Professional Endorsement Special Education Teaching

Under current law, a person seeking a teaching endorsement in special education or early childhood special education (endorsement) must complete an approved program and a student teaching practicum through an institution of higher education and pass one or more appropriate content-based exams. The bill requires the department of education (department) to establish an additional pathway for an educator to obtain issue an endorsement. To receive the endorsement, the educator must hold a valid teaching license other than an initial license ; take and pass the appropriate content-based exams, as determined by the department; and complete a specialized induction program that meets the standards and criteria established by rule of the state board of education. Upon the educator's completion of all the components of the additional pathway, the department shall grant the educator a professional endorsement for instruction in special education or early childhood special education. and complete coursework and assessments, as specified by rule of the state board of education (board), in a program in special education offered by an accepted institution of higher education or an alternative teacher preparation program (program) for special education offered by a designated agency, The program must be approved by the board. A person with a professional teacher license may continue in the person's current position while participating in a program for the purpose of receiving an endorsement.

(Note: Italicized words indicate new material added to the original summary; dashes through words indicate deletions from the original summary.)

(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)