Report Title:

Teacher Educators; National Board Certification; Incentives

Description:

Allows teacher educators at the University of Hawaii to participate in the teacher national board certification incentive program. Defines "teacher educator" and appropriates funds.

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

876

TWENTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2005

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 


 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

relating to education.

 

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

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that section 38 of Act 51 of the regular session of 2004 created a teacher national board certification incentive program in the department of education. The program demonstrates the State's commitment and support of public school teachers who have achieved national board certification by awarding monetary bonuses for earning the certification and maintaining it. However, the incentive program, which will take effect on July 1, 2005, does not include teacher educators in the University of Hawaii system.

The legislature further finds that amending the program to include teacher educators would have several positive impacts. If the incentive program were expanded, teacher educators would be encouraged to seek national board certification and their students would benefit by having faculty with national credentials. Additionally, teacher educators with national board certification would be better able to develop preparation and professional development programs linked with national standards that would prepare student teachers for national board certification. The retention rate of teacher educator faculty would also be enhanced and deans and department chairs would be able to use the incentive program as a recruiting tool.

The purpose of this Act is to expand the teacher national board certification incentive program to include teacher educators in the University of Hawaii system.

SECTION 2. Section 302A-706, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

"[[]§302A-706[]] Teacher national board certification incentive program. (a) There is established within the department the teacher national board certification incentive program to recognize and support exemplary teaching practice by supporting public school teachers and teacher educators in the University of Hawaii system who have achieved national board certification under the certification program of the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. The teacher national board certification incentive program shall provide:

(1) A $5,000 bonus per year for each public school teacher and teacher educator in the University of Hawaii system who [maintains] maintain current national board certification;

(2) $1,500 upon completing the certification program of the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards; and

(3) A reimbursement of the remainder of the national board certification application fee upon achievement of national board certification.

(b) The incentive program shall include a mentoring component that encourages and enables national board-certified teachers to assist other teachers and share their teaching expertise.

(c) For the purposes of this section, "teacher educator" means a faculty member in the University of Hawaii system who teaches in a teacher preparation program."

SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $          , or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2005-2006, for the teacher national board certification incentive program for teacher educators at the University of Hawaii.

SECTION 4. The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of education for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 5. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 6. This Act shall take effect on June 30, 2005; provided that section 3 shall be effective on July 1, 2005.

INTRODUCED BY:

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