HB2161 Summary

• Establishes a specialized teaching certificate for classroom teachers with expertise in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) who have taught these subjects for at least three consecutive years at accredited postsecondary institutions.

• Exempts specialized STEM certificate holders from professional knowledge and subject knowledge proficiency requirements and constitutional proficiency requirements otherwise required for teacher certification.

• Allows specialized STEM certificate teachers to provide instruction in grades 7-12 in their field of expertise at any public school in Arizona.

• Clarifies that teachers with other teaching certificates are not required to obtain the specialized certificate in order to teach STEM courses in grades 7-12.