SESSION OF 2024
SUPPLEMENTAL NOTE ON SENATE BILL NO. 407
As Amended by Senate Committee on
Education

Brief*
SB 407, as amended, would require the State Board of
Education (State Board) to authorize individuals who have
completed an alternative teacher certification program to
apply for and obtain an initial teaching license.
The bill would be in effect upon publication in the
Kansas Register.

Alternative Teacher Certification Program
The bill would define an “alternative teacher certification
program” to mean a teacher preparation program that:
● Operates in at least five states;
● Has been in operation at least ten years;
● Includes subject-area content training and
pedagogical training that covers effective
instructional delivery, classroom management and
organization, assessment, instructional design, and
professional learning and leadership; and
● Requires applicants to pass a subject area
examination and a pedagogy examination to
successfully complete the program.

____________________
*Supplemental notes are prepared by the Legislative Research
Department and do not express legislative intent. The supplemental
note and fiscal note for this bill may be accessed on the Internet at
http://www.kslegislature.org
Applicant for an Initial Teaching License
The bill would require an individual who applies for an
initial teaching license to:
● Submit an official transcript to confirm the awarding
of a bachelor’s degree or higher from a college or
university that has an accreditation recognized by
the State Board;
● Submit proof of completion of the alternative
teacher program;
● Submit an application for an initial license with the
required licensure fees; and
● Complete all background check requirements.
The bill would further provide that an individual who
obtains an initial teaching license based on completion of this
program would be authorized to teach the subject area and
educational level that correspond to the certification received
through the applicant’s successful completion of the
alternative teacher certification program, including:
● Elementary education;
● Elementary education unified;
● English language arts;
● History, government, and social studies;
● Mathematics;
● General Science;
● Biology;
● Chemistry;
● Physics;
● Secondary education unified; and
● High-incidence and low-incidence special
education.

2- 407
State Board of Education; Mentorship
The bill would require the State Board to treat any
individual who successfully obtains an initial teaching
licensure under the bill in the same manner as an individual
who completes a traditional teacher preparation program.
This treatment would include during the progress of
converting such initial license to another license type.
An individual who obtains the initial license pursuant to
provisions of the bill will be required to participate in a school
district-based teacher mentorship program during the first two
years of the individual’s employment.
The bill would require the State Board to adopt rules and
regulations necessary to carry out the bill’s provisions.

Background
The bill was introduced by the Senate Committee on
Education at the request of a representative of the American
Board for Certification of Teacher Excellence (American
Board). [Note: A companion bill, HB 2521, has been
introduced in the House.]

Senate Committee on Education
In the Senate Committee hearing on February 8, 2024, a
representative of the American Board provided proponent
testimony, stating the American Board and other alternative
teacher preparation programs serve as an invaluable tool to
assist states in addressing teacher shortages. The conferee
noted the American Board’s program is intended to
complement existing pathways to licensure and enhance the
pools of teachers in Kansas schools. Program participation,
duration, cost, and programming information was also
provided.

3- 407
 Written-only proponent testimony was submitted by
representatives of Americans for Prosperity-Kansas and the
Kansas Policy Institute. This testimony generally addressed
the need to reduce present barriers to licensure, which would
expand the teacher base statewide.
Written-only neutral testimony was submitted by a
representative of Topeka Public Schools (USD 501), who
indicated support for rigorous training of teachers through
criteria established by and with approval of the State Board.
Opponent testimony was provided by representatives of
the State Board, the Kansas Association of School Boards,
Kansas National Education Association, and USA-Kansas
and the Kansas School Superintendents’ Association.
Opponents generally noted the current regulated alternative
licensure program and pathways in place in Kansas and the
recent enactment of the Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact,
which will serve as another tool for recruitment. Two State
Board members addressed the Board’s constitutional
responsibility for licensing teachers, indicating that educator
preparation programs currently are and must be subject to
accreditation by the Board and requirements currently in
place for applicants for licensure.
The Senate Committee on Education amended the bill
to :
● Remove provisions that provided applicants would
not have to either complete a professional
education pedagogy coursework at an accredited
college or university engaged in teacher
preparation or hold a valid teaching license in
another state that was earned through completion
of an alternative teacher certification program;
● Modify an application requirement to specify the
official transcript must be from a college or
university that has an accreditation recognized by
the State Board;
4- 407
 ● Revise subject areas and educational level
certifications to align with some of the content
areas within Kansas teacher licensure
requirements; and
● Change language that would permit the State
Board to require an individual to participate in a
mentorship program during the individual’s first
year of employment to instead require the
individual to participate in this program for the first
two years of employment in Kansas.
Fiscal Information
According to the fiscal note prepared by the Division of
the Budget on the bill, as introduced, enactment of the bill
would have no fiscal effect for the State Department of
Education. The Division of the Budget notes that any
administrative expenses that would be required to implement
the bill would be performed by existing agency staff.
Education; alternative teacher certification program; teacher licensure; certification;
State Board of Education; rules and regulations


5- 407