On Monday, Alabama Governor Kay Ivey signed legislation to expand alternative pathways for teacher certification. Sponsors hope that the move will allow the state to better address its chronic teacher shortage.
House Bill 342 (HB342) was sponsored by State Rep. Susan Dubose (R-Greystone).
HB342 expands access to high-quality alternative certification pathways for new Alabama teachers in order to address ongoing teacher shortages.
Governor Ivey said that the new teacher alternative certification pathways comply with the state’s rigorous standards.
“As Alabama continues to face teacher shortages, particularly in math and science, efforts are being undertaken to fill vacancies in those positions with qualified persons with academic experience outside the teaching profession. One such approach, HB 342, expands access to high-quality alternative certification pathways for new teachers that comply with rigorous standards, while also maintaining the professionalism and quality of the teaching profession,” said Ivey.
The legislation states, “The State of Alabama shall modify its policies relative to the certification of teachers to permit the issuance of a professional educator certificate to those qualified individuals who successfully complete an approved alternative teacher preparation program. In addition to any provisional certificates and professional certificates issued pursuant to this chapter to individuals graduating from approved teacher education programs, the State Board of Education shall authorize the issuance of a professional educator certificate by the State Superintendent of Education to a qualified individual who completes an approved alternative teacher preparation program.”
The legislation also states, “The State Superintendent of Education shall maintain a database of alternative teacher education preparation organizations, approved by the State Board of Education, as a means for screening, recruiting, and recommending for certification qualified individuals to teach in the public K-12 schools.”
An approved alternative teacher education preparation organization shall require each applicant to hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution of higher education that offers, at minimum junior and senior-level courses of instruction. Applicants must also successfully pass a criminal history background information check, successfully complete an alternative teacher preparation program offered by the approved organization.
According to the most recent numbers available, over 18% of certified teachers nationally earned their teaching certificate through alternative teacher education preparation organizations.
The legislature also passed a 2 percent pay raise for teachers on top of their already scheduled step pay increases.
The 2023 Alabama Regular Legislative Session ended on Tuesday.
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