21.1020.02000
Sixty-seventh
Legislative Assembly SENATE BILL NO. 2332
of North Dakota
Introduced by
Senator Schaible
Representatives Satrom, Schreiber-Beck
1 A BILL for an Act to amend and reenact section 15.1-13-10 of the North Dakota Century Code,
2 relating to the criteria for teacher licensure; and to provide for a legislative management study.
3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF NORTH DAKOTA:
4 SECTION 1. AMENDMENT. Section 15.1-13-10 of the North Dakota Century Code is
5 amended and reenacted as follows:
6 15.1-13-10. Criteria for teacher licensure. (Effective through July 31, 2023)
7 1. The board shall establish by rule the criteria for teacher licensure and the process for
8 issuing teaching licenses. The criteria must include considerations of character,
9 adequate educational preparation, and general fitness to teach.
10 2. The board may not require a teacher who graduated from an accredited teacher
11 education program on or before September 1, 1980, to earn any college credits in
12 native American or other multicultural courses as a condition of licensure or license
13 renewal.
14 3. This section does not affect the validity of teaching certificates in effect on July 31,
15 2001.
16 4. This section does not affect the qualifications for career and technical education
17 certificates, as otherwise established by law.
18 5. The board shall grant an initial license to an individual who:
19 a. Possesses a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution;
20 b. Passes a criminal history record check required by section 15.1-13-14; and
21 c. Successfully completes an alternative teacher certification program.
22 6. An in-state alternative teacher certification program must operate in accordance with
23 the procedures and program approval standards and requirements set by the board
24 for teacher education programs for the licensure of educators.
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Sixty-seventh
Legislative Assembly
1 7. An out-of-state alternative teacher certification program must:
2 a. Operate in at least five states;
3 b. Have operated an alternative teacher certification program for at least ten years;
4 c. Require applicants to pass a subject area and pedagogy examination, known as
5 the professional teaching knowledge examination, to receive certification; and
6 d. Allow an individual who obtains an initial or renewal license to teach in the
7 subject areas of:
8 (1) Elementary education;
9 (2) Elementary education with a reading endorsement;
10 (3) English language arts;
11 (4) United States and world history;
12 (5) Mathematics;
13 (6) General science;
14 (7) Biology;
15 (8) Chemistry; and
16 (9) Physics; and
17 (10) Special education.
18 8. An individual who obtains an initial license under subsection 5 is authorized to teach
19 the subject and educational levels for which the individual has successfully completed
20 the program described under subsection 5.
21 9. Upon completing two years of teaching under an initial license issued under
22 subsection 5, the licensee is eligible to apply for a five-year renewal license if the
23 individual:
24 a. Completes the program's clinical experience program and the North Dakota
25 teacher support system approved mentor program;
26 b. Meets the requirements of section 15.1-13-35 within two years of initial licensure;
27 and
28 c. Meets the requirements of human resources and cultural directives required
29 coursework within two years of initial licensure which includes Native American
30 studies, cultural diversity, strategies for creating learning environments that
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Sixty-seventh
Legislative Assembly
1 contribute to positive human relationships, and strategies for teaching and
2 assessing diverse learners.
3 Criteria for teacher licensure. (Effective after July 31, 2023)
4 1. The board shall establish by rule the criteria for teacher licensure and the process for
5 issuing teaching licenses. The criteria must include considerations of character,
6 adequate educational preparation, and general fitness to teach.
7 2. The board may not require a teacher who graduated from an accredited teacher
8 education program on or before September 1, 1980, to earn any college credits in
9 native American or other multicultural courses as a condition of licensure or license
10 renewal.
11 3. This section does not affect the validity of teaching certificates in effect on July 31,
12 2001.
13 4. This section does not affect the qualifications for career and technical education
14 certificates, as otherwise established by law.
15 SECTION 2. LEGISLATIVE MANAGEMENT STUDY. During the 2021-22 interim, the
16 legislative management shall consider studying criteria for alternative teacher licensure. The
17 legislative management shall report its findings and recommendations, together with any
18 legislation required to implement the recommendations, to the sixty-eighth legislative assembly.
Page No. 3 21.1020.02000

Statutes affected:
INTRODUCED: 15.1-13-10
FIRST ENGROSSMENT: 15.1-13-10
Enrollment: 15.1-13-10