State education board previews comprehensive rewrite of teacher certification rules

An agency official opened the board’s discussion of a comprehensive rewrite of the teacher certification chapter, saying the work addresses conflicting and outdated language in Chapter 290 and is the second half of a multi-part update to educator regulations.

The rewrite, described in the meeting as about 200 pages, was presented by department staff Dr. Shimon Harris and colleagues. Dr. Harris said the edits remove repetitive and outdated provisions, align certification rules with the newly adopted educator preparation chapter, and incorporate changes required by recent laws and executive actions. “It is about 200 pages long, I think,” the agency official said.

Why it matters: the changes would alter how candidates qualify for provisional and alternative certificates, how reciprocity and support-area credentials are measured, and what counts for renewal — all rules that affect preparation programs, teacher candidates and retired educators who may return to teaching.

Key provisions explained at the meeting include:

- GPA flexibility and alternative pathways: Presenters said candidates with GPAs between 2.0 and 2.5 would gain additional pathways to certification. In addition to a higher practice score option, the revision would allow completion of six semester hours of post-bachelor coursework (with a grade of at least B) in the specific content area of the certificate sought. When asked whether that coursework must be subject-matter specific, presenters confirmed it must be "in the content area." (Presenter)

- New and conditional certificates: The draft creates a conditional certificate for individuals enrolled in alternative preparation programs; staff tied that change to legislation adopted in 2022 and other recent authority changes.

- Assessment and credential alignment: The update incorporates foundation-of-reading and numeracy assessment requirements aligned to law, removes the National Counselor Examination (NCE) from the K‑12 counseling route where it no longer aligns with contemporary counseling standards and keeps Praxis requirements in place.

- Reciprocity and experience: Instructional support reciprocity was aligned with the educator preparation chapter, lowering some in-classroom experience requirements from two years to one year for roles such as instructional leadership and other support areas.

- Expanded eligibility: Speech-language pathologists would be eligible to apply to become dyslexia therapists; previously that pathway was limited to teaching fields.

- Renewal and retired educators: Professional educators would still need 50 clock hours of professional development within five years. The presenters explained a new option for retired educators with 25 years of service: for a $200 fee and proof of 25 years’ service, they could receive a lifetime certificate.

Process and timeline: Department staff said they plan to announce intent to adopt the administrative rules in April and return to the board for adoption in June, allowing public comment during the interim. Presenters offered both digital redline copies and printed clean copies of the rewrite for board members and said a guidance document will clarify specific course-area requirements.

What the presenters said they relied on: staff noted adjustments required by recent legislation (including measures described at the meeting as a 2022 military veterans temporary act and an apprenticeship/license change tied to an executive action labeled "Executive Order 7 32, signed 01/18/2023") and an earlier educator preparation chapter update adopted last year.

Next steps: The board recessed for a short school performance and planned to return to take questions and, if prepared, proceed with the announced timeline to bring the rewrite back for possible adoption in June.