16 KAR 2:010. Kentucky teaching certificates.

16 KAR 2:010. Kentucky teaching certificates.

RELATES TO: KRS 158.6451, 161.020, 161.028(1), 161.030

STATUTORY AUTHORITY: KRS 161.028(1)(a), (b), (f), 161.030

NECESSITY, FUNCTION, AND CONFORMITY: KRS 161.028(1)(a) requires the Education Professional Standards Board to establish the standards for obtaining and maintaining a teaching certificate. KRS 161.028(1)(b) requires the board to set standards for programs for the preparation of teachers and other professional school personnel. KRS 161.028(1)(f) requires the board to issue and renew any certificate. This administrative regulation establishes the Kentucky certification to be issued for teaching positions.

Section 1. Definitions. (1) "Approved program of preparation" means a program which has been approved by the Education Professional Standards Board under 16 KAR 5:010 for a specific certification or which has been approved for certification by the state education agency of another state.

(2) "Assessments" means the tests of knowledge and skills authorized by KRS 161.030 and established in 16 KAR 6:010.

(3) "Base certificate" means a stand-alone license to teach which encompasses authorization to teach introductory and interdisciplinary courses in related fields.

(4) "Beginning teacher internship" means one (1) year of supervision, assistance, and assessment required by KRS 161.030 and established in 16 KAR 7:010.

(5) "Certificate endorsement" means an addition to a base or restricted base certificate, which is limited in scope and awarded on the basis of completion of an endorsement program or a combination of educational requirements, assessments and experience as outlined in Section 5 of this administrative regulation.

(6) "Certificate extension" means an additional base or restricted base certificate in a content area or grade range.

(7) "Kentucky teacher standards" means the standards established in 16 KAR 1:010 that identify what a Kentucky teacher shall know and be able to do.

(8) "Major" means an academic area of concentration consisting of at least thirty (30) hours of coursework.

(9) "Professional teaching certificate" means the document issued to:

(a) An individual upon successful completion of the beginning teacher internship; or

(b) An applicant for whom the testing and internship requirement is waived under KRS 161.030 based on preparation and experience completed outside Kentucky.

(10) "Provisional teaching certificate" means the document issued to an individual for the duration of the beginning teacher internship program.

(11) "Restricted base certificate" means a stand-alone license to teach in a specific subject area of certification which is the only subject area that can be taught under this limited certificate.

(12) "Statement of eligibility" means the document issued to an applicant upon completion of an approved program of preparation and successful completion of the assessments.

Section 2. Certificate Issuance. (1) A statement of eligibility for a provisional teaching certificate shall be issued to an applicant who has successfully completed:

(a)1. At least a bachelor’s degree with:

a. A cumulative grade point average of 2.50 on a 4.0 scale; or

b. A grade point average of 3.00 on a 4.0 scale on the last sixty (60) hours of credit completed, including undergraduate and graduate coursework; or

2. As required by Section 4(2)(g)6 or (4)(e) of this administrative regulation, a master’s degree with:

a. A cumulative grade point average of 2.50 on a 4.0 scale; or

b. A grade point average of 3.00 on a 4.0 scale on the last sixty (60) hours of credit completed, including undergraduate and graduate coursework;

(b) An approved program of preparation; and

(c) The assessments corresponding to the certificate identified in Section 4 of this administrative regulation for which application is being made.

(2) Upon confirmation of employment in an assignment for the grade level and specialization identified on a valid statement of eligibility, a Provisional Teaching Certificate shall be issued for the duration of the beginning teacher internship established under KRS 161.030.

(3) Upon successful completion of the internship, a Professional Teaching Certificate shall be issued, valid for a four (4) year period.

Section 3. Professional Teaching Certificate Renewal. (1) The renewal shall require completion of a fifth-year program of preparation which is consistent with:

(a) The Kentucky teacher standards established in 16 KAR 1:010; or

(b) The standards adopted by the Education Professional Standards Board for a particular professional education specialty and established in an applicable administrative regulation in KAR Title 16.

(2) The first five (5) year renewal shall require:

(a) Completion of a minimum of fifteen (15) semester hours of graduate credit applicable to the fifth-year program established in 16 KAR 8:020 by September 1 of the year of expiration of the certificate; or

(b) Completion of the professional development plan and a partial portfolio for the continuing education option established in 16 KAR 8:030.

(3) The second five (5) year renewal shall require:

(a) Completion of the fifth-year program established in 16 KAR 8:020 by September 1 of the year of expiration of the certificate; or

(b) Completion of the professional development plan and a full portfolio for the continuing education option established in 16 KAR 8:030.

(4) Each subsequent five (5) year renewal shall require completion of the renewal requirements established in 16 KAR 4:060.

Section 4. Grade Levels and Specializations. (1) Preparation for a teaching certificate shall be based on:

(a) The Kentucky teacher standards established in 16 KAR 1:010;

(b) The accreditation and program approval standards established in 16 KAR 5:010, including the content standards of the relevant national specialty program associations; and

(c) The goals for the schools of the Commonwealth specified in KRS 158.6451 and the student academic expectations established in 703 KAR 4:060.

(2) A base certificate shall be issued specifying one (1) or more of the following grade level and specialization authorizations:

(a) Interdisciplinary early childhood education, birth to primary, established in 16 KAR 2:040;

(b) Elementary school: primary through grade five (5) to include preparation in the academic disciplines taught in the elementary school.

1. The elementary certificate shall be valid for teaching grade six (6) if grade six (6) is taught in a self-contained classroom or in a school organization in which grade six (6) is housed with grade (5) in the same building.

2. A candidate for the elementary certificate may simultaneously prepare for certification for teaching exceptional children.

a. English and communications;

b. Mathematics;

c. Science; or

d. Social studies;

2. Middle school option 2: grades five (5) through nine (9) with two (2) middle school teaching fields to be selected from:

a. English and communications;

b. Mathematics;

c. Science; or

d. Social studies;

3. A candidate who chooses to simultaneously prepare for teaching in the middle school and for an additional base or restricted base certificate issued under this subsection or subsection (3) of this section, including certification for teaching exceptional children, shall be required to complete one (1) middle school teaching field;

(d) Secondary school: grades eight (8) through twelve (12) with one (1) or more of the following majors:

1. English;

2. Mathematics;

3. Social studies;

4. Biology;

5. Chemistry;

6. Physics; or

7. Earth science;

(e) Grades five (5) through twelve (12) with one (1) or more of the following majors:

1. Agriculture;

2. Business and marketing education;

3. Family and consumer science;

4. Industrial education; or

5. Technology education;

(f) All grade levels with one (1) or more of the following specialties:

1. Art;

2. A foreign language;

3. Health;

4. Physical education;

5. Integrated music;

6. Vocal music;

7. Instrumental music; or

8. School media librarian; or

(g) Grades primary through twelve (12) for teaching exceptional children and for collaborating with teachers to design and deliver programs for preprimary children, for one (1) or more of the following disabilities:

1. Learning and behavior disorders;

2. Moderate and severe disabilities;

3. Hearing impaired;

4. Hearing impaired with sign proficiency;

5. Visually impaired;

6. Communication disorders, valid at all grade levels for the instruction of exceptional children and youth with communication disorders, which shall require a master's degree in communication or speech language pathology, in accordance with 16 KAR 2:050, Section 2; or

7. Communication disorders - SLPA only, valid at all grade levels for the instruction of exceptional children and youth with communication disorders, which shall require a baccalaureate degree in communication or speech language pathology, in accordance with 16 KAR 2:050, Section 3.

(3) A restricted base certificate shall be issued specifying one (1) or more of the following grade level and specialization authorizations:

(a) Psychology, grades 8-12;

(b) Sociology, grades eight (8) through twelve (12);

(d) Speech/media communications, grades eight (8) through twelve (12);

(e) Theater, primary through grade twelve (12);

(f) Dance, primary through grade twelve (12);

(g) Computer information systems, primary through grade twelve (12); or

(h) English as a second language, primary through grade twelve (12).

(4) An endorsement to certificates identified in subsection (2) or (3) of this section shall be issued specifying one (1) or more of the following grade level and specialization authorizations:

(a) Computer science, grades eight (8) through twelve (12);

(b) English as second language, primary through grade twelve (12);

(d) Driver education, grades eight (8) through twelve (12);

(e) Reading and writing which shall require a master's degree in reading, primary through grade twelve (12);

(f) Instructional computer technology, primary through grade twelve (12);

(g) Teacher Leader, all grades;

(h) Other instructional services - school safety, primary through grade twelve (12);

(i) Other instructional services - environmental education, primary through grade twelve (12);

(j) Other instructional services - school nutrition, primary through grade twelve (12). The endorsement for school nutrition shall be obtained by either:

1. Completion of the requirements of Section 5(2) of this administrative regulation; or

2. Obtaining the school food service and nutrition specialist (SFSN) credential issued by the American School Food Service Association (ASFSA); or

(k) Learning and behavior disorders, grades eight (8) through twelve (12).

1. This endorsement shall be issued following completion of the requirements of Section 5(2) of this administrative regulation; and

2. This endorsement shall only be issued to candidates with preparation and certification for a base or restricted base certificate for the secondary grades eight (8) through twelve (12).

Section 5. Additional Certification. (1) A certificate extension may be issued for any base or restricted base certificate area offered in Section 4(2) or (3) of this administrative regulation and shall require:

(a) A valid base or restricted base certificate, including a statement of eligibility;

(b) Successful completion of the applicable assessments; and

(c) Recommendation from an approved preparation program upon demonstration of competency in the relevant teaching methodology verified via coursework, field experience, portfolio, or other proficiency evaluation.

(2) A certificate endorsement may be issued for any area listed in Section 4(4) of this administrative regulation and shall require:

(a) A valid base or restricted base certificate, including a statement of eligibility;

(b) Successful completion of the applicable assessments; and

(3)(a) In order to assist districts in meeting the "highly qualified" teacher requirements of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, 20 U.S.C. 6301 et seq., a professionally-certified teacher may add a certificate endorsement or extension if the teacher meets the requirements established in paragraph (b) of this subsection.

(b) A certificate extension or certificate endorsement shall be issued if an educator submits a completed application and meets the following requirements:

1. A valid Kentucky professional teaching certificate;

2. Current employment in a certified position or a bona fide offer of employment in a certified position in a Kentucky public school;

3. Successful completion of the applicable content assessments; and

4. Either:

a. A declared major in the area of certification being sought; or

b. A combination of education, experience, professional development, awards and achievements in the area of certification being sought sufficient to demonstrate subject matter competency as evidenced by a score of ninety (90) points on the index contained within the application form, TC-HQ. Coursework shall be validated on the application by a Kentucky college or university approved by the EPSB to serve as a "clearinghouse" for the purposes of this option.

(4) If a teacher currently holds a professional certificate in the secondary grades, eight (8) through twelve (12), and applies for a certificate extension or endorsement in the same content area for middle school grades five (5) through nine (9), the teacher shall not be required to complete the content assessment.

Section 6. A candidate pursuing certification via an alternative route to certification shall receive the same certificates delineated in Section 4 of this administrative regulation following completion of the appropriate requirements specific to each alternative route.

Section 7. Application for certification or additional certification shall be made on Form TC-1 and shall be accompanied by the fees required by 16 KAR 4:040.

Section 8. Incorporation by Reference. (1) The following material is incorporated by reference:

(a) Form TC-1, rev. 4/2004, Education Professional Standards Board; and

(b) Form TC-HQ, edition 4/2004, Education Professional Standards Board.

(2) This material may be inspected, copied, or obtained, subject to applicable copyright law, at the Education Professional Standards Board, 100 Airport Road, 3rd Floor, Frankfort, Kentucky 40601, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (21 Ky.R. 212; Am. 949; eff. 10-6-94; 23 Ky.R. 1017; eff. 10-3-96; 24 Ky.R. 404; 892; eff. 10-2-97; 2426; 25 Ky.R. 76; eff. 7-13-98; 26 Ky.R. 442; 749; eff. 10-11-99; 27 Ky.R. 1877; 2442; eff. 3-19-2001; 28 Ky.R. 2073; 2344; eff. 5-16-2002; recodified from 704 KAR 20:670, 7-2-2002; 30 Ky.R. 2315; 31 Ky.R. 20 eff. 8-6-04; 33 Ky.R. 823; 1266; eff. 12-1-06; 34 Ky.R. 1079; 1687; eff. 2-1-2008.)