Amends TCA Title 49, Chapter 5.

Present law requires a person to meet the following criteria in order to be eligible to receive a practitioner occupational teaching license: <br /> <br /> (1) Have a minimum of five years relevant work experience, completed within the last 10 years, or three years of relevant work experience, completed in the last five years, in the area of endorsement or equivalent educational attainment;<br /> <br /> (2) Hold an active industry license or credential for the area of endorsement; <br /> <br /> (3) Meet the requirements established by rule by the state board of education; and <br /> <br /> (4) Be enrolled in a state board-approved educator preparation program with a job-embedded clinical practice; have completed a state board-approved educator preparation program; or provide proof of pairing with a highly effective mentor teacher and completion of coursework in classroom management, pedagogy, serving students with disabilities and English learners, and the teacher code of ethics set forth by law, from a state board-approved education preparation program. <br /> <br /> This bill adds that an honorably discharged veteran is eligible to receive a practitioner occupational teaching license if the veteran, instead, meets the following criteria: <br /> <br /> (A) Holds, at a minimum, a high school diploma; <br /> <br /> (B) Meets the requirements of (3) and (4) above; <br /> <br /> (C) Possesses military training or experience equivalent to the relevant work experience required in (1) above for the area of endorsement or equivalent educational attainment; <br /> <br /> (D) Is pursuing an industry license or credential for the area of endorsement related to the veteran's military service and experience; and <br /> <br /> (E) Completes and holds an active industry certification or license within a reasonable period of time, as determined by the state board of education by rule.<br /> <br /> ON APRIL 10, 2023, THE HOUSE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1 AND PASSED HOUSE BILL 786, AS AMENDED.<br /> <br /> AMENDMENT #1 rewrites this bill to change as of July 1, 2023, the law concerning issuance of temporary teaching permits.<br /> <br /> Effective July 1, 2023, present law provides that after a director of schools or a director of a public charter school notifies the director's local board of education or the governing body of the director's public charter school that the LEA or public charter school is unable to secure a qualified occupational educator with a valid occupational teaching license for course of study in which a vacancy exists, the director of schools or the director of the public charter school may certify the same to the commissioner of education. Upon the commissioner's receipt of the certification, the commissioner may grant a temporary permit to teach in the unfilled position to a person recommended by the notifying director, who does not hold a bachelor's degree or an active industry license or credential for the area of endorsement, but who has a minimum of five years of relevant work experience, completed within the last 10 years, or three years of relevant work experience, completed within the last five years, in the area of endorsement or equivalent educational attainment. The temporary permit is valid only until June 30 immediately following the date of the permit's issuance; the temporary permit is not renewable; and an individual may only be issued one temporary permit.<br /> <br /> This amendment adds authorization for the commissioner to issue a temporary permit under similar circumstances to a person recommended by the director of schools or the director of the public charter school who is an honorably discharged veteran of the armed forces and has a minimum of five years relevant work experience, completed within the last 10 years, or three years of relevant work experience, completed within the last five years, in the area of endorsement or equivalent educational attainment. For purposes of this amendment, "work experience" includes, but is not limited to, military service, training, and experience.<br />