Sec.10-145d-443. Professional educator certificate requirements

To receive a professional educator certificate for foreign language instruction at the elementary level an applicant shall present evidence of having met the following requirements:

(a) Has completed 30 school months of successful teaching under the provisional educator certificate, or interim educator certificate; and

(b) Has met one of the following requirements for course work at an approved institution or institutions:

(1) Prior to July 1, 2003, an applicant who holds or held a provisional educator certificate shall have completed not less than 30 semester hours of credit beyond the bachelor's degree. Such course work need not necessarily lead to a master's degree and may include graduate or undergraduate courses. It shall consist of:

(A) A planned program at an approved institution, related directly to the subject areas or grade levels of the endorsement or in an area or areas related to the teacher's ability to provide instruction effectively or to meet locally determined goals and objectives; or

(B) An individual program which is mutually determined or approved by the teacher and the employing agent of the board of education and which is designed to increase the ability of the teacher to improve student learning.

(2) Prior to July 1, 2003, an applicant who holds or held a 10-year provisional teaching certificate shall have completed 30 semester hours of credit beyond the bachelor's degree. Such course work need not necessarily lead to a master's degree and may include graduate or undergraduate courses. It shall consist of:

(A) A planned program at an approved institution; or

(B) An individual program which is mutually determined or approved by the teacher and the employing agent of the board of education and which is designed to increase the ability of the teacher to improve student learning. Such an individual program may include course work taken at one or more approved institutions and may include registered in-service programs sponsored by local or regional boards of education or approved nonpublic schools upon the approval of the joint subcommittee of the Board of Governors of Higher Education and the Board established pursuant to Section 10-155b of the Connecticut general statutes, revision of 1958, revised to January 1, 1983.

(3) Prior to July 1, 2003, an applicant who holds or held a five-year provisional teaching certificate shall have completed either a master's degree or not fewer than 30 semester hours of credit beyond the bachelor's degree. Such course work need not necessarily lead to a master's degree and may include graduate or undergraduate courses. Except as otherwise provided, it shall consist of:

(A) A master's degree at an approved institution; or

(B) An individually planned program consisting of at least 30 semester hours of credit beyond the bachelor's degree, which includes at least 15 semester hours of credit in general academic courses in addition to the credits offered to fulfill the requirements for the provisional teaching certificate. Exceptions to the requirement of 15 semester hours of credit in general academic courses may be granted when an approved institution or the Department determines that the applicant has, in the combined program of undergraduate and post-baccalaureate preparation, met this requirement.

(4) On and after July 1, 2003, any applicant who holds or held a provisional teaching or provisional educator certificate shall have completed, at an approved institution, either a master's degree or at least 30 semester hours of graduate credit.

(Effective July 1, 1995)