TITLE

Restricted Teaching License

HISTORY

Available after July 1, 2002. Proposed and designed as part of a total redesign of teacher preparation and licensure in Kansas that was initiated in 1992. The State Board of Education adopted the new licensure regulations in the summer of 2000.

MOTIVATION

Response to shortage of teachers in certain secondary teaching fields and the need to allow immediate access to practice to individuals who already hold degrees in the content field that they would teach.

GRADE LEVELS AND/OR SUBJECT AREA(S) COVERED

Any secondary teaching area for which the participating higher education institution has an approved teacher preparation program.

WHO OPERATES

The teacher education institution in cooperation with the local school district

REQUIREMENTS TO ENTER
  1. An undergraduate or graduate degree in the content area in which the license is sought.
  2. 2.5 grade point average (GPA).
  3. Offer of employment from a local school district.
  4. Documentation from the hiring district that they have exhausted reasonable attempts to fill the position with a licensed person.
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

If the candidate meets the above degree and GPA requirements and has an offer of employment, he/she may contact a Kansas teacher education institution for a plan of study that will qualify him/her for full licensure in the content area.

The plan must allow for completion of the approved teacher education program in not more than three years and must show specific requirements to be completed each year.

The teacher education institution provides the program through an alternative delivery system and supports the applicant on-site.

The local hiring district must collaborate with the teacher education institution on delivery of the program.

The school district must assign a mentor teacher with three or more years of experience to provide support to the individual.

The local district and the teacher education institution must submit a yearly progress report.

The individual is issued a three-year restricted teaching license while they are completing program requirements.

NUMBER OF CREDIT HOURS TO COMPLETE

Will vary with individuals, the institutions they are working with and the program areas they are completing.

WHO EVALUATES

The teacher education institution, in cooperation with the local district, will evaluate and assess the individual as he/she progress through the program. Individuals will be required to complete all licensure assessments after completion of the program and prior to issuance of a conditional license.

LENGTH OF TIME

Three years under the restricted license will be allowed to complete the approved program requirements.

OTHER

Individuals who complete a program under a restricted license will be required to complete a content and pedagogy assessment to qualify for an initial conditional license. During the conditional licensing period, they will complete a performance assessment to move to a professional license.