Substitute House Bill No. 6879, effective July 1, 2023, introduces changes to teacher certification laws. It extends the validity of existing endorsements for elementary education to include kindergarten, and for comprehensive special education to cover kindergarten through grade twelve, with the latter requiring a satisfactory score on a reading instruction examination. The bill also establishes the Commission to Modernize the Educator Workforce, which will review and recommend changes to educator preparation programs and certification. The commission will consist of appointed members from various educational backgrounds and will submit a report by February 1, 2024. Additionally, the bill expands the alternate route to certification program, authorizes the hiring of a full-time employee to administer it, and revises requirements for adjunct instructor permits, teacher preparation programs, coaching permits, and cross endorsements.

The bill allows local or regional boards of education to employ substitute teachers for up to 60 days without a specific authorization, provided they remain in the same assignment. It sets forth principles for the commission to avoid burdensome requirements and develop recommendations based on research findings. The commission, consisting of 15 to 18 members, must be appointed by July 31, 2023, and will terminate on July 1, 2024. The bill also modifies student teaching experience requirements, extends comprehensive special education endorsements, simplifies the renewal process for coaching permits, and authorizes new integrated and cross endorsements without requiring a full planned program and institutional recommendation. The bill's provisions regarding the expansion of the OHE program take effect upon passage, while the rest become effective on July 1, 2023.

Statutes affected:
ED Joint Favorable Substitute: 10-8c
File No. 589: 10-8c