Introduced Version
Senate Bill 623 History
| Email
Key: Green = existing Code. Red = new code to be enacted
Senate Bill No. 623
(By Senators Plymale and Edgell)
____________
[Introduced February 8, 2008; referred to the Committee on
Education.]
____________
A BILL to amend and reenact §18A-3-3 of the Code of West Virginia,
1931, as amended, relating to
amending one of the requirements
for renewing a professional or first class certificate based
upon a bachelor's degree by allowing an electronic equivalent
in lieu of an actual official transcript of six semester hours
of approved credit.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That §18A-3-3 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended,
be amended and reenacted to read as follows:
ARTICLE 3. TRAINING, CERTIFICATION, LICENSING, PROFESSIONAL
DEVELOPMENT.
§18A-3-3. Renewal of certificates; permanent certification.
(a) Until the person qualifies for a permanent certificate,
any professional or first class certificate based upon a bachelor's
degree shall be renewable provided the holder within five years from the date the certificate became valid:
(1) Files application on a prescribed form with the State
Department of Education;
(2) Presents an official transcript or an electronic
equivalent of six semester hours of approved credit as may be
prescribed by the state board;
(3) Successfully completes a beginning teacher internship
program, if applicable; and
(4) Submits a recommendation based on successful teaching
experience from the county superintendent of schools of the county
in which the holder last taught or resides.
(b) The holder of a professional certificate, valid for five
years, shall have the certificate made permanent upon meeting any
of the following requirements:
(1) Completion of the second renewal, in accordance with the
provisions set forth in subsection (a) of this section; or
(2) After five years of service in the public schools,
presentation of a transcript showing the completion of requirements
for a master's degree from an institution of higher education
accredited to offer the master's degree and in a program relevant
to the public school program or completes the fifth year of
training leading to a bachelor's degree in library science from a
school fully approved by the American Library Association; or
(3) Receives certification through the National Board for
Professional Teaching Standards.
(c) To satisfy any of the requirements of subsection (b) of
this section, the person must file application on a prescribed form
with the State Department of Education and must submit a
recommendation from the county superintendent of schools of the
county in which the person last taught or resides.
(d) All certificates and permits, other than the professional
certificate, shall be renewed in accordance with state board
regulations rules.
(e) If the applicant seeking renewal has cause to believe that
the county superintendent refuses to give a recommendation without
just cause, the applicant shall have the right, in such case, to
appeal to the State Superintendent of Schools whose responsibility
it shall be to investigate the matter and issue a certificate if,
in the opinion of the State Superintendent, the county
superintendent's recommendation was withheld arbitrarily.
(f) A person who has reached the age of sixty and holds a
renewable certificate, as provided in this section, need not
present renewal credit but shall meet all other renewal
requirements.
NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to amend one of the
requirements for renewing a professional or first class certificate
based upon a bachelor's degree by allowing an electronic equivalent
in lieu of an actual official transcript of six semester hours of
approved credit.
Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from
the present law, and underscoring indicates new language that would
be added.