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Committee advances teacher‑certification overhaul after hours of debate; substitute passes 14–4
Summary
The committee adopted a House Committee substitute to H.B. 2776 that creates tiered K–6 teaching certificates, extends some completion windows, and requires paid mentoring; the substitute was advanced on a 14–4 roll call after detailed questioning about preparation, retention and implementation.
The House Committee on Elementary and Secondary Education on Wednesday advanced a substitute to House Bill 2776, a measure that establishes a tiered pathway for elementary teachers and sets new mentoring and certification timelines. The House Committee substitute passed on a roll call of 14 ayes and 4 noes.
Representative Edelman, the bill sponsor, told the committee the substitute responds to concerns raised after the bill's earlier passage. Key changes include removing a requirement that qualifying service be consecutive (allowing candidates to complete two years of qualifying service within a four‑year window), extending the expiration period for tier 2 certificates to five years, and allowing the 60‑hour pathway to be delivered either at community colleges or four‑year institutions. The substitute also requires paid, district‑assigned mentoring and evaluation for participants.
“There's a big need that we have where we have, approximately 4,500 teachers in the state that are classroom teachers of record, which have, no more than a substitute certificate,” the sponsor said, arguing the pathway would produce qualified classroom teachers more quickly while pairing college instruction with district mentoring.
Committee members asked about safeguards and workloads. Representative Steinhoff (ranking member) expressed continued concern that the tiered routes could short‑change formal preparation and urged clearer direction on the 45 hours of teacher‑preparation coursework the State Board of Education would approve. Representative Smith warned the plan could push less‑experienced teachers into the most challenging elementary classrooms and raised worries about pay and working conditions; she said the bill looked “pretty on paper” but may create real‑world challenges for mentors and young teachers.
Supporters emphasized mentorship and evaluation: the sponsor said participants would have a paid district mentor and required evaluations before advancing to higher tiers. The State Board of Education was mentioned as the entity that would promulgate rules under chapter 161 to define program specifics.
On roll call the substitute for H.B. 2776 passed 14–4 and will advance to next House steps.
Next steps: the bill will move through the House process; members signaled potential future adjustments after implementation feedback.
