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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. P.

DATE TYPED 02/24/05 HB 1025

SHORT TITLE Five-Year Level One Teacher Licenses

SB

ANALYST Chabot

APPROPRIATION

Appropriation Contained Estimated Additional Impact Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY05

FY06

FY05

FY06

NFI

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

Relates to HB 84 and SB 662

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

Department of Finance and Administration (DFA)

Public Education Department (PED)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

House Bill 1025 amends Section 22-10A-4 to change the licensing period for a level 1 teacher

from three years to five years and continues to allow a level one teacher to advance to level two

after three years if all requirements and competencies are met. The bill has an emergency clause.

Significant Issues

This bill would give a level 1 teacher an extra two years to gain the necessary experience, com-

petencies, professional growth, and complete the required dossier for evaluation for earning a

level 2 license.

DFA states “extending the period provided to beginning teachers to become established in the

profession may contribute to overall teacher quality and retention. Research has established the

basic link between teacher quality and student academic performance.”

House Bill 1025 -- Page 2

DFA adds members of the Governor’s Council of Teaching suggested the length of level 1 licen-

sure be extended to five years.

PERFORMANCE IMPLICATIONS

This bill could relate to the public school support measure on percent of highly qualified teachers

in the classroom.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

Some districts may have reduced salary costs because some level one teachers could receive the

minimum salary of $30 thousand for an additional two years.

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

PED would have to extend some existing level one licenses. PED states these could be accom-

plished by a simple computer program with minimal administrative impact.

WHAT WILL BE THE CONSEQUENCES OF NOT ENACTING THIS BILL.

Some teachers may not have all the competencies completed to advance to level two licensure

and would lose their teaching license.

POSSIBLE QUESTIONS

1.

How many teachers have expressed a need for this extension.

2.

How many Level 1 teachers will have their license expire at the end of 2005.

GAC/lg