Report Title:

Teacher Certification; DOE

 

Description:

Requires the Hawaii teacher standards board to provide for the alternate certification of persons who do not hold licenses or credentials issued by the department of education.

 

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

402

TWENTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2001

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 


 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

RELATING TO ALTERNATE TEACHER CERTIFICATION.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that teacher quality is crucial to the improvement of instruction and student performance. Certification requirements that correspond to state-approved education programs in most states, however, prevent many individuals from entering the teaching profession. To obtain an education degree, students must often complete requirements in educational methods, theory, and style rather than in-depth study in a chosen subject area. Comprehensive alternate certification programs can improve teacher quality by opening up the profession to well-educated, qualified, and experienced individuals.

SECTION 2. Chapter 302A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§302A- Alternate teacher certification. (a) The board shall provide for the alternate certification of persons who do not hold licenses or credentials issued by the department.

(b) The board shall require a person applying for alternate certification pursuant to section 302A-802(b) to satisfactorily complete the following:

(1) An examination for admission to a teacher education program to determine if the person's basic skills in reading, writing, and mathematics are sufficient to perform satisfactorily as a teacher; and

(2) A one-year internship in a public school, supervised by a mentor teacher.

(c) To qualify under this section for an internship leading to alternate certification to teach elementary grades, a person must have a bachelor's degree in liberal arts, English, history, mathematics, life science, earth science, child psychology, or a foreign language. The degree must be from an institution of higher education that is accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by the United States Secretary of Education.

(d) To qualify under this section for an internship leading to alternate certification to teach secondary grades, a person must have a bachelor's degree in the subject area for which certification is sought. The degree must be from an institution of higher education that is accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by the United States Secretary of Education.

(e) The department shall issue a license or credential earned through alternate certification based on an evaluation of:

(1) The person's academic knowledge;

(2) The results of the examination required by subsection (b)(l);

(3) The person's ability to communicate information effectively to students; and

(4) The academic achievement of students taught by the person during the person's internship.

(f) The department shall report the issuance of a license or credential earned through alternate certification to the board."

SECTION 3. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

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