Substitute House Bill No. 5436 is an act that amends various aspects of educator certification and the conditions under which the State Board of Education may take action against educators in the state. The bill modifies the requirements for issuing initial, provisional, and professional educator certificates, including the extension of their validity to ten years and the introduction of new coursework requirements in special education and other areas. It also provides alternative pathways for certification, such as approved alternate route programs, and allows for the issuance of temporary ninety-day certificates in areas with teacher shortages. The bill includes provisions for the waiver of certain requirements by the Commissioner of Education and outlines the conditions for issuing cross endorsements in certain certification areas. Insertions and deletions of legal language are marked accordingly within the bill.

Furthermore, the bill establishes the Connecticut Educator Preparation and Certification Board, which is responsible for modernizing and aligning educator preparation and certification standards. It also addresses the administration of medication in schools, the training for physical restraint and seclusion, and the development of regional models for special education services. The bill changes the term "school paraprofessional" to "paraeducator" throughout and mandates the establishment of a School Paraeducator Advisory Council. Additionally, the bill includes changes to the reporting requirements for suspected child abuse or neglect, the employment history review process for applicants in educational settings, and the investigation of child abuse or neglect by local or regional boards of education. The bill was approved on May 21, 2024.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill: 10-145b
ED Joint Favorable Substitute: 10-145b
File No. 369: 10-145b
File No. 667: 10-145b, 31-51rr, 10-155j, 10-155k, 10-212a, 10-221u, 10-145i, 10-221s
Public Act No. 24-41: 10-145b, 31-51rr, 10-155j, 10-155k, 10-212a, 10-221u, 10-145i, 10-149a, 10-221s