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PELSB updates two rulemaking packages covering counseling, ethnic studies, computer science and licensure pathways
Summary
Staff told the board on Sept. 19 that a school-counseling rule (R4703) has cleared administrative hearing review; a larger multi-component package (R4863) was discussed with proposed changes to degree exemptions, ethnic-studies and computer-science licensure, portfolio streamlining and a 'meaningful progress' definition.
Staff gave the Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board updates Sept. 19 on two rule packages.
The counseling rule (R4703) has been approved by the Office of Administrative Hearings and moved to the closed rulemaking section of the board’s website. The package aligns school-counseling program requirements with CACREP (Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs) accreditation and adjusts scope so counselors can serve younger grades in some pathways.
A larger package (referred to in materials as R4863) was described as containing seven major components: implementing the legislature’s 2023 exemption from a bachelor’s-degree requirement for certain fields (world language and visual/performing arts); incorporating American history and culture training into renewals; streamlining the portfolio licensure process and removing inadvertent CTE portfolio requirements for some specialties; defining "meaningful progress" for tiered licensure and extending that definition to some out-of-field permissions (OFPs); revising early-childhood cooperating-teacher qualifications; and splitting ethnic-studies and computer-science licenses into narrower grade-band credentials (for example, a 5–12 license and a K–6 endorsement where appropriate). Staff also proposed technical edits to remove a social-studies requirement incorrectly placed in the ethnic-studies language.
Board members asked for clarifications on specific line edits (for example, the method for calculating years of experience and where BA-exemption language appears in the draft). Staff said the draft and strike-redline materials are in the board packet and asked members to submit focused questions to Dr. Bailey so staff can research and return answers at the next meeting.
Staff recommended adding a definition of meaningful progress that would apply to out-of-field permissions to give districts and candidates clearer benchmarks when a teacher is working toward full certification. Board members generally supported clarifying language and requested additional technical edits be posted before a future rulemaking vote.
