SB 175

This bill establishes an alternative route for obtaining a teaching license. The

bill directs the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) to issue a one-year,

nonrenewable license to teach mathematics, general science, biology, chemistry, or

physics in grades 6 to 12 to any person who is certified by a national alternative

teacher certification organization that was established with federal funds; has a

teacher recruitment, preparation, and certification program designed for

professionals who want to change careers; requires candidates to hold a bachelor's

degree and pass professional teaching and subject area examinations and a criminal

background check; and provides a teacher mentoring program.

Upon completion of a one-year mentoring program operated by a school district

or by an organization described above, an applicant who holds the one-year,

nonrenewable license is eligible for a regular initial teaching license that authorizes

the holder to teach mathematics, general science, biology, chemistry, or physics in

grades 6 to 12. The bill prohibits DPI from issuing more than 200 such licences to

such applicants in any school year and from issuing such a license to such an

applicant after June 30, 2015.