Pending Rule
Title 5—Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
Division 80 – Teacher Quality and Urban Education
Chapter 800—Educator Certification
ORDER OF RULEMAKING
By the authority vested in the State Board of Education under section 161.092, RSMo Supp. 2007, the board adopts a rule as follows:
5 CSR 80.800.285 is adopted.
A notice of proposed rulemaking containing the text of the proposed rule was published in the Missouri Register on May 15, 2008 (33 MoReg 974-975). The section with changes is reprinted here. This proposed rule becomes effective thirty (30) days after publication in the Code of State Regulations.
SUMMARY OF COMMENTS: The board received fifty-eight (58) letters of comment on the proposed rule.
COMMENT #1: Educators submitted thirteen (13) comments suggesting that a temporary certificate of license to teach be granted instead of the initial professional certificate.
RESPONSE: The board considered the response and noted that the statute requires the issuance of a professional certificate.
COMMENT #2: Educators submitted thirty-three (33) comments stating that the student contact hours are insufficient.
RESPONSE: The board considered the response and noted that the contact with students prior to certification is minimal; however, it meets the statutory requirement.
COMMENT #3: Educators submitted six (6) comments stating that the proposed rule does not require the passage of the Praxis II content area test.
RESPONSE: The board considered the response and noted that the licensure through American Board for Certification of Teacher Excellence (ABCTE) does require passing a high-stakes test that is similar to the Praxis II test.
COMMENT #4: Educators submitted fifty (50) comments concerning section (2) of the proposed rule and the lack of requiring additional coursework prior to the applicant receiving full licensure.
RESPONSE: The board considered the response and noted that during the first four (4) years of licensure that newly licensed educators are required to complete thirty (30) clock hours of professional development.
COMMENT #5: Educators submitted thirty-three (33) comments concerning section (2) of the proposed rule and requested the removal of the option for ABCTE-provided mentoring.
RESPONSE: The board considered the response and noted that while the rule doesn’t explicitly state it, mentoring must meet Missouri standards whether provided by ABCTE or locally.
COMMENT #6: Educators submitted forty-eight (48) comments requesting annual performance-based evaluations.
RESPONSE AND EXPLANATION OF CHANGE: The board considered the response and has changed the wording to reflect wording used for all other certificate holders in subsection (2)(E).
5 CSR 80-800.285 Application for Certificates of License to Teach on the Basis of Certification by the American Board for Certification of Teacher Excellence (ABCTE)
(2) Upon completion of the requirements listed in section (1) of this rule and completion of the requirements listed herein, an applicant shall be eligible to apply for a career continuous professional certificate:
(A) Completion of thirty (30) contact hours of professional development within four (4) years, which may include hours spent in class in an appropriate college curriculum;
(B) Completion of four (4) years of department-approved teaching experience;
(C) Development and implementation of a professional development plan;
(D) Completion of two (2) years in a district mentoring program approved by the state board of education or the ABCTE;
(E) Participate in the district’s Performance-Based Teacher Evaluations (PBTEs); and
(F) Participation in a beginning teacher assistance program.