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Minutes for SB407 - Committee on Education
Short Title
Requiring the state board of education to authorize teaching licenses for individuals who complete an alternative teacher certification program.
Minutes Content for Thu, Feb 8, 2024
Chair Baumgardner opened the bill hearing.
Tamera Lawrence, Assistant Revisor, gave an overview of the bill. (Attachment 1)
Isabelle Welch, Director of Government Affairs, American Board for Certification of Teacher Excellence, Inc., spoke about the American Board which provides a quick and affordable pathway to teacher licensure for career professionals. The program currently costs around $1,900 and takes less than one year to complete, depending on subject area. It consists of coursework and exams covering subject area content and pedagogy, the art and science of teaching, all of which align with traditional teacher preparation programs. Candidates must prove their competency by passing a pedagogy and content area exam before they can complete the program. These exams are shown to be as rigorous as the aligning Praxis exams, depending on area content.
A study, conducted by Drexel University, surveyed more than 150 school principals across states about the quality of their American Board-trained teachers and found 97 percent of principals planned to retain or had retained their American Board-trained teachers beyond the crucial three year mark. The principals indicated American Board teachers are as strong as traditionally prepared teachers across 95 percent of evaluated qualities, including classroom management subject-matter knowledge, conflict resolution, collaboration, and leadership.
Alternative teacher preparation programs provide an invaluable tool for states in addressing the growing teacher shortage. These programs are not intended to replace traditional programs but are a way to engage individuals looking to enter the workforce who may not have access to a traditional preparation program. (Attachment 2)
Discussion followed.
Proponent written only testimony was submitted by:
David Dorsey, Senior Education Fellow, Kansas Policy Institute (Attachment 3)
Jon Lueth, Deputy State Director, Americans for Prosperity Kansas (Attachment 4)
Timothy R. Graham, Director of government Relations and Legislative Affairs, Kansas National Education Association (KNEA), stated that KNEA recognizes the need to find innovative approaches that will encourage new individuals to join the teaching profession and supports alternative licensure if persons already holding baccalaureate degrees in other fields and must achieve the same state standards in basic skills, subject mater knowledge, and pedagogy, through CAEP accredited institutions.
KNEA believes this bill falls short on standards in the following way:
- SB407 states no applicant should be required to complete professional education pedagogy coursework as a prerequisite to obtaining a teaching license.
- SB407 does require pedagogical training and students must pass an examination to successfully complete the program but does not require this to be done with the framework of institutions accredited by the Council of Accreditation of Educator Preparation.
- SB407 allows the Kansas State Department of Education to require applicants to participate in a school district based mentoring program for one year. KNEA supports the current regulation that calls for a minimum of two years of support with a trained mentor.
The issue of licensure/certification is one of the most important issues for any profession. (Attachment 5)
Dr. Deena Horst, Liaison. Kansas State Board of Education, opposes this bill as it is unnecessary and in derogation of the constitutional authority granted the Kansas State Board of Education (State Board). The State Board has approved several alternative pathways to becoming a licensed teacher in Kansas. Last year, the Legislature supported joining the Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact. Legislation requires that to receive a Kansas teaching license from an out-of-state program, which must be approved by the state from which the applicant is seeking reciprocity. This bill removes that requirement and erases almost all oversight.
The State Board already issues licenses to individuals who complete an alternative program, has a Bachelor's degree, a valid out-of-state license, has successfully completed a background check, and has submitted an application and fee. The Kansas elected State Board of Education has self-executing powers and is constitutionally required to make licensure decisions. The State Board believes this bill is unnecessary and in derogation of the constitutional authority of the State Board. (Attachment 6)
Jerry Henn, Assistant Executive Director, USA-Kansas and Kansas School Superintendents Association, opposes this bill as the State Board of Education already has in place a very good, regulated, alternative licensure program and such a program should be approved by the State Board, not the Legislature. The State Board has done an excellent job of keeping Kansas at the top of education systems in the U.S.
The Legislature passed the Education Compact to recruit teachers into Kansas. It has been less than a year so it is too soon to judge if it is going to work. The State Board has a good grasp on licensure and it is the responsibility of the State board to take care of licensure. Allow them to process the changes needed to license our teachers. (Attachment 7)
Opponent written only testimony was submitted by:
- Leah Fliter, Assistant Executive Director for Advocacy, Kansas Association of School Boards (Attachment 8)
Neutral written only testimony was submitted by:
- Jim Edwards, Topeka Public Schools USD 501 (Attachment 9)
Discussion followed.
The Chair closed the hearing on the bill.
The meeting was adjourned at 2:34 pm.
The next meeting will be held February 12, 2024, 1:30 pm in Room 144-S.
