The bill amends sections 18A-3-1 and 18A-3-2a of the Code of West Virginia to create the Troops-to-Teachers Program, which seeks to recruit veterans of the armed forces as public school teachers. The program will be managed by the state superintendent and will grant veterans a hiring preference in line with existing laws. It outlines various teacher preparation pathways, including traditional and alternative certification routes, and emphasizes the need for ongoing professional development and regular evaluations of training programs to ensure their effectiveness. The bill also specifies the conditions for issuing professional teaching certificates, particularly for veterans who meet certain educational and testing criteria.

Significantly, honorably discharged veterans with a bachelor's degree will be exempt from additional certification requirements, aside from a criminal history check. The legislation details the types of teaching certificates available, including initial professional, alternative program, professional administrative, paraprofessional, and temporary certificates for armed forces spouses. The initial professional certificate is provisionally issued for three years and can be converted to a five-year professional certificate upon successful completion of a beginning teacher induction program. Additionally, a temporary teaching certificate for armed forces spouses is introduced, valid for one year with the possibility of renewal. The state superintendent is empowered to deny or revoke these temporary certificates in cases of fraud or criminal convictions, aiming to streamline the certification process while ensuring that all educators meet necessary qualifications.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 18A-3-1, 18A-3-2a
Committee Substitute: 18A-3-1, 18A-3-2a
Committee Substitute for the Committee Substitute: 18A-3-1, 18A-3-2a
Enrolled Version: 18A-3-1, 18A-3-2a