HF1268 Bill Summary

• Increases Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board from 11 to 13 members, adding one teacher from a teacher preparation program and one additional teacher from the seven-county metropolitan area and outside it.

• Expands the definition of "shortage area" to include regions where the percentage of Indigenous teachers and teachers of color is lower than the percentage of Indigenous students and students of color, with only individuals closing this gap qualifying as filling a shortage.

• Makes board district reimbursement for substitute teachers mandatory rather than discretionary and requires board members to receive annual stipends of up to $4,800.

• Standardizes terminology throughout teacher licensure statutes by replacing "candidate" with "applicant" and making conforming changes to board-approved versus board-adopted teacher preparation programs.

• Appropriates funds to the Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board with $62,400 in fiscal year 2024 and $62,400 in fiscal year 2025 designated for board member stipends.