June State Board News
License Regulation Changes Pass
Beginning in early August, 2007, currently licensed Kansas educators will have additional ways to add endorsements to their existing teaching licenses.
On a 9-1 vote, the State Board passed a package of amendments to the licensing regulations. These were developed by the Professional Standards Board in response to the State Board’s challenge to identify and remove existing barriers to licensure in Kansas.
Steve Abrams, district 10, voted against the package. Abrams stated that he was not opposed to removing barriers but felt that provisions in the package lowered standards.
The changes, which become effective upon publication in the Kansas Register , include:
- Teachers with a secondary license with one or more science endorsements can add additional science endorsements by passing the Praxis content assessment for that endorsement.
- Any licensed teacher can add a middle level endorsement by documenting 15 credit hours in the content area (math, science, English language arts or history/government) plus a middle level pedagogy course or recent experience in grades 6-8 and passing the appropriate Praxis content assessment.
- Middle level or secondary level endorsed teachers can add secondary endorsements by completing 50% of the approved content area program, including the content methods course, and completing the appropriate Praxis content assessment. Endorsements for adaptive, functional, gifted, deaf or hard-of-hearing, and visually impaired are not available using this option.
- The 2.5 GPA requirement for an initial teaching license is no longer in effect. [This was removed because other assessment requirements are in place.]
- Early childhood is now available for a provisional endorsement.
- A Restricted License is now available for School Specialist endorsements.
- The Provisional License can now be issued at a level different from levels on a current license.
- A One-year Non-renewable License can be issued without evidence of an existing offer of employment.
- The Foreign Exchange Teaching License now requires a credential evaluation, limits the license to a maximum of 3 years and clarifies that the assignment must be in the content preparation area or for the native language of the license holder.
- Experienced school counselors from out of state who do not have classroom experience now have a way to obtain the KS school counselor endorsement.
- Colleges and universities have a way to get “innovative or experimental programs” approved.
The Professional Standards Board will continue to look at the licensing system to make sure that it maintains high standards and reduces any additional barriers that might be identified.
In other action, the State Board:
- Began discussions of the FY09 budget
- Heard about a project with NSDC, the National Staff Development Council, to train teachers in coaching skills
- Reviewed the 21st Century Learning Skills project
- Appointed 8 new members to the Special Education Advisory Council
- Tabled an agreement to allow voters in USD 324, Eastern Heights , and USD 238, West Smith County, to consider consolidating their districts
- Approved a land transfer from USD 337, Royal Valley , to USD 336, Holton, to allow the new superintendent to live within the district, with the stipulation that the land reverts to USD 337 after his employment ends
The July meeting of the State Board will be Tuesday and Wednesday, July 10 and 11, in Topeka. This will be the first meeting with Commissioner Alexa Posny. Meeting materials should be available on the KSDE website July 2.
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KNEA Legislative Contacts
Blake West, President
Peg Dunlap, Director, Instructional Advocacy
Mark Desetti, Director, Legislative and Political Advocacy
Terry Forsyth, Director, Political Action
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