6mar02...2607h

2002 SESSION

01-2048

04/09

HOUSE BILL 1190

AN ACT relative to a one-year certificate of eligibility to teach.

COMMITTEE: Education

AMENDED ANALYSIS

This bill allows a local school board or superintendent to offer a one-time, one-year certificate of eligibility allowing a person to teach on a full-time or part-time basis, without requiring such person to possess a teaching credential, teaching license, or certification, provided certain conditions are fulfilled. The bill also authorizes a superintendent with the approval of the local school board to determine that a critical shortage area exists in any teaching area within the school district.

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

6mar02...2607h

01-2048

04/09

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Two

AN ACT relative to a one-year certificate of eligibility to teach.

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

117:1 New Sections; School Boards; Critical Staffing Shortages; One-Year Certificate of Eligibility. Amend RSA 189 by inserting after section 39 the following new sections:

189:39-a Critical Staffing Shortages. Notwithstanding a determination of critical staffing shortage made by the department of education, a superintendent, with the approval of the local school board, may determine that a critical staffing shortage exists in one or more specific teaching areas within the school district. The department of education shall be notified of any critical staffing shortages which have been determined in a school district within 30 days of such determination.

189:39-b One-Year Certificate of Eligibility.

I. The local school board, in consultation with the superintendent, may offer a one-time, one year certificate of eligibility to any person interested in teaching on a full-time or part-time basis, without requiring a person to possess a teaching credential, teaching license, or other teaching certification provided that such person:

(a) Possesses at least a bachelor's degree from an accredited postsecondary institution.

(b) Is subject to a background investigation pursuant to RSA 189:13-a.

(c) Is qualified for the position by relevant experience and education.

II. The school board, with input from the superintendent, shall formulate the terms of the certificate of eligibility which shall contain no tenure provisions.

III. The department of education shall be notified of the issuance of all certificates of eligibility within 30 days of the date of issuance.

IV. Any person who has had a teaching credential, teaching license, or other teaching certification revoked under RSA 189:14-c or RSA 189:14-d, or who has been rendered ineligible to be employed as a teacher under another provision of law, shall not be eligible to teach under this section.

V. No person shall be offered more than one certificate of eligibility under this section.

117:2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.

(Approved: May 3, 2002)

(Effective Date: July 2, 2002)