SB 917

Under current law, the state superintendent of public instruction must license

all teachers for the public schools of the state; make rules establishing standards of

attainment and procedures for the examination and licensing of teachers; and

prescribe by rule standards, requirements, and procedures for the approval of

teacher preparatory programs leading to licensure. Currently, the state

superintendent may not approve a teacher preparatory program unless the program

requires the student to complete one full semester of student teaching following the

daily schedule and semester calendar of the cooperating school. Under this bill, the

state superintendent may not approve a teacher preparatory program unless it

requires a student to complete at least one but not more than four full semesters of

student teaching following the daily schedule and semester calendar of the

cooperating school. In addition, the state superintendent may approve a teacher

preparatory program that requires two to four semesters of student teaching only if

the institution of higher education awards general education credits to the student

for the second, third, and fourth semesters of student teaching, as applicable.

Under current law, the Department of Public Instruction must annually report

certain information for each approved teacher preparatory program in this state,

including the first attempt passage rate for students and graduates on examinations

that are required for teacher licensure. Under the bill, beginning in the 2025-26

school year, DPI must report this information for all students and graduates of the

program, those students and graduates who completed one semester of student

teaching, and those student and graduates who completed more than one semester

of student teaching.

The bill also requires DPI to establish a teacher apprenticeship program for

students who are participating in a teacher preparatory program that requires two

to four semesters of student teaching. Under the bill, the teacher apprenticeship

program must include various components, including the conditions under which an

individual may serve as a teacher apprentice, a requirement that the individual

enter into an apprentice contract, and a requirement to be registered with DPI.