RELATES TO:
KRS
161.020,
161.028(1),
161.030
NECESSITY, FUNCTION, AND CONFORMITY:
KRS
161.028(1)(a) authorizes the
Education Professional Standards Board (EPSB) to establish the standards for
obtaining and maintaining a teaching certificate.
KRS
161.028(1)(b) authorizes the
board to set standards for programs for the preparation of teachers and other
professional school personnel.
KRS
161.028(1)(f) authorizes the
board to issue and renew any certificate. This administrative regulation
establishes the Kentucky certification to be issued for teaching
positions.
Section 1. Definitions.
(1) "Approved program of preparation" means a
program which has been approved by the board pursuant to
16
KAR 5:010 for a specific certification.
(2) "Base certificate" means a professional
certificate that allows a teacher to teach introductory and interdisciplinary
courses in related fields.
(3)
"Certificate endorsement" means an addition to a base or restricted base
certificate, which is limited in scope.
(4) "Certificate extension" means an
additional base or restricted base certificate in a content area or grade
range.
(5) "Major" means an
academic area of concentration consisting of at least thirty (30) hours of
coursework.
(6) "Restricted base
certificate" means a certificate that allows a teacher to teach in a specific
limited content area.
(7)
"Statement of eligibility" means a candidate has met the requirements necessary
to receive a provisional certificate.
Section 2. Types of Certificates Issued.
(1) Provisional certificate;
(a) Conditional certificate;
(b) Provisional internship certificate - one
(1) year certificate;
(c) Temporary
provisional certificate;
(d)
Probationary provisional certificate;
(e) Proficiency provisional
certificate;
(f) Occupation-based
career and technical education provisional certificate;
(g) One (1) year provisional alternative
certificate;
(h) Adjunct
certificate;
(i) Emergency
certificate;
(j) Temporary
certificate for Instructional Leadership:
1.
In-state; and
2.
Out-of-state;
(k)
Temporary certificate; and
(l)
Provisional certificate for "other school professionals".
(2) Professional certificate.
(a) Initial certificate - four (4) year
certificate;
(b) Initial
certificate - five (5) year certificate;
(c) Renewal certificate - five (5) year
certificate;
(d) Occupation-based
career and technical education professional certificate; and
(e) Professional certificate for "other
school professionals".
(3) Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps
(JROTC) Certificate.
(4) Additional
Certification:
(a) Certificate extension;
and
(b) Certificate
endorsement.
(5)
Substitute teaching certificate.
(a)
Certified substitute certificate; and
(b) Emergency substitute
certificate.
(6) All
other existing certificates shall remain valid and the terms for renewal shall
be determined by the laws and regulations in effect at the time the certificate
was issued pursuant to
KRS
161.020.
Section 3. Certificate Issuance.
(1) Prior to the issuance of a certificate or
statement of eligibility, the applicant shall disclose certain background
information as established in Section 8 of this administrative regulation. If
the applicant answers "yes" to any of the questions established in Section
8(1)(a)-(f) of this administrative regulation, the EPSB may still issue a
certificate or statement of eligibility for that applicant, but the board shall
retain final authority to deny a request for certification or statement of
eligibility if the board so chooses.
(2) The EPSB shall issue a statement of
eligibility to a teacher candidate who:
(a)
Has successfully completed a traditional initial preparation program that
resulted in the issuance of a bachelor's degree or higher with either:
1. A cumulative grade point average of 2.75
on a 4.0 scale; or
2. A grade point
average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale on the last thirty (30) hours of credit
completed, including undergraduate and graduate coursework.
3. Grade point average (GPA) shall be
calculated by beginning with the most recent course completed and proceeding
backward for two (2) semesters in the order the grades fall on the transcript
to accumulate the last thirty (30) hours completed for determining the
GPA.
4. If it is necessary to go
back further than two (2) semesters, then the courses in the third semester
shall be chosen based on the highest grades earned during that third
semester;
(b) Earns a
passing score on all assessments required for the certification sought as
established in 16 KAR Chapter 6.
(3) All certificates issued shall either be a
base or restricted base certificate as established in Section 4 of this
administrative regulation.
(4)
Provisional Certificates.
(a) Conditional
Certificate.
1. The EPSB may issue a
conditional certificate to a teacher candidate unable to earn a passing score
on all assessments required for the certification sought pursuant to
KRS
161.030(3)(b), if the
teacher candidate meets the requirements of
16 KAR
2:180.
2.
A teacher candidate with only a conditional certificate is not eligible to
participate in the Kentucky Teacher Internship Program (KTIP).
(b) Provisional Internship
Certificate. The EPSB shall issue a provisional internship certificate to a
teacher candidate who has completed a traditional preparation program upon
confirmation of employment in an assignment for the grade level and content
area identified on an unexpired statement of eligibility for the duration of
the KTIP.
(c) Temporary Provisional
Certificate.
1. The EPSB shall issue a
temporary provisional certificate pursuant to
KRS
161.048 with a grade level and content area
recommended by the institution that will be valid for employment in the area of
certification sought.
2. The
certificate shall be issued at the appropriate rank pursuant to the
requirements established in
16 KAR
8:020.
3.
Prior to issuance of the certificate, pursuant to 16 KAR Chapter 9:
a. The teacher candidate shall submit to the
EPSB an official transcript from each college or university attended; and
b. The institution shall submit to
the EPSB a mentoring collaboration agreement with the district if the teacher
candidate is seeking certification through the enrollment of a university-based
alternative certification program.
4. The EPSB shall renew the temporary
provisional certificate yearly upon the recommendation of the institution. The
institution shall base its recommendation pursuant to
KRS
161.048 and 16 KAR Chapter 9.
5. A teacher candidate shall be eligible for
KTIP upon completion of all program requirements and after successfully passing
all applicable assessments pursuant to
16 KAR
6:010.
(d) Probationary Provisional Certificate.
1. A probationary provisional certificate
shall be initiated by the school district to fill an area of need.
(e) Proficiency Provisional Certificate.
1. The EPSB shall issue a proficiency
provisional certificate in accordance with a grade level and content area
recommended by the university that will be valid for employment in the area of
certification sought.
2. The
certificate shall be issued at the appropriate rank pursuant to the
requirements established in
16 KAR
8:020.
3.
Prior to issuance of the certificate, pursuant to
16 KAR
5:030 the:
a. Teacher
candidate shall submit to the EPSB an official transcript from each college or
university attended; and
b. College
or university shall submit to the EPSB an educator learning plan (ELP); and
c. Candidate shall have a written
offer of employment in the content area in which certification is being
sought.
4. The EPSB
shall renew the proficiency provisional certificate yearly upon the
recommendation of the college or university. The college or university shall
base its recommendation on the ELP pursuant to
16 KAR
5:030.
(f) Occupation-based Career and Technical
Education Provisional Certificate. The EPSB shall issue an occupation-based
career and technical education provisional certificate following the completion
of the appropriate requirements established in
16
KAR 2:020.
(g) One (1) year Provisional Alternative
Certificate. The EPSB shall issue a one (1) year provisional alternative
certificate to a teacher candidate who is enrolled in a local school district
training program following the completion of the appropriate requirements
established in
16 KAR
9:050,
16
KAR 9:060, and
16 KAR
9:070.
(h)
Adjunct Certificate. The EPSB shall issue an adjunct instructor certificate
following completion of the appropriate requirements established in
16
KAR 9:020.
(i) Emergency Certificate. The EPSB shall
issue an emergency certificate pursuant to
16 KAR
2:120.
(j)
Temporary Certificate for Instructional Leadership.
1. In-state. The EPSB shall issue a temporary
certificate for instructional leadership pursuant to
KRS
161.027(6) and
16
KAR 6:030, Section 8.
2. Out-of-state. The EPSB shall issue a
temporary certificate for institutional leadership pursuant to
KRS
161.027(6).
(k) Temporary Certificate.
1. The EPSB shall issue a temporary
certificate to out-of-state teachers with less than two (2) years of experience
pursuant to
KRS
161.030(3)(c).
2. A temporary certificate may be issued for
a period up to six (6) months, not to exceed the end of the semester in which
the temporary certificate is issued, during which the teacher must successfully
pass all required assessments pursuant to
16 KAR
6:010.
(5) Professional Certificates.
(a) Initial Four (4) Year Certificate. The
EPSB shall issue an initial four (4) year certificate to a teacher candidate
who has successfully completed KTIP while holding a provisional internship
certificate issued by the EPSB unless otherwise waived pursuant to
KRS
161.030 based on preparation and experience
completed outside of Kentucky.
(b)
Initial Five (5) Year Certificate.
1. The
EPSB shall issue an initial five (5) year certificate to a teacher candidate
who has successfully completed KTIP while holding a temporary provisional
certificate issued by the EPSB; or
2. To a teacher candidate based on
preparation and experience completed outside of Kentucky pursuant to
KRS
161.030.
(c) Renewal Five (5) Year Certificate.
1. The first five (5) year renewal shall
require:
a. Completion of a minimum of
fifteen (15) semester hours of graduate credit applicable to the fifth-year
approved program of preparation established in
16 KAR
8:020 by September 1 of the year of expiration of the
certificate; or
b. Completion of
the required components of the continuing education option for initial
certificate renewal as established in
16
KAR 8:030.
2. The second five (5) year renewal shall
require:
a. Completion of the fifth-year
approved program of preparation established in
16 KAR
8:020 by September 1 of the year of expiration of the
certificate; or
b. Successful
completion of the continuing education option as established in
16
KAR 8:030.
3. Each subsequent five (5) year renewal
shall require completion of the renewal requirements established in
16
KAR 4:060.
(d) Occupation-based Career and Technical
Education Professional Certificate. The EPSB shall issue an occupation-based
career and technical education professional certificate pursuant to
16
KAR 2:020.
(6) Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps
(JROTC) Certificate. The EPSB shall issue a JROTC certificate pursuant to
16 KAR
2:100.
(7)
Substitute Certificates. The EPSB shall issue a certified substitute teaching
certificate or an emergency substitute certificate pursuant to
16 KAR
2:030 and
16 KAR
2:120 Section 2.
Section 4. Grade Levels and Specializations.
(1) Preparation for a teaching certificate
shall be based on:
(a) The Kentucky teacher
standards established in
16 KAR
1:010;
(b)
The accreditation and program approval standards established in
16
KAR 5:010, including the content standards of the
relevant national specialty program associations; and
(c) The goals for the schools of the
Commonwealth established in
KRS
158.6451 and the student academic
expectations established in
703 KAR
4:060.
(2) A base certificate shall be issued
specifying one (1) or more of the following grade levels and specialization
authorizations:
(a) Interdisciplinary early
childhood education birth to primary, as established in
16
KAR 2:040; and
(b) Elementary school: primary through grade
5 to include preparation in the academic disciplines taught in the elementary
school.
1. The elementary certificate shall be
valid for teaching grade 6 if grade 6 is taught in a self-contained classroom
or in a school organization in which grade 6 is housed with grade 5 in the same
building.
2. A candidate for the
elementary certificate may simultaneously prepare for certification for
teaching exceptional children.
(c)
1.
Middle school option 1: grades 5 through 9 with the equivalent of one (1) major
to be selected from:
a. English and
communications;
b.
Mathematics;
c. Science; ord.
Social studies; or
2.
Middle school option 2: grades 5 through 9 with two (2) middle school teaching
fields to be selected from:
a. English and
communications;
b.
Mathematics;
c. Science;
or
d. Social
studies;
(d)
Secondary school shall be valid for teaching students in: grades 8 through 12
with one (1) or more of the following majors:
1. English;
2. Mathematics;
3. Social studies;
4. Biology;
5. Chemistry;
6. Physics; or
7. Earth science;
(e) Grades 5 through 12 with one (1) or more
of the following majors:
1.
Agriculture;
2. Business and
marketing education;
3. Family and
consumer science;
4. Industrial
education; or
5. Engineering and
technology;
(f) All
grade levels with one (1) or more of the following specialties:
1. Art;
2. A foreign language;
3. Health;
4. Physical education;
5. Integrated music;
6. Vocal music;
7. Instrumental music; or
8. School media librarian; or
(g) Grades primary through 12 for
teaching exceptional children and for collaborating with teachers to design and
deliver programs for preprimary children, for one (1) or more of the following
disabilities:
1. Learning and behavior
disorders;
2. Moderate and severe
disabilities;
3. Hearing
impaired;
4. Hearing impaired with
sign proficiency;
5. Visually
impaired;
6. Communication
disorders, valid at all grade levels for the instruction of exceptional
children and youth with communication disorders, which shall require a master's
degree in communication or speech language pathology, pursuant to
16
KAR 2:050, Section 2; or
7. Communication disorders - SLPA only, valid
at all grade levels for the instruction of exceptional children and youth with
communication disorders, which shall require a baccalaureate degree in
communication or speech language pathology, pursuant to
16
KAR 2:050, Section 3.
(3)
(a) The
grades 5 through 9 mathematics certificate issued under subsection (2)(c)1.b.
or 2.b. of this section shall be valid for teaching Algebra I grades 10 and
11.
(b) A candidate who chooses to
simultaneously prepare for teaching in the middle school and for an additional
base or restricted base certificate issued under subsection (2) or (4) of this
section, including certification for teaching exceptional children, shall be
required to complete one (1) middle school teaching field as established in
subsection (2)(c) of this section.
(4) A restricted base certificate shall be
issued specifying one (1) or more of the following grade level and
specialization authorizations:
(a) Psychology,
grades 8 through 12;
(b) Sociology,
grades 8 through 12;
(c)
Journalism, grades 8 through 12;
(d) Speech or media communications, grades 8
through 12;
(e) Theater, primary
through grade 12;
(f) Dance,
primary through grade 12;
(g)
Computer information systems, primary through grade 12; or
(h) English as a second language, primary
through grade 12.
(5) An
endorsement to a certificate identified in subsection (2) or (3) of this
section shall be issued specifying one (1) or more of the following grade level
and specialization authorizations:
(a)
Computer science, grades 8 through 12;
(b) English as a second language, primary
through grade 12;
(c) Gifted
education, primary through grade 12;
(d) Driver education, grades 8 through
12;
(e) Literacy specialist,
primary through grade 12;
(f)
Reading, primary through grade 12;
(g) Instructional computer technology,
primary through grade 12;
(h)
Teacher Leader, all grades;
(i)
Other instructional services - school safety, primary through grade
12;
(j) Other instructional
services - environmental education, primary through grade 12;
(k) Other instructional services - elementary
mathematics specialist, primary through grade 5; or
(l) Learning and behavior disorders, grades 8
through 12. This endorsement shall be issued:
1. Following completion of the requirements
of Section 5(2) of this administrative regulation; and
2. Only to candidates with preparation and
certification for a base or restricted base certificate for the secondary
grades 8 through 12; or
(m) American Sign Language, primary through
grade 12.
Section
5. Certification through Proficiency Evaluation.
(1) Proficiency evaluations shall be
conducted pursuant to
16 KAR
5:030 by a Kentucky college or university with an
approved educator preparation program.
(2) The EPSB may issue a proficiency
provisional certificate to an individual upon request pursuant to this section
provided that the individual meets the requirements established in Section 3 of
this administrative regulation or any certificate area offered in Section 4 of
this administrative regulation pursuant to
16 KAR
5:030.
Section 6. Additional Certification.
(1) A certificate extension may be issued to
a certified teacher for any base or restricted base certificate offered in
Section 4(1) through (4) of this administrative regulation and shall require:
(a) An unexpired base or restricted base
certificate, including a statement of eligibility;
(b) Successful completion of the applicable
assessments; and
(c) Recommendation
from an approved preparation program upon the demonstration of competency in
the relevant teaching methodology verified via coursework, field experience,
portfolio, or proficiency evaluation performed by a Kentucky college or
university in accordance with
16 KAR
5:030.
(2) A certificate endorsement may be issued
for any area listed in Section 4(5) of this administrative regulation and shall
require:
(a) An unexpired base or restricted
base certificate, including statement of eligibility;
(b) Successful completion of the applicable
assessments; and
(c) Recommendation
from an approved program of preparation upon the demonstration of competency in
the relevant teaching methodology verified via coursework, field experience,
portfolio, or proficiency evaluation performed by a Kentucky college or
university in accordance with
16 KAR
5:030.
(3)
(a) A
certified teacher may add a certificate endorsement or extension if the teacher
applies for a certificate endorsement or extension and meets the requirements
established in paragraph (b)of this subsection.
(b) A certificate extension or certificate
endorsement shall be issued if an educator:
1.
Holds a valid Kentucky professional teaching certificate;
2. Submits proof that the educator has:
a. Current employment in a certified
position;
b. A bona fide offer of
employment in a certified position in a Kentucky public school; or
c. Approval of the local district
superintendent;
3.
Successfully completed the applicable content assessments; and
4. Has either:
a. A major in the area of certification being
sought; or
b. A combination of
education, experience, professional development, awards, and achievements in
the area of certification being sought sufficient to demonstrate subject matter
competency as evidenced by a score of ninety (90) points in Sections 3 and 4
within application form CA-HQ.
(i) Points
shall be granted only for experience, professional development, awards, or
achievements earned relative to the specific content area, student population
taught, and grade range served.
(ii) Coursework shall be validated on the
application by a Kentucky college or university approved by the EPSB to serve
as a "clearinghouse" for the purposes of this option.
(iii) Successful completion of the
appropriate content assessment or assessments for the certificate area being
added shall count for forty-five (45) points.
(4) If a teacher
currently holds a professional certificate in the secondary grades 8 through
12, and applies for a certificate extension or endorsement in the same content
area for middle school grades 5 through 9, the teacher shall not be required to
complete the content assessment.
(5) A certificate extension or endorsement
issued pursuant to the requirements established in subsection (3)(c) of this
section shall be permitted in the areas of English, mathematics, sciences,
foreign languages, or social studies. Health and physical education areas shall
be added only if the teacher holds the correlative certificate.
(6) The EPSB shall issue the proficiency
provisional certificate and the professional certificate for the certificate
endorsement and the certificate extension upon request provided that the
certified teacher meets the requirements established in Section 3 of this
administrative regulation.
Section
7. A candidate pursuing certification via an alternative route to
certification shall receive the same certificates established in Section 4 of
this administrative regulation following completion of the appropriate
requirements specific to each alternative route.
Section 8. Disclosure of Background
Information.
(1) Teachers and teacher
candidates shall disclose certain background information to the EPSB when
applying for the issuance or renewal of the provisional certificate or the
professional certificate by answering the following questions:
(a) Have you ever had a professional
certificate, license, credential, or any document issued for practice denied,
suspended, revoked, or voluntarily surrendered? If you have had a professional
certificate, license, credential, or any other document issued for practice
initially denied by a licensing body, but later issued, you shall answer
"yes."
(b) Have you ever been
suspended or discharged from any employment or military service because of
allegations of misconduct?
(c) Have
you ever resigned, entered into a settlement agreement, or otherwise left
employment as a result of allegations of misconduct?
(d) Is any action now pending against you for
alleged misconduct in any school district, court, or before any educator
licensing agency?
(e) Have you ever
been convicted of or entered a guilty plea, an "Alford" plea, or a plea of nolo
contendere (no contest) to a felony or misdemeanor, even if adjudication of the
sentence was withheld in Kentucky or any other state? Minor traffic violations
should not be reported. Convictions for driving while intoxicated (DWI) or
driving under the influence of alcohol or other drugs (DUI) shall be
reported.
(f) Do you have any
criminal charges pending against you?
(g) If you answered affirmatively to any of
the questions in this Section, has the EPSB previously reviewed the
information?
(2) The
EPSB shall provide teachers and teacher candidates with the opportunity to
submit a narrative to the board to consider before the board approves the
request for issuance or renewal of a provisional certificate or a professional
certificate. The teacher or teacher candidate may include in his or her
narrative any dates, locations, school systems, court records, or any other
information he or she would like the board to consider.
Section 9. Incorporation by Reference.
(1) "Form CA-HQ", 02/18, is incorporated by
reference.
(2) This material may be
inspected, copied, or obtained, subject to applicable copyright law, at the
Education Professional Standards Board, 100 Airport Road, 3rd floor, Frankfort,
Kentucky 40601, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.