HS HCS SCS SB 722 -- TEACHER CERTIFICATION

TEMPORARY ADMINISTRATOR'S CERTIFICATE

This bill permits a temporary certificate for school
administrators that is valid for one year and renewable for up to
four more years, upon measurable progress towards a permanent
certificate.  To be eligible, a person must have a valid Missouri
teacher's license, have a master's degree or be enrolled in a
master's program, and have five years' teaching experience at the
level for which certification is sought.  The certificate is
sought jointly by the person and the employing district or
accredited private school, which must provide a mentoring program
for the applicant.  These provisions expire on August 28, 2012.

LICENSE DENIAL, REVOCATION, AND DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS

The bill also makes several changes to the process by which
teachers' licenses may be denied or disciplinary action imposed
on a license holder.  The bill adds deception in obtaining a
license and disciplinary action on an existing license from
another jurisdiction to the grounds for discretionary revocation
or denial of license.  The bill adds furnishing child pornography
to a minor to the list of offenses that require license
revocation.  Under current law, the Attorney General may file
charges for financially distressed districts; the bill removes
the requirement that the district be financially stressed but
specifies that the Attorney General will not file charges for
annulment of contracts.  The bill clarifies that the State Board
of Education as well as the school district may file certain
licensure charges, that cases may be settled informally by
agreements or voluntary surrender of license, and that licensure
decisions are subject to judicial review.  The State Board of
Education may refuse to issue or renew a license or may suspend
or revoke a license of a person who has surrendered his or her
license or has failed to renew it, for any of the grounds
mentioned in the bill.  The bill also contains several technical
changes, primarily in notification procedures.

Missouri House of Representatives
Last Updated October 11, 2002 at 9:04 am