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F I S C A L I M P A C T R E P O R T

SPONSOR:	Garcia, M.H.		DATE TYPED:	02/03/02		HB	204
SHORT TITLE:		Native American Language Teacher Certification				SB
					ANALYST:		Baca

APPROPRIATION

Appropriation Contained		Estimated Additional Impact		Recurring or Non-Rec	Fund Affected
FY02	FY03	FY02	FY03
	NFI

(Parenthesis) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

Identical to SB126

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

State Department of Education (SDE)

Commission on Higher Education (CHE)

Economic Development Department (EDD)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

House Bill 204 amends the Public School Code so that the State Board of Education (SBE) may issue alternative, substandard, substitute and Native American language and culture educator certificates to non-degreed indivisuals who meet SBE approved teaching competencies. A baccalaureate degree is not required of a person appylying for this cetificate.

Significant Issues

The CHE and the SBE have adopted the concept of improving teacher supply, diversity, and quality. HB 204 aligns with this concept by formally creating alternative pathways for persons qualified to receive alternative educator certificates.

According to the SDE, all substandard certificates issued will be effective for one school year. An alternative certificate may be effective for up to three years. With the provision that after the individual has satisfactorily completed a minimum of one year and up to three years of teaching

under the supervision of a mentor or clinical supervisor the State Board shall issue a standard certificate to that person. No person under the age of eighteen years shall hold a valid certificate, whether a standard, alternative or substandard.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

This bill has no fiscal impact.

DUPLICATION

House Bill 204 duplicates Senate Bill 126.

POSSIBLE QUESTIONS

1. Do the provisions of this bill allow a non-degreed person to be awarded a standard teaching certificate ?

2. Which school districts are most likely to benefit from the provisions of this bill ?

3. How likely is it that persons with the language skills and teaching competencies will be

available ?

4. How have school district personnel reacted to this proposal ?

LB/njw:ar

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