Sec.10-145d-461. Initial educator certificate requirements

To receive an initial educator certificate to serve as a school library media specialist, an applicant shall meet the requirements of subsection (a), (b) or (c) of this section in addition to meeting the assessment requirements, as appropriate:

(a) Meet all of the following conditions:

(1) Holds a bachelor's degree from an approved institution;

(2) Holds or is eligible for a Connecticut certificate;

(3) Has completed at least ten school months of successful teaching; and

(4) Has completed a minimum of 24 semester hours of credit in an approved graduate program of certification for school library media specialists, which shall include at least 12 semester hours of credit to be distributed among each of the following:

(A) Design, implementation and evaluation of media programs. Media programs here are defined as all the instructional and other services furnished to students and teachers by a media center and its staff;

(B) Evaluation, selection, acquisition, organization, production and retrieval of media. Media here are defined as printed and audiovisual forms of communications and their accompanying technology;

(C) Teaching students, staff and faculty to utilize media and its accompanying technology by applying valid instructional methods and techniques;

(D) Assisting students in the interpretation of print and nonprint materials;

(E) Application of principles of administration and supervision for effective leadership and operation of the school library media center program;

(F) Formulation of the educational specifications and contribution to the design of school library media facilities; and

(G) A course of study in special education comprised of not fewer than 36 clock hours, which shall include study in understanding the growth and development of exceptional children, including handicapped and gifted and talented children and children who may require special education, and methods for identifying, planning for and working effectively with special-needs children in the regular classroom; or

(b) Meet all of the following conditions:

(1) Holds a bachelor's degree from an approved institution;

(2) Has completed a minimum of 18 semester hours of credit in professional education, of which at least six semester hours of credit are full-time responsible student teaching in a school library media center, and the remainder which shall include foundations of education, educational psychology, and curriculum and methods of teaching;

(3) Has completed a minimum of 24 semester hours of credit in an approved graduate program of certification for school library media specialists, which shall include at least 12 semester hours of credit to be distributed among each of the following:

(A) Design, implementation and evaluation of media programs. Media programs here are defined as all the instructional and other services furnished to students and teachers by a media center and its staff;

(B) Evaluation, selection, acquisition, organization, production and retrieval of media. Media here are defined as printed and audiovisual forms of communications and their accompanying technology;

(C) Teaching students, staff and faculty to utilize media and its accompanying technology by applying valid instructional methods and techniques;

(D) Assisting students in the interpretation of print and nonprint materials;

(E) Application of principles of administration and supervision for effective leadership and operation of the school library media center program; and

(F) Formulation of the educational specifications and contribution to the design of school library media facilities; and

(G) A course of study in special education comprised of not fewer than 36 clock hours, which shall include study in understanding the growth and development of exceptional children, including handicapped and gifted and talented children and children who may require special education, and methods for identifying, planning for and working effectively with special-needs children in the regular classroom; or

(c) Meet all of the following conditions:

(1) Holds a bachelor's degree from an approved institution;

(2) Holds a current school library media specialist certificate or its equivalent from another state;

(3) Has completed a minimum of 18 semester hours of credit in professional education, of which at least six semester hours of credit are full-time responsible student teaching in a school library media center, and the remainder which shall include foundations of education, educational psychology, and curriculum and methods of teaching;

(4) Has completed a minimum of 24 semester hours of graduate credit; and

(5) Has completed at least 12 semester hours of graduate credit to be distributed among each of the following:

(A) Design, implementation and evaluation of media programs. Media programs here are defined as all the instructional and other services furnished to students and teachers by a media center and its staff;

(B) Evaluation, selection, acquisition, organization, production and retrieval of media. Media here are defined as printed and audiovisual forms of communications and their accompanying technology;

(C) Teaching students, staff and faculty to utilize media and its accompanying technology by applying valid instructional methods and techniques;

(D) Assisting students in the interpretation of print and nonprint materials;

(E) Application of principles of administration and supervision for effective leadership and operation of the school library media center program;

(F) Formulation of the educational specifications and contribution to the design of school library media facilities; and

(G) A course of study in special education comprised of not fewer than 36 clock hours, which shall include study in understanding the growth and development of exceptional children, including handicapped and gifted and talented children and children who may require special education, and methods for identifying, planning for and working effectively with special-needs children in the regular classroom.

(Effective July 1, 1995)