Senate Bill 2996 Summary

• School districts must provide written notice to parents/guardians within 30 instructional days if an improperly licensed or nonlicensed teacher is assigned to the same classroom for more than 30 consecutive days during a school year.

• Notice requirement does not apply if the school is already required to notify parents about teachers who are not "highly qualified" under the No Child Left Behind Act.

• State Board of Education must adopt rules for teacher preparation and continuing education programs for nontraditional teachers, with exemptions for teachers with three or more years of employment experience before the bill's effective date.

• School districts may issue teaching permits to employ persons without valid state licenses, provided they hold a baccalaureate degree and the state department approves their qualifications within 30 days of notification.

• State Board of Education must adopt rules allowing licensed teachers to qualify for additional subject area or grade level certifications through examination or assessment.