§ 10-145t — Alternate route to certification programs for school support staff. Requirements. Issuance of initial educator certificate upon completion.

(a) For purposes of this section, “school support staff” means any person employed by a local or regional board of education as a behavior analyst or an assistant behavior analyst, as such terms are defined in section 20-185i, an athletic coach, as defined in section 10-149d, or a paraeducator. (b) (1) The Department of Education shall review and approve proposals for alternate route to certification programs for persons employed as school support staff. In order to be approved, a proposal shall provide that the alternate route to certification program (A) be provided by a public or independent institution of higher education, a local or regional board of education, a regional educational service center or a private, nonprofit teacher or administrator training organization approved by the State Board of Education; (B) accept only those participants who (i) have been employed as school support staff by a local or regional board of education for at least forty school months, and (ii) are recommended by the immediate supervisor or district administrator of such person on the basis of such person's performance; (C) require each participant to complete a one-year residency that requires such person to serve (i) in a position requiring professional certification, and (ii) in a full-time position for ten school months at a local or regional board of education in the state under the supervision of (I) a certified administrator or teacher, and (II) a supervisor from an institution or organization described in subparagraph (A) of this subdivision; and (D) meet such other criteria as the department requires. (2) The department may approve any program that (A) accepts participants who hold a bachelor's degree from an institution of higher education accredited by the Board of Regents for Higher Education or the Office of Higher Education or regionally accredited, or (B) partners with an institution of higher education that is regionally accredited, or has received an equivalent accreditation, to provide a dual degree-plus-certification program for participants who hold an associate degree. The department shall give priority to those programs that provide participants flexibility in remaining in their positions as a school support staff while pursuing an initial educator certificate, other than the period when such participants are completing the one-year residency requirement described in subparagraph (C) of subdivision (1) of this subsection. (c) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (d) of section 10-145b , on and after July 1, 2016, the State Board of Education, upon receipt of a proper application, shall issue an initial educator certificate, which shall be valid for three years, to any person who (1) successfully completed the alternate route to certification program under this section, and (2) meets the requirements established in subsection (b) of section 10-145f . (d) Notwithstanding any regulation adopted by the State Board of Education pursuant to section 10-145b , any person who successfully completed the alternate route to certification program under this section and was issued an initial educator certificate in the endorsement area of administration and supervision shall obtain a master's degree not later than five years after such person was issued such initial educator certificate. If such person does not obtain a master's degree in such time period, such person shall not be eligible for a professional educator certificate.

Legislative History

(P.A. 16-41, S. 7; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 17-2, S. 196; P.A. 18-139, S. 3; P.A. 24-41, S. 7.) History: P.A. 16-41 effective July 1, 2016; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 17-2 amended Subsec. (a) by deleting “board certified”, effective July 1, 2018; P.A. 18-139 made technical changes in Subsec. (a), effective July 1, 2018; P.A. 24-41 amended Subsec. (a) by replacing “school paraprofessional” with “paraeducator” and amended Subsec. (b) by designating existing provisions as new Subdiv. (1) and amended same by redesignating existing Subdivs. (1) to (4) as Subparas. (A) to (D), deleting former Subdiv. (2)(A), redesignating existing Subdiv. (2)(B) and (C) as Subpara. (B)(i) and (ii), redesignating existing Subparas. (A) and (B) as clauses (i) and (ii) and existing clauses (i) and (ii) as subclauses (I) and (II) in redesignated Subdiv. (1)(C), adding new Subdiv. (2) re department program approval and priority, and made technical and conforming changes, effective July 1, 2024.