HB 795 -- Teacher Certification

Co-Sponsors:  Copenhaver, Haywood, Fraser

This bill extensively revises the statutes concerning teacher
certification, removing the State Board of Education's power to
license teachers and placing it in a newly created Board of
Professional Standards and Practices within the Coordinating
Board for Higher Education.  The 19-member board will consist of
9 teachers, 3 college faculty from teacher education programs, 3
school administrators, one district school board member, one
public representative, and the commissioners of Elementary and
Secondary Education, and Higher Education, ex officio.  The
Governor will appoint members for 4-year terms; the bill details
procedures for soliciting nominations as well as organizational
procedures.  The board will have an executive director.

The bill recognizes teaching as a profession and sets out the
conditions for licensure, which include age, health, and
character requirements.  Existing administrative rules on
certification are repealed 60 days after the effective date of
the bill, and a separate procedure for enacting board rules is
established.  Existing licenses are continued.  Causes for
denial or revocation are established, and procedures by which
the board may initiate disciplinary action are provided.  The
Administrative Hearing Commission will hold hearings on
disciplinary actions.  Applicants denied licenses are entitled
to a hearing before the whole board.  Teaching without a valid
license is a class A misdemeanor; using fraud to secure a
license is a class D felony.

The board also has exclusive authority to approve teacher
preparation programs; institutions whose programs are denied
approval have a right to appeal the denial.  Certain board
actions may be delegated to one or more members or staff.  Fees
associated with certification must be set to cover the cost of
administering the certification statutes and will be deposited
in the Professional Educators' Standards and Practices Board
Fund.

Missouri House of Representatives
Last Updated September 13, 2001 at 2:03 pm