16 KAR 2:140. Probationary certificate

for teachers of children, birth to primary.

 

      RELATES TO: KRS 157.3175, 161.020,

161.030

      STATUTORY AUTHORITY: KRS 161.028, 161.030

      NECESSITY, FUNCTION, AND CONFORMITY: KRS

161.020 and 161.030 require that a teacher and other professional school personnel

hold a certificate of legal qualification for the respective position to be

issued upon completion of a program of preparation prescribed by the Education

Professional Standards Board. KRS 161.028(1)(a) requires the Education

Professional Standards Board to establish the standards for obtaining and

maintaining a teaching certificate. KRS 161.028(1)(b) requires that a teacher

education institution be approved for offering the preparation program

corresponding to a particular certificate on the basis of standards and

procedures established by the Education Professional Standards Board. KRS

161.028(1)(f) requires the Education Professional Standards Board to issue and

renew any certificate. This administrative regulation establishes a plan for

recruiting qualified individuals into positions for teachers of children ages

birth to primary age.

 

      Section 1. Definition. "Qualified

teacher" means a teacher who holds an interdisciplinary early childhood

education certificate or who has received an approval identified in 16 KAR

2:040, Section 5.

 

      Section 2. If a qualified teacher is not

available for the position as teacher of children birth to primary age, as

attested by the local school superintendent, the superintendent, on behalf of

the local board of education, may request a one (1) year probationary

interdisciplinary early childhood education certificate be issued as provided

in this administrative regulation.

      (1) A prerequisite for a one (1) year

probationary interdisciplinary early childhood education certificate for

teaching children, birth to primary age, shall be:

      (a) A certificate or statement of

eligibility in kindergarten or elementary special education;

      (b) A baccalaureate or advanced degree in

early childhood education, early childhood special education, or child development

with:

      1. A cumulative minimum grade point

average of 2.50 on a 4.00 scale; or

      2. A minimum grade point average of 3.00

on a 4.00 scale on the last sixty (60) hours of credit completed, including

undergraduate and graduate coursework; or

      (c) A certificate in another area, if the

applicant has had one (1) year of teaching children birth through age five (5)

years.

      (2) The applicant shall have:

      (a) Enrolled in an approved preparation

program for certification in interdisciplinary early childhood education

established in 16 KAR 2:040; and

      (b) Completed a minimum of nine (9)

semester hours of credit in the development of children below primary age or in

special education.

      (3) The requirements established in

subsection (2) of this section shall be verified by submission of a curriculum

contract completed by the teacher education institution with an approved

interdisciplinary early childhood education preparation program.

      (4) The applicant shall complete twelve

(12) clock hours of training established by the Kentucky Department of

Education prior to employment.

      (5) The applicant shall complete an

additional six (6) clock hours of training established by the Kentucky

Department of Education within the first three (3) months of employment.

      (6) To apply for the probationary

interdisciplinary early childhood education certificate, the applicant shall

submit a completed Form TC-BP to the Education Professional Standards Board.

 

      Section 3. Requirements for Renewal of a

Probationary Interdisciplinary Early Childhood Education Certificate. (1) The

first renewal of the probationary interdisciplinary early childhood education

certificate shall be for one (1) year based upon successful completion of the following

requirements:

      (a) Evidence of employment in a Kentucky

school district or nonpublic school as a teacher of children ages birth to

primary;

      (b) Completion of at least six (6)

semester hours or its equivalent from the approved interdisciplinary early

childhood education preparation program as indicated on the teacher’s

curriculum contract; and

      (c) Successful completion of the Kentucky

Teacher Internship Program established in 16 KAR 7:010. A teacher who has successfully

completed the Kentucky Teacher Internship Program prior to issuance of the

initial probationary certificate or who is not required to complete the

internship program under the requirements for out-of-state teachers established

in KRS 161.030(5) shall not be required to complete the internship program

again while serving on the probationary certificate.

      (2)(a) Subsequent one (1) year renewals

of the probationary interdisciplinary early childhood education certificate

shall require at least six (6) semester hours or its equivalent of additional

credit from the approved interdisciplinary early childhood education

preparation program as indicated on the teacher’s curriculum contract.

      (b) The total validity period of the

probationary certificate for interdisciplinary early education shall not exceed

three (3) years in compliance with the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, 20 U.S.C.

7801(23) and 34 C.F.R. 200.56.

      (3) Upon successful completion of all

program requirements for the approved interdisciplinary early childhood

education preparation program established in 16 KAR 2:040, including successful

completion of all required assessments established in 16 KAR 6:010, a professional

certificate for interdisciplinary early childhood education, birth to primary,

valid for five (5) years shall be issued.

      (4) Program requirements for completion

of the interdisciplinary early childhood education preparation program while

serving on the probationary certificate established in this administrative

regulation shall not include student teaching.

 

      Section 4. Incorporation by Reference.

(1) Form TC-BP, rev. 10/02, Education Professional Standards Board, is

incorporated by reference.

      (2) This material may be inspected,

copied, or obtained, subject to applicable copyright law, at the Education

Professional Standards Board, 100 Airport Road, 3rd Floor, Frankfort, Kentucky

40601, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (24 Ky.R. 2481; Am. 25 Ky.R.

76; eff. 7-13-98; 2204; 2569; eff. 5-3-99; recodified from 704 KAR 20:082,

7-2-2002; 29 Ky.R. 1860, 2271; eff. 3-19-03; 33 Ky.R. 828; 1269; eff. 12-1-06.)