The bill amends sections 18A-3-2a and 18A-3-4 of the West Virginia Code to introduce a new pathway for obtaining a professional teaching certificate. Specifically, it allows individuals who hold a bachelor's degree and have ten years of teaching experience, along with a valid teaching certificate in good standing and no unsatisfactory evaluations, to apply for a permanent teaching certificate without the need for additional coursework. This new provision is marked as subsection (h) under section 18A-3-2a and is effective immediately upon passage.

Additionally, the bill clarifies that existing certificates will remain valid and their renewal rights will not be affected by the new provisions introduced in section 18A-3-2a. This ensures that current educators retain their certification status and rights, regardless of the changes made by this legislation. The overall aim of the bill is to streamline the certification process for experienced teachers while maintaining the integrity of existing certification standards.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 18A-3-2a
Committee Substitute: 18A-3-2a, 18A-3-4
Engrossed Committee Substitute: 18A-3-2a, 18A-3-4
Enrolled Committee Substitute: 18A-3-2a