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House OKs streamlined relicensure path to attract returning teachers
Summary
Lawmakers passed House Bill 68 to let returning licensed teachers obtain relicensure through a principal-developed professional-development plan instead of the usual 200 hours, aiming to help fill teacher shortages; the bill passed unanimously and moves to the Senate.
Representative Rhonda Menlove introduced House Bill 68 to change how returning educators regain licensure. Menlove said the bill would allow a returning teacher to pay the licensing fee, obtain a criminal-background check and, in consultation with a school principal, develop an individualized professional-development plan instead of immediately completing 200 relicensure hours.
The sponsor framed the change as a way to encourage licensed but inactive teachers to return amid a statewide teacher shortage. She cited an estimate of about 28,000 licensed teachers not currently teaching and said even bringing back 10 percent could help staffing needs. Several colleagues praised the bill as a modest, cost-neutral route to add classroom capacity.
Questions focused on implementation. Representative Dougal asked whether the State Board of Education could accomplish the change by policy; Menlove said the State Board had adopted similar policy but that codifying the approach in statute ensures permanence. Members also asked whether additional rulemaking authority was required; Menlove said the State Office of Education already has authority in the licensing sections but she would seek clarification.
The House voted 68–0 to pass HB68 and referred it to the Senate.
