Bill > S3253

Introduced Session

An early college high school program is a partnership between a school district and an institution of higher education that allows participants to simultaneously complete requirements toward earning a State-endorsed high school diploma and have the opportunity to earn credits that are transferable to the institution of higher education in the partnership as part of an organized course of study toward a postsecondary degree at no cost to the participant or participant's family. This bill would require the State Board of Education to authorize an alternate route to expedite the certification of persons to teach grades seven through 12 at an early college high school. The alternate route will consist of a three-tiered certificate program, similar to the alternate route provided for teachers at charter schools in the State. Under the standards established for the early college high school alternate route: · Receipt of an early college high school certificate of eligibility will require the candidate to, at a minimum: hold an advanced degree from a regionally accredited college or university in a field related to the subject area to be taught; have experience teaching students at any grade level, including postsecondary students; and pass the appropriate State test of subject-matter knowledge; and · Receipt of the provisional certificate will require the candidate to, at a minimum, provide proof that an early college high school intends to employ the candidate in a teaching position; and · Receipt of the standard certificate will require the candidate to, at a minimum, successfully complete at least four school years of teaching at the early college high school. The bill provides that certification under the early college high school alternate route may be used only for employment at an early college high school and will not be permitted to satisfy the requirements for employment in any other public school.

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Teresa Ruiz (D)*,  Troy Singleton (D)*,  Sandra Cunningham (D),  Mila Jasey (D),  Nellie Pou (D),  Valerie Vainieri Huttle (D), 

Approved P.L.2021, c.279. (on 11/08/2021)

Official Document