating to recognition of certificates of out-of-state teachers." 02 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA: 03 * Section 1. AS 14.20.010 is amended to read: 04 Sec. 14.20.010. Teacher certificate required. A person may not be employed 05 as a teacher in the public schools of the state unless that person possesses a valid 06 teacher certificate except that a person who has made application to the department for 07 a teacher certificate [, INCLUDING A PRELIMINARY TEACHER CERTIFICATE 08 UNDER AS 14.20.015,] or renewal of a teacher certificate that has not been acted on 09 [UPON] by the department may be employed as a teacher in the public schools of the 10 state until the department has taken action on the application, but in no case may 11 employment without a certificate last longer than three months. A person who has 12 made application for a certificate under this section may teach for an additional 60 13 days beyond three months without a certificate if the department grants a written 14 extension. An extension may be granted under this section for not more than 60 days 15 to the person solely due to delay in the department's receipt of criminal justice
01 information under AS 12.62 or a national criminal history record check under 02 AS 12.62.400. 03 * Sec. 2. AS 14.20.015(a) is amended to read: 04 (a) Notwithstanding the requirements of AS 14.20.020, the [THE] 05 department shall issue a [PRELIMINARY] teacher certificate to an out-of-state 06 teacher who meets the requirements of this section. To be eligible for a 07 [PRELIMINARY] teacher certificate under this section, a person shall 08 (1) [HAVE RECEIVED AT LEAST A BACCALAUREATE 09 DEGREE FROM AN INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION ACCREDITED 10 BY A RECOGNIZED REGIONAL ACCREDITING ASSOCIATION OR 11 APPROVED BY THE COMMISSIONER; 12 (2)] hold a valid teacher certificate issued by another state; 13 (2) [(3)] have submitted fingerprints to the department to be used for a 14 criminal history background check and been found by the department to be suitable for 15 employment as a teacher under AS 14.20.020(f); 16 (3) [(4)] have paid the fee required by the department under 17 AS 14.20.020(c). 18 * Sec. 3. AS 14.20.015(b) is amended to read: 19 (b) An out-of-state teacher who has been issued a [PRELIMINARY] teacher 20 certificate under this section shall complete the education and training 21 requirements under AS 14.20.020(h) and (k) within three years [PASS THE 22 COMPETENCY EXAMINATION DESIGNATED BY THE BOARD UNDER 23 AS 14.20.020(i) WITHIN ONE YEAR] after the date the [PRELIMINARY] teacher 24 certificate was issued. If the teacher does not complete the education and training 25 requirements within that three-year period [PASS THE EXAMINATION], the 26 department shall immediately revoke the teacher's [PRELIMINARY] teacher 27 certificate. 28 * Sec. 4. AS 14.20.015(c) is amended to read: 29 (c) The [PRELIMINARY] teacher certificate issued under this section must 30 contain the same endorsements as those on the current valid teacher certificate issued 31 by the other state.
01 * Sec. 5. AS 14.20.020(b) is amended to read: 02 (b) A person is not eligible for a teacher certificate unless that person has 03 received at least a baccalaureate degree from an institution of higher education 04 accredited by a recognized regional accrediting association or approved by the 05 commissioner and, if applicable, has passed the examination or examinations required 06 by (i) of this section. However, this subsection is not applicable to 07 (1) persons employed in the state public school system on 08 September 1, 1962; 09 (2) persons issued an emergency certificate during a situation that, in 10 the judgment of the commissioner, requires the temporary issuance of a certificate to a 11 person not otherwise qualified; 12 (3) persons issued a teacher certificate under AS 14.20.015. 13 * Sec. 6. AS 14.20.020(h) is amended to read: 14 (h) Except as provided in AS 14.20.015, a [A] person is not eligible for a 15 teacher certificate unless the person has completed three semester hours in Alaska 16 studies and three semester hours in multicultural education or cross-cultural 17 communications. However, the commissioner may issue a provisional certificate, valid 18 for no longer than two years, to an applicant who has not completed the semester 19 hours required under this subsection at the time of application. 20 * Sec. 7. AS 14.20.020(k) is amended to read: 21 (k) Except as provided in AS 14.20.015, a [A] person is not eligible for a 22 teacher certificate unless the person has completed training regarding alcohol and drug 23 related disabilities required under AS 14.20.680, training regarding sexual abuse and 24 sexual assault awareness and prevention required under AS 14.30.355, training 25 regarding dating violence and abuse awareness and prevention required under 26 AS 14.30.356, and training related to suicide prevention required under AS 14.30.362. 27 * Sec. 8. AS 14.20.015(d), 14.20.015(e), and 14.20.015(f) are repealed.