H. B. 2585
(By Delegates M. Poling and Paxton (By Request))
[Introduced January 26, 2007; 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 the renewal of teaching
certificates and permanent certification; crediting approved
professional development toward certificate renewal; providing
certification through National Board for Professional Teaching
Standards as an additional option for attaining permanent
certification; and making technical improvements.
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 of six semester hours of
approved credit or documentation of equivalent state approved
professional development, as may be prescribed by the state board;
Provided, That such renewal is completed after the beginning of
the period of validity of the certificate to be renewed and within
the five-year period immediately preceding the date of application
for renewal
(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
either any of the following requirements:
(1) Completion of the second renewal, in accordance with the
provisions set forth in (2) above 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) In either event 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.
(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 allow approved
professional development to be credited toward renewal of a
professional teaching certificate and provide an additional option
for attaining permanent certification through certification by the
National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. Several
technical changes are also made for clarification.
Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from
the present law, and underscoring indicates new language that would
be added.
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