SECOND REGULAR SESSION
HOUSE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR
SENATE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR
SENATE BILL NO. 722
91ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY
TED WEDEL, Chief Clerk
AN ACT
To repeal section 168.081, RSMo, and to enact in lieu thereof two new sections relating to alternative certification standards for administrators, with an expiration date for a certain section.
Section A. Section 168.081, RSMo, is repealed and two new sections enacted in lieu thereof, to be known as sections 168.081 and 168.083, to read as follows:
168.081. After September 1, 1988, no person without a valid Missouri certificate shall:
(1) Engage in the practice of teaching or the performance of education duties in grades kindergarten through twelve in any public school in the state;
(2) Act as a school administrator in any public school district, unless such person obtains a temporary administrator certificate pursuant to section 168.083.
168.083. 1. Any qualified applicant may be granted a temporary administrator certificate upon joint application with a Missouri public school district or accredited nonpublic school which establishes a mentoring program pursuant to subsection 2 of this section. The temporary administrator certificate is limited to the employing Missouri public school district or accredited nonpublic school. An applicant for a temporary administrator certificate may apply for only one area of certification at a time.
2. The employing Missouri public school district or accredited nonpublic school shall develop a mentoring program to provide adequate support to the holder of the temporary administrator certificate to ensure proper transition into the administrative environment.
3. The temporary administrator certificate of license to teach is valid for up to one school year. It may be renewed annually for up to four subsequent years by joint application from the certificate holder and employing Missouri public school district or accredited nonpublic school upon demonstration that the applicant is making continuous, measurable progress toward obtaining a full administrator certificate of license to teach. The state board of education shall establish specific standards as to what constitutes making measurable progress toward obtaining a full administrator certificate; provided that a full administrator certificate at that grade level shall be required after the fifth year of a temporary administrator certificate in order to retain administrator certification.
4. Applications for a Missouri temporary administrator certificate shall be submitted on forms provided and approved by the state board of education.
5. The state board of education shall promulgate rules and regulations for the issuance and renewal of temporary administrator certificates. No rule or portion of a rule promulgated pursuant to the authority of this section shall become effective unless it has been promulgated pursuant to chapter 536, RSMo.
6. As used in this section, the term "qualified applicant" shall mean a person who:
(1) Holds a valid certificate of license to teach in Missouri;
(2) Has a master's degree or is currently enrolled in a master's degree program; and
(3) Has at least five years of teaching experience in a public school, in an accredited nonpublic school, or in a combination of such schools at the grade level for which the temporary administrator certificate is sought.