Amends TCA Title 49, Chapter 5.

Generally under present law, if a school is unable to secure a qualified teacher with a valid license for the type and kind of school in which a vacancy exists, the commissioner of education may grant, on behalf of the state board of education, a temporary permit to teach in the unfilled position to a person recommended by the director of schools or the director of the public charter school, as applicable, and who is approved by the commissioner. The temporary permit is valid only until June 30 following the date of the permit's issuance. Present law prohibits the issuance of a temporary permit to a physical education class or a course for which an end-of-course examination is required.<br /> <br /> This bill authorizes a person with a valid temporary teaching permit to apply to the department of education for a practitioner license, before the temporary permit expires, to continue teaching the course or subject area for which the temporary permit was issued. This bill requires the department to approve the teacher's application for a practitioner license to continue teaching the course or subject area for which the temporary permit was issued if the teacher:<br /> <br /> (1) Earned an overall performance designation of "at expectations," "above expectations," or "significantly above expectations" on the teacher's most recent evaluation; and<br /> <br /> (2) Provides a letter from the director of schools or from the director of the public charter school at which the teacher taught recommending that the teacher be granted a practitioner license to continue teaching. <br /> <br /> A teacher issued a practitioner license under this bill will not be allowed to teach or continue to teach a physical education class, a course for which an end-of-course examination is required, or a special education course.<br /> <br /> ON APRIL 11, 2022, THE SENATE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1 AND PASSED SENATE BILL 1864, AS AMENDED.<br /> <br /> AMENDMENT #1 rewrites this bill to allow a teacher holding the teacher's second or third teaching permit to apply to the department of education for a limited license to continue teaching the course or subject area taught pursuant to the teacher's current temporary permit. Under this amendment, the department must approve a teacher's application for a limited license to continue teaching the course or subject area taught pursuant to the teacher's temporary permit if the teacher:<br /> <br /> (A) Holds a valid temporary teaching permit;<br /> <br /> (B) Earned a level of overall effectiveness score of "above expectations" or "significantly above expectations" on the teacher's most recent evaluation;<br /> <br /> (C) Provides a recommendation from the director of schools or from the director of the public charter school at which the teacher taught pursuant to the teacher's temporary permit recommending that the teacher receive a limited license with the endorsement issued pursuant to the teacher's temporary permit; and<br /> <br /> (D) Agrees, in writing, to begin a pathway approved by the state board for transitioning educators from a limited license to a practitioner license.<br /> <br /> Limited licenses will be valid for two school years and will not be renewable. A teacher who holds a temporary permit may not receive a limited license to teach:<br /> <br /> (A) A physical education class;<br /> <br /> (B) A course for which an end-of-course examination is required; or<br /> <br /> (C) A special education course.<br /> <br /> This bill requires the state board of education to promulgate rules to effectuate the purposes of this amendment, including rules to establish requirements for limited licensure issuance and a pathway for a teacher who possesses a limited license to obtain a practitioner license. This amendment sets out in detail more specific requirements for the rules regarding the pathway.<br />