SB 352 — Teachers; changes to provisions relating to licensure and certification, reciprocity.

SESSION ENROLLED VIRGINIA ACTS OF ASSEMBLY ––-- 2024 SESSION CHAPTER E672 An Act to amend and reenact § 22.1-298.1, as it shall become effective, of the Code of Virginia, relating to teachers;

R O [S 352] Approved LApril L8, 2024 Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

That § 22.1-298.1, as it shall become effective, of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenEctedreenacted as follows:

D§ licensure.298.1.22.1-298.1.

2) Regulations governing A.licensure.

A.

"Alternate route to licensure" means a nontraditional route to teacher licensure available to individualsregulations whoissued meetby the criteriaBoard specifiedof inEducation.n the guidelines developed pursuant to subsection N O or regulations"Industry issuedcertification credential" means an active career and technical education credential that is earned by thesuccessfully completing a Board of Education.Education-approved Board-approved industry certification examination, being issued a professional license in the Commonwealth, or successfully completing an occupational competency examination.

"Industry"Licensure certification credential" means an active career and technical education credential that is earned by successfully completing a Board of Education-approved Board-approved industry certifiBation examination, being issued a professional license in the Commonwealth, or successfully completin5 an occ"Licensure by reciprocity" means a process used to issue the issuance of a license as a teacEerteacher in the Commonwealth to an individual coming into the Commonwealth from another state when that individual meets certain conditions specified in the Board of Education's Board's regulations.

"Provisional license" means a nonrenewable license issued by the Board of Education or by a division superintendent as permitted pursuant to subdivision D 5 for a specified period of time, not to exceed three years, to an individual who may be employed by a school division in the Commonwealth and who generally meets the requirements specified in the Board of Education's Board's regulations for licensure, but who may need to take additional coursework, pass additional assessments, or meetonsmeet for alternative evaluation standards to be fully licensed with a renewable license.

"Universal licensure by reciprocity" means the issuance of a license as a teacher in the Commonwealth to any individual who holds a valid out-of-state teaching license with full credentials and without deficiencies that has been in force and in use by the individual as an employed teacher in a non-virtual classroom setting at a public or private elementary or secondary school for at least three licenseyears asprior ato teacherand is in force at the Commonwealth.etime the Department receives such individual's application for a B.license as a teacher in the Commonwealth.

B.

and (iii) the immediate and thorough investigation by the division superintendent or his designee of any complaint alleging that a license holder has engaged in conduct investigationsthat containedmay inform such regulations shall require (a) the divisionbasis superintendent to petition for the revocation of thehis licenselicense. upon completing such investigation and finding that there is reasonable cause to believe that the license holder has engaged in conduct that forms the basis for revocation of a license;

At a minimum, such procedures for investigations contained in such regulations shall require (a) the division superintendent to petition for the revocation of the license upon completing such investigation and finding that there is reasonable cause to believe that the license holder has engaged in conduct that forms the basis for revocation of a license;

The BoardBoardof of Education shall revoke the license of any person for whom it has received a notice of dismissal or resignation pursuant to subsection F of § 22.1-313 and, in the case of a person who is the subject of a founded complaint of child abuse or neglect, after allnd,all rights to any administrative appeal provided by § 63.2-1526 have been exhausted.

In the case of a of 4 teacher who is the subject of a founded complaint of child abuse or neglect and whose license has been revoked pursuant to this subsection, in the event that a court reverses such finding of abuse or neglect of 4 and the individual submits to the Department an application for the reinstatement of his license as a teacher, the Board shall consider and act upon such application no later than 90 days after the date of submission.

the use of physical restraint and seclusion, consistent with of 4 regulations of the Board of Education;

E 9.

N 10.

Every person seeking initial licensure or renewal of a license with an endorsement in hiRtoryhistory and of 4 social sciences shall complete instruction in African American history, as prescribed by the Board;

of11. students with disabilities that includes (i) differentiating instruction for students depending on their needs;

Every person seeking renewal of a license as a teacher shall complete training in the instruction of students with disabilities that includes (i) differentiating instruction for students depending on their needs;

and L 12.

Every person seeking initial licensure with an endorsement in early/primary education prEschoolpreschool through grade three, elementary education preschool through grade six, special education general curriculum kindergarten through grade 12, special education deaf and hard of hearing preschool through grade 12, or special education blindness/visual impairments preschool through grade 12 or as a reading specialist shall complete study in science-based reading research and evidence-based literacy instruction.

subdivisionE. D 1, 3, 6, or 8 as a condition of such licensure, but each such teacher shall complete each such requirement during the first year of provisional licensure.

No teacher who seeks a provisional license shall be required to meet any requirement set forth in subdivision D 1, 3, 6, or 8 as a condition of such licensure, but each such teacher shall complete each such requirement during the first year of provisional licensure.

The Board shall issue a license to an individual seeking initial licensure who has not completed professional assessments as prescribed by the Board, if such individual (i) holds a provisionalSlicenseprovisional license that will expire within three months or, at the discretion of the school board and division sup3rintendent,superintendent, within six months if the individual has received a satisfactory mid-year performance review in 2hethe current school year;

(iii) is recommended for licensure by Rhethe division superintendent;

(v) has received an evaluation rating of proficient or above on the performance standards for each year of the provisional license, and such evaluation was conducted in a manner consistent with the Guidelines for Uniform Performance Standards and Evaluation Criteria for Teachers, Principals, and Superintendents;

The Board shall establish criteria in its regulations to effectuate the substitution of experiential learning for coursework for those persons seeking initial licensure through an alternate route as defined in Board regulations.

Such alternate routes shall include eligibility for any individual to receive,finedreceive, notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, a renewable one-year license to teach in public high schools in the Commonwealth if he has:

The literacy assessment for any individual seeking initial licensure through an alternate route with an endorsement in early/primary education preschool through grade three, elementary education preschool through grade six, special education general curriculum kindergarten through graderygrade 12, special education deaf and hard of hearing preschool through grade 12, or special education blindness/visual impairments preschool through grade 12 or as a reading specialist shall include a rigorous test of science-based reading research and evidence-based literacy instruction;

(ii) shall provide for the issuance of a provisional license, valid for a period not to exceed three years, to any former member of the Armed Forces of the United States or the Virginia National Guard who has received an honorable discharge and has the appropriate level of experience or training but does not meet the requirements for a renewable license;

and (iii) may provide for the or issuance of a provisional license, valid for a period not to exceed three years, to any individual who has of 4 held within the last five years a valid and officially issued and recognized license or certification to teach issued by an entity outside of the United States but does not meet the requirements for a renewable license if the individual's license or certification to teach has been evaluated and verified by an entity approved by the Department.

The application for of 4 such individuals shall require evidence of such valid licensure and national certification and shall not require official student transcripts;