LB558 LB558
2021 2021
LEGISLATURE OF NEBRASKA
ONE HUNDRED SEVENTH LEGISLATURE
FIRST SESSION
LEGISLATIVE BILL 558
Introduced by Vargas, 7; Sanders, 45.
Read first time January 19, 2021
Committee: Education
1 A BILL FOR AN ACT relating to teachers; to adopt the Alternative
2 Certification for Quality Teachers Act.
3 Be it enacted by the people of the State of Nebraska,
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LB558 LB558
2021 2021
1 Section 1. Sections 1 to 3 of this act shall be known and may be
2 cited as the Alternative Certification for Quality Teachers Act.
3 Sec. 2. The Legislature finds and declares that:
4 (1) Like many other states, Nebraska is facing a teacher and
5 substitute teacher shortage;
6 (2) Mandatory training days and family leave policies draw many
7 regular teachers out of their classrooms, causing schools to hire
8 substitute teachers;
9 (3) The Internal Revenue Service requires a separation period for
10 recently retired teachers who may otherwise be interested in returning to
11 the classroom as a substitute teacher;
12 (4) In the fall of 2016, the State Department of Education conducted
13 a teacher vacancy survey of all school districts, educational service
14 units, and nonpublic school systems;
15 (5) Such survey showed that the state continues to have hundreds of
16 unfilled teaching positions across the state; and
17 (6) Filling teaching vacancies and having an adequate number of
18 substitute teachers is imperative for delivering a high quality learning
19 experience to students.
20 Sec. 3. (1) In addition to certificates issued pursuant to sections
21 79-806 to 79-815, a certificate to teach in the public schools shall be
22 granted by the State Board of Education to any person in good standing
23 who possesses a valid teaching certificate from another state and who
24 annually completes the requirements to maintain certification pursuant to
25 rules and regulations of the board.
26 (2) Issuance of a certificate to teach in the public schools
27 pursuant to this section shall be subject to a criminal history record
28 information check pursuant to section 79-814.01 and any rules and
29 regulations adopted and promulgated by the board to carry out this
30 section.
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