HF1257 Summary

• Suspends the requirement for teacher candidates to pass skills examinations in reading, writing, and mathematics until September 1, 2014, but allows the Board of Teaching to issue temporary one-year licenses to otherwise qualified candidates who have not yet passed the exam.

• Permits school districts to offer remedial assistance to employed teachers who completed their preparation programs but did not achieve qualifying scores on skills examinations, including those for whom English is a second language.

• Allows renewal of temporary one-year teaching licenses for candidates who participate in approved remedial assistance programs, attempt to pass the skills exam during the licensure period, and have their school district request continuation.

• Eliminates the skills examination requirement entirely beginning September 1, 2014, for teachers seeking initial and continuing licenses in prekindergarten, elementary, secondary, or special education programs.

• Establishes a Teacher Licensure Advisory Task Force to recommend alternative methods for demonstrating basic skills mastery (such as portfolios or coursework) and an alternative licensure pathway for nonnative English speakers seeking licenses for language immersion programs, with recommendations due by February 1, 2014.