Bill Text: VA SB352 | 2024 | Regular Session | Enrolled
Bill Title: Teachers; changes to provisions relating to licensure and certification, reciprocity.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2024-04-08 - Governor: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0672) [SB352 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2024-SB352-Enrolled.html
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That §22.1-298.1, as it shall become effective, of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:
§22.1-298.1. (For effective date, see Acts 2022, cc. 549 and 550, cl. 2) Regulations governing licensure.
A. As used in this section:
"Alternate route to licensure" means a
nontraditional route to teacher licensure available to individuals who meet the
criteria specified in the guidelines developed pursuant to subsection N
O or regulations issued by the Board of Education.
"Industry certification credential" means an active
career and technical education credential that is earned by successfully
completing a Board of Education-approved Board-approved industry
certification examination, being issued a professional license in the
Commonwealth, or successfully completing an occupational competency
examination.
"Licensure by reciprocity" means a process used
to issue the issuance of a license as a teacher in the
Commonwealth to an individual coming into the Commonwealth from another
state when that individual meets certain conditions specified in the Board
of Education's Board's regulations.
"Professional teacher's assessment" means those
tests mandated for licensure as prescribed by the Board of Education.
"Provisional license" means a nonrenewable license
issued by the Board of Education or by a division superintendent as
permitted pursuant to subdivision D 5 for a specified period of time, not
to exceed three years, to an individual who may be employed by a school
division in the Commonwealth and who generally meets the requirements specified
in the Board of Education's Board's regulations for licensure,
but who may need to take additional coursework, pass additional assessments, or
meet alternative evaluation standards to be fully licensed with a renewable
license.
"Renewable license" means a license issued by the
Board of Education for 10 years to an individual who meets the
requirements specified in the Board of Education's Board's
regulations.
"Universal licensure by reciprocity" means the issuance of a license as a teacher in the Commonwealth to any individual who holds a valid out-of-state teaching license with full credentials and without deficiencies that has been in force and in use by the individual as an employed teacher in a non-virtual classroom setting at a public or private elementary or secondary school for at least three years prior to and is in force at the time the Department receives such individual's application for a license as a teacher in the Commonwealth.
B. The Board of Education shall prescribe, by
regulation, the requirements for the licensure of teachers and other school
personnel required to hold a license. Such regulations shall include procedures
for (i) the denial, suspension, cancellation, revocation, and reinstatement of
licensure; (ii) written reprimand of license holders on grounds established by
the Board, in accordance with law, notice of which shall be made by the
Superintendent of Public Instruction to division superintendents or
their designated representatives; and (iii) the immediate and thorough
investigation by the division superintendent or his designee of any complaint
alleging that a license holder has engaged in conduct that may form the basis
for the revocation of his license. At a minimum, such procedures for
investigations contained in such regulations shall require (a) the division
superintendent to petition for the revocation of the license upon completing
such investigation and finding that there is reasonable cause to believe that
the license holder has engaged in conduct that forms the basis for revocation
of a license; (b) the school board to proceed to a hearing on such petition for
revocation within 90 days of the mailing of a copy of the petition to the
license holder, unless the license holder requests the cancellation of his
license in accordance with Board regulations; and (c) the school board to
provide a copy of the investigative file and such petition for revocation to
the Superintendent of Public Instruction at the time that the hearing is
scheduled. The Board of Education shall revoke the license of any person
for whom it has received a notice of dismissal or resignation pursuant to
subsection F of §22.1-313 and, in the case of a person who is the subject of a
founded complaint of child abuse or neglect, after all rights to any
administrative appeal provided by §63.2-1526 have been exhausted. In the case
of a teacher who is the subject of a founded complaint of child abuse or
neglect and whose license has been revoked pursuant to this subsection, in the
event that a court reverses such finding of abuse or neglect and the individual
submits to the Department an application for the reinstatement of his license
as a teacher, the Board shall consider and act upon such application no later
than 90 days after the date of submission. Regardless of the authority of any
other agency of the Commonwealth to approve educational programs, only the
Board of Education shall have the authority to license teachers to be
regularly employed by school boards, including those teachers employed to
provide nursing education.
The Board of Education shall prescribe by regulation
the licensure requirements for teachers who teach only online courses, as
defined in §22.1-212.23. Such license shall be valid only for teaching online
courses. Teachers who hold a 10-year renewable license issued by the Board
of Education may teach online courses for which they are properly endorsed.
C. The Board of Education's Board's regulations
shall include requirements that a person seeking initial licensure:
1. Demonstrate proficiency in the relevant content area, communication, literacy, and other core skills for educators by achieving a qualifying score on professional assessments or meeting alternative evaluation standards as prescribed by the Board. The literacy assessment for any individual seeking initial licensure with an endorsement in early/primary education preschool through grade three, elementary education preschool through grade six, special education general curriculum kindergarten through grade 12, special education deaf and hard of hearing preschool through grade 12, or special education blindness/visual impairments preschool through grade 12 or as a reading specialist shall include a rigorous test of science-based reading research and evidence-based literacy instruction;
2. Complete study in attention deficit disorder;
3. Complete study in gifted education, including the use of multiple criteria to identify gifted students; and
4. Complete study in methods of improving communication between schools and families and ways of increasing family involvement in student learning at home and at school.
D. In addition, such regulations shall include requirements that:
1. Every person seeking initial licensure and persons seeking
licensure renewal as teachers who have not completed such study shall complete
study in child abuse recognition and intervention in accordance with curriculum
guidelines developed by the Board of Education in consultation with the
Department of Social Services that are relevant to the specific teacher
licensure routes;
2. Every person seeking renewal of a license shall complete all renewal requirements, including professional development in a manner prescribed by the Board, except that no person seeking renewal of a license shall be required to satisfy any such requirement by completing coursework and earning credit at an institution of higher education;
3. Every person seeking initial licensure or renewal of a license shall provide evidence of completion of certification or training in emergency first aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and the use of automated external defibrillators. The certification or training program shall (i) be based on the current national evidence-based emergency cardiovascular care guidelines for cardiopulmonary resuscitation and the use of an automated external defibrillator, such as a program developed by the American Heart Association or the American Red Cross, and (ii) include hands-on practice of the skills necessary to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation. The Board shall provide a waiver for this requirement for any person with a disability whose disability prohibits such person from completing the certification or training;
4. Every person seeking licensure with an endorsement as a teacher of the blind and visually impaired shall demonstrate proficiency in reading and writing Braille;
5. Every teacher seeking an initial license in the
Commonwealth with an endorsement in the area of career and technical education
shall have an industry certification credential in the area in which the
teacher seeks endorsement. If a teacher seeking an initial license in the
Commonwealth has not attained an industry certification credential in the area
in which the teacher seeks endorsement, the Board division
superintendent may, upon request of the employing school division or
educational agency, issue the teacher a provisional license to allow time
for the teacher to attain such credential;
6. Every person seeking initial licensure or renewal of a license shall complete awareness training, provided by the Department, on the indicators of dyslexia, as that term is defined by the Board pursuant to regulations, and the evidence-based interventions and accommodations for dyslexia;
7. Every person seeking initial licensure or renewal of a license with an endorsement as a school counselor shall complete training in the recognition of mental health disorder and behavioral distress, including depression, trauma, violence, youth suicide, and substance abuse;
8. Every person seeking initial licensure as a teacher who has
not received the instruction described in subsection D of §23.1-902 shall
receive instruction or training on positive behavior interventions and
supports; crisis prevention and de-escalation; the use of physical restraint
and seclusion, consistent with regulations of the Board of Education;
and appropriate alternative methods to reduce and prevent the need for the use
of physical restraint and seclusion;
9. Every person seeking initial licensure or renewal of a license shall complete instruction or training in cultural competency;
10. Every person seeking initial licensure or renewal of a license with an endorsement in history and social sciences shall complete instruction in African American history, as prescribed by the Board;
11. Every person seeking renewal of a license as a teacher shall complete training in the instruction of students with disabilities that includes (i) differentiating instruction for students depending on their needs; (ii) understanding the role of general education teachers on the individualized education program team; (iii) implementing effective models of collaborative instruction, including co-teaching; and (iv) understanding the goals and benefits of inclusive education for all students; and
12. Every person seeking initial licensure with an endorsement in early/primary education preschool through grade three, elementary education preschool through grade six, special education general curriculum kindergarten through grade 12, special education deaf and hard of hearing preschool through grade 12, or special education blindness/visual impairments preschool through grade 12 or as a reading specialist shall complete study in science-based reading research and evidence-based literacy instruction.
E. No teacher who seeks a provisional license shall be required to meet any requirement set forth in subdivision D 1, 3, 6, or 8 as a condition of such licensure, but each such teacher shall complete each such requirement during the first year of provisional licensure.
F. The Board shall issue a license to an individual seeking initial licensure who has not completed professional assessments as prescribed by the Board, if such individual (i) holds a provisional license that will expire within three months or, at the discretion of the school board and division superintendent, within six months if the individual has received a satisfactory mid-year performance review in the current school year; (ii) is employed by a school board; (iii) is recommended for licensure by the division superintendent; (iv) has attempted, unsuccessfully, to obtain a qualifying score on the professional assessments as prescribed by the Board; (v) has received an evaluation rating of proficient or above on the performance standards for each year of the provisional license, and such evaluation was conducted in a manner consistent with the Guidelines for Uniform Performance Standards and Evaluation Criteria for Teachers, Principals, and Superintendents; and (vi) meets all other requirements for initial licensure.
G. Each local school board or division superintendent
may waive for any individual whom it he seeks to employ as a
career and technical education teacher and who is also seeking initial
licensure or renewal of a license with an endorsement in the area of career and
technical education any applicable requirement set forth in subsection C or
subdivision D 2, 4, or 6.
H. The Board's regulations shall require that initial licensure for principals and assistant principals be contingent upon passage of an assessment as prescribed by the Board.
I. The Board shall establish criteria in its regulations to effectuate the substitution of experiential learning for coursework for those persons seeking initial licensure through an alternate route as defined in Board regulations. Such alternate routes shall include eligibility for any individual to receive, notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, a renewable one-year license to teach in public high schools in the Commonwealth if he has:
1. Received a graduate degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher education;
2. Completed at least 30 credit hours of teaching experience as an instructor at a regionally accredited institution of higher education;
3. Received qualifying scores on the professional teacher's assessments prescribed by the Board, including the communication and literacy assessment and the content-area assessment for the endorsement sought. The literacy assessment for any individual seeking initial licensure through an alternate route with an endorsement in early/primary education preschool through grade three, elementary education preschool through grade six, special education general curriculum kindergarten through grade 12, special education deaf and hard of hearing preschool through grade 12, or special education blindness/visual impairments preschool through grade 12 or as a reading specialist shall include a rigorous test of science-based reading research and evidence-based literacy instruction; and
4. Met the requirements set forth in subdivisions D 1 and 3.
J. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, the Board (i) may provide for the issuance of a provisional license, valid for a period not to exceed three years, pursuant to subdivision D 5 or to any person who does not meet the requirements of this section or any other requirement for licensure imposed by law; (ii) shall provide for the issuance of a provisional license, valid for a period not to exceed three years, to any former member of the Armed Forces of the United States or the Virginia National Guard who has received an honorable discharge and has the appropriate level of experience or training but does not meet the requirements for a renewable license; and (iii) may provide for the issuance of a provisional license, valid for a period not to exceed three years, to any individual who has held within the last five years a valid and officially issued and recognized license or certification to teach issued by an entity outside of the United States but does not meet the requirements for a renewable license if the individual's license or certification to teach has been evaluated and verified by an entity approved by the Department.
K. The Board's licensure regulations shall also provide for licensure by reciprocity:
1. With comparable endorsement areas for those individuals
holding a valid out-of-state teaching license and national certification from
the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards or a nationally
recognized certification program approved by the Board of Education. The
application for such individuals shall require evidence of such valid licensure
and national certification and shall not require official student transcripts;
and
2. For any spouse of an active duty or reserve member of the
Armed Forces of the United States or a member of the Virginia National Guard
who has obtained a valid out-of-state license, with full credentials and
without deficiencies, that is in force at the time the application for a
Virginia license is received by the Department. Each such individual shall
establish a file in the Department by submitting a complete application packet,
which shall include official student transcripts and an official copy of the
military permanent assignment orders of the individual's spouse. No service
requirements or licensing assessments shall be required for any such
individual. The Department shall determine and communicate such individual's
eligibility for licensure by reciprocity within 15 business days of receipt of
the complete application packet; and
3. For individuals who have obtained a valid out-of-state
license, with full credentials and without deficiencies, that is in force at
the time the application for a Virginia license is received by the Department.
Each such individual shall establish a file in the Department by submitting a
complete application packet, which shall include official student transcripts.
L. The Board's licensure regulations shall also provide for
universal licensure by reciprocity for any individual who holds a valid
out-of-state teaching license with full credentials and without deficiencies
that has been in force for at least three years prior to and is in force at the
time of application. No service requirements or licensing assessments shall
be required for any such individual who applies for universal
licensure by reciprocity. Any individual who applies for universal licensure by
reciprocity shall provide a copy of the individual's out-of-state teaching
license that meets the criteria set forth in this subsection. Any such
individual shall be subject to the provisions of §§22.1-296.2 and 22.1-296.4.
The Department shall prioritize applications for universal licensure by
reciprocity.
L. M. The Board shall include in its regulations
an alternate route to licensure for elementary education preschool through
grade six and an alternate route to licensure for special education general
curriculum kindergarten through grade 12. Each such alternate route to
licensure shall require individuals to (i) meet the qualifying scores on the
content area assessment prescribed by the Board for the endorsements sought and
(ii) complete an alternative certification program that provides training in
the pedagogy and methodology of the respective content or special education
areas prescribed by the Board. The curriculum of any such alternative
certification program shall be approved by the Board. Nothing in this
subsection shall preclude the Board from establishing other alternate routes to
licensure.
M. N. The Board, in its regulations providing
for licensure by reciprocity established pursuant to subsection
subsections K and L, shall (i) permit applicants to submit
third-party employment verification forms and (ii) grant special consideration
to individuals who have successfully completed a program offered by a provider
that is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator
Preparation.
N. O. The Board shall develop guidelines that
establish a process to permit a school board or any organization sponsored by a
school board to petition the Board for approval of an alternate route to
licensure that may be used to meet the requirements for a provisional or
renewable license or any endorsement. Any such alternate route may include
alternatives to the regulatory requirements for teacher preparation, including
alternative professional assessments and coursework. The petitioner may proffer
or the Board may impose conditions in conjunction with the approval of such
petition.
2. That the Department of Education shall compile and publicly post on its website in a format conducive to comparison to the standards and requirements for teacher licensure in the Commonwealth data on the teacher licensure standards and requirements for each state for the purposes of facilitating the determination of the compatibility of out-of-state teacher licenses with teacher licensure requirements and standards in the Commonwealth and increasing transparency in requirements for teacher licensure and licensure by reciprocity in the Commonwealth. The Department shall update such data as necessary to reflect the current and accurate standards and requirements for teacher licensure in each state.
