Report Title:

DOE; Exceptional Teacher License Recognition Committee; Teacher Licensure

Description:

Establishes the exceptional teacher license recognition committee to review teaching licensure standards to ensure outstanding teachers from outside the State receive a Hawaii teaching license.  (SD1)

THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	1147
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2007		S.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO TEACHING LICENSURE.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that it is in the best interest of the department of education, the schools, and the students that the teaching force be comprised of the most effective teachers possible.  The legislature is aware that the qualities inherent in the most effective teachers are often not predictable by the pre-licensure training that teachers must undergo.

     The legislature also finds that the present licensure process in the State of Hawaii prevents some of these effective teachers from receiving a Hawaii teaching license.  This is found to be particularly true where the teacher is from outside the State.

     The purpose of this Act is to create an avenue for effective teachers to receive a Hawaii teaching license when other avenues are closed or cumbersome.

     SECTION 2.  Chapter 302A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§302A‑   Exceptional teacher license recognition committee; established. (a)  The department shall form the exceptional teacher license recognition committee that shall review and deliberate on the licensure worthiness of teachers who received either national or state awards for teaching excellence, such as a national certification or a teacher of the year award, or provide evidence of a minimum of five years of excellent or exceptional teacher evaluations and a professional portfolio.  The exceptional teacher license recognition committee may waive all requirements that would otherwise deny the candidate immediate licensure and, upon determining that a teacher is qualified to be licensed in the State, shall direct the Hawaii teacher standards board to properly issue the teacher a valid state teaching license.  Licensure provided under this section shall be for a period of five years; provided that license renewals shall be issued pursuant to criteria established by the Hawaii teacher standards board.

(b)  The exceptional teacher license recognition committee shall be comprised at least five members appointed by the superintendent who are teachers and principals who have received state or national recognition for having demonstrated exceptional educational talent."

     SECTION 3.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2007, and shall be repealed on July 1, 2012.