Bill > SB1394

This bill establishes provisions relating to teacher certification in Missouri. It includes the following key elements: 1. The bill repeals and replaces section 168.021 of the Missouri Revised Statutes, which governs the granting of teaching certificates in the state. 2. It provides for different pathways to obtain teaching certificates, including through a state-approved teacher preparation program, a 15-credit-hour online teacher preparation program, or based on a bachelor's degree and passing a designated exam. 3. The bill introduces a two-year provisional teaching certificate for applicants who do not initially meet the exam requirements, allowing them to obtain full certification through either passing the exam or receiving satisfactory performance evaluations. 4. It establishes an initial professional certificate and a career continuous professional certificate, with requirements for professional development, mentoring, and performance evaluations. 5. The bill allows for the issuance of a provisional certificate for the spouses of active-duty military members stationed in or moving to Missouri, and it provides for the backdating of certificates for certain veteran teachers.