Title of Regulation: 8VAC20-22. Licensure Regulations for School Personnel (amending 8VAC20-22-10, 8VAC20-22-50).

Statutory Authority: § 22.1-298.1 of the Code of Virginia.

Effective Date: February 22, 2017.

Agency Contact: Patty Pitts, Assistant Superintendent for Teacher Education and Licensing, Department of Education, 101 North 14th Street, Richmond, VA 23219, telephone (804) 371-2522, or email patty.pitts@doe.virginia.gov.

Summary:

Pursuant to Chapters 642 and 651 of the 2016 Acts of Assembly, the amendments provide for the issuance of a three-year license to qualified individuals to teach high school career and technical education courses in specific subject areas for no more than 50% of the instructional day or year, on average.

Part I
Definitions

8VAC20-22-10. Definitions.

The following words and terms when used in this chapter shall have the following meanings indicated unless the context clearly implies otherwise:

"Accredited institution" means an institution of higher education accredited by a regional accrediting agency recognized by the United States U.S. Department of Education.

"Alternate route to licensure" means a nontraditional route to licensure available to individuals who meet the criteria specified in 8VAC20-22-90.

"Approved program" means a professional education program recognized as meeting state standards for the content and operation of such programs so that graduates of the program will be eligible for state licensure. The Board of Education has the authority to approve programs in Virginia.

"Cancellation" means the withdrawal of a teaching license following the voluntary return of the license by the license holder.

"Career and Technical Education License" means a nonrenewable license issued for a three-year validity period to a qualified individual to teach high school career and technical education courses in a specific subject area for no more than 50% of the instructional day or year, on average. Individuals to whom this license is issued shall meet the requirements specified in 8VAC20-22-50.

"Certified provider" means a provider certified by the Department of Education to provide preparation and training for applicants seeking the Provisional License specified in 8VAC20-22-90.

"Collegiate Professional License" means a five-year, renewable license available to an individual who has satisfied all requirements for licensure, including the professional teacher's assessments prescribed by the Board of Education.

"Content area coursework" means courses at the undergraduate level (i.e., two-year or four-year institution) or at the graduate level that will not duplicate previous courses taken in the humanities, history and social sciences, the sciences, mathematics, health and physical education, and the fine arts. These courses are usually available through the college or department of arts or sciences.

"Denial" means the refusal to grant a teaching license to a new applicant or to an applicant who is reapplying after the expiration of a license.

"Division Superintendent License" means a five-year, renewable license available to an individual who has completed an earned master's degree from an accredited institution of higher education and meets the requirements specified in 8VAC20-22-600. The individual's name must be listed on the Board of Education's list of eligible division superintendents.

"Experiential learning" means a process of applying for an initial license through the alternate route as prescribed by the Board of Education and meeting the criteria specified in 8VAC20-22-90 E to be eligible to request experiential learning credits in lieu of the coursework for the endorsement (teaching) content area.

"Industry certification credential" means an active career and technical education credential that is earned by successfully completing a Board of Education-approved industry certification examination, being issued a professional license in the Commonwealth, or successfully completing an occupational competency examination.

"International Educator License" means a three-year cultural exchange opportunity for Virginia students and international teachers. The International Educator License is a professional, teaching license issued for no more than three years to an exchange educator with citizenship in a nation other than the United States of America and employed as an educator in a Virginia public or accredited nonpublic school, to teach for up to three consecutive years.

"Licensure by reciprocity" means a process used to issue a license to an individual coming into the Commonwealth from another state when that individual meets certain conditions specified in the Board of Education regulations.

"Mentor" means a classroom teacher hired by the local school division who has achieved continuing contract status or other instructional personnel including retired teachers who meet local mentor selection criteria. The mentor should work in the same building as the beginning teacher or be instructional personnel who is assigned solely as a mentor. A mentor should be assigned a limited number of teachers at any time. Instructional personnel who are not assigned solely as mentors should not be assigned to more than four teachers at any time. Mentors guide teachers in the program through demonstrations, observations, and consultations.

"Postgraduate Professional License" means a five-year, renewable license available to an individual who has qualified for the Collegiate Professional License and who holds an appropriate earned graduate degree from a regionally accredited institution.

"Professional teacher's assessment" means those tests or other requirements mandated for licensure as prescribed by the Board of Education.

"Provisional License" means a nonrenewable license valid for a period not to exceed three years issued to an individual who has allowable deficiencies for full licensure as set forth in these regulations this chapter. The individual must have a minimum of an undergraduate degree from a regionally accredited college or university (with the exception of those individuals seeking the Technical Professional License). The Provisional License, with the exception of those individuals seeking licensure through a career switcher program who will be issued a one-year Provisional License, will be issued for three years. Individuals must complete all requirements for a renewable license within the validity period of the license.

"Pupil Personnel Services License" means a five-year, renewable license available to an individual who has earned an appropriate graduate degree from a regionally accredited institution with an endorsement for guidance counselor, school psychologist, school social worker, or vocational evaluator. This license does not require teaching experience.

"Renewable license" means a license issued by the Board of Education for five years to an individual who meets the requirements specified in the Board of Education regulations.

"Revocation" means the withdrawal of a teaching license.

"Suspension" means the temporary withdrawal of a teaching license.

"Teach For America License" means a two-year provisional license available to an individual who is a participant in Teach For America and meets the requirements specified in 8VAC20-22-50.

"Technical Professional License" means a five-year, renewable license available to an individual who has graduated from an accredited high school (or possesses a General Education Development Certificate); has exhibited academic proficiency, technical competency, and occupational experience; and meets the requirements specified in 8VAC20-22-50.

8VAC20-22-50. Types of licenses; dating licenses.

A. The following types of licenses are available:

1. Provisional License. The Provisional License is a nonrenewable license valid for a period not to exceed three years issued to an individual who has allowable deficiencies for full licensure as set forth in these regulations this chapter. The individual must have a minimum of an undergraduate degree from a regionally accredited college or university (with the exception of those individuals seeking the Technical Professional License).The Provisional License, with the exception of those individuals seeking licensure through a career switcher program, will be issued for three years. Individuals must complete the requirements for the regular, five-year license within the validity period of the Provisional License.

2. Collegiate Professional License. The Collegiate Professional License is a five-year, renewable license available to an individual who has satisfied all requirements for licensure, including an earned undergraduate degree from a regionally accredited college or university and the professional teacher's assessments prescribed by the Board of Education.

3. Postgraduate Professional License. The Postgraduate Professional License is a five-year, renewable license available to an individual who has qualified for the Collegiate Professional License and who holds an appropriate earned graduate degree from a regionally accredited college or university.

4. Technical Professional License. The Technical Professional License is a five-year, renewable license available to a person who has graduated from an accredited high school (or possesses a General Education Development Certificate); has exhibited academic proficiency, skills in literacy and communication, technical competency, and occupational experience; and has completed nine semester hours of specialized professional studies credit from a regionally accredited college or university. The nine semester hours of professional studies coursework must include human growth and development (three semester hours), curriculum and instructional procedures (three semester hours), and applications of instructional technology or classroom and behavior management (three semester hours). The Technical Professional License is issued at the recommendation of an employing educational agency in the areas of career and technical education, educational technology, and military science. Individuals seeking military science must have the appropriate credentials issued by the United States military. In addition to demonstrating competency in the endorsement area sought, the individual must:

a. Hold a license issued by the appropriate Virginia board for those program areas requiring a license and a minimum of two years of satisfactory experience at the journeyman level or an equivalent;

b. Have completed a registered apprenticeship program and two years of satisfactory experience at the journeyman level or an equivalent level in the trade; or

c. Have four years of work experience at the management or supervisory level or equivalent or have a combination of four years of training and work experience at the management or supervisory level or equivalent.

Individuals holding the Technical Professional License who seek the Collegiate Professional or Postgraduate Professional License must meet the professional teacher's assessments requirement.

5. School Manager License. The school manager license is a five-year, renewable license intended to provide for the differentiation of administrative responsibilities in a school setting. A school manager is licensed to administer noninstructional responsibilities in an educational setting. For example, a school manager is restricted from evaluating teachers, supervising instruction, developing and evaluating curriculum, and serving as a school's student disciplinarian. The license is available to a candidate who holds a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university; has three years of successful managerial experience; and is recommended for the license by a Virginia school division superintendent.

6. Pupil Personnel Services License. The Pupil Personnel Services License is a five-year, renewable license available to an individual who has earned an appropriate graduate degree from a regionally accredited college or university with an endorsement for guidance counselor, school psychologist, school social worker, or vocational evaluator. This license does not require teaching experience.

7. Division Superintendent License. The Division Superintendent License is a five-year, renewable license available to an individual who has completed an earned master's degree from a regionally accredited college or university and meets the requirements specified in 8VAC20-22-600. The individual's name must be listed on the Board of Education's list of eligible division superintendents.

8. International Educator License. The International Educator License provides a three-year cultural exchange opportunity for Virginia students and international teachers. The International Educator License is a professional, teaching license issued for no more than three years to an exchange educator with citizenship in a nation other than the United States of America, and employed as an educator in a Virginia public or accredited nonpublic school, to teach for up to three consecutive years. This license does not require professional teacher's assessments; however, the individual will be subject to assessment requirements if the individual seeks a five-year renewable license. To be issued the International Educator License an individual must:

a. Be employed by a Virginia public or accredited nonpublic school;

b. Hold non-U.S. citizenship and be a nonpermanent resident;

c. Serve as an exchange teacher for a time period not to exceed three consecutive years; and

d. Meet the following requirements as verified by a state-approved, federally-designated Exchange Visitor Program (22 CFR Part 62):

(1) Be proficient in written and spoken English;

(2) Demonstrate competence in the appropriate academic subject area(s) areas;

(3) Hold the U.S. equivalent of a baccalaureate degree or higher as determined by an approved credential agency; and

(4) Hold U.S. or foreign educator credentials and completed at least one year of successful teaching experience that:

(a) Enables the educator to fulfill a similar assignment in his home country; or

(b) Is comparable to those requirements for Virginia teachers.

9. Teach For America License. The Teach For America License is a two-year provisional license.

a. This provisional license is available to any participant in Teach For America, a nationwide nonprofit organization focused on closing the achievement gaps between students in high-income and low-income areas, who submits an application and meets the following requirements:

(1) Holds, at minimum, a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher education;

(2) Has met the requirements prescribed by the Virginia Board of Education for all endorsements sought or has met the qualifying scores on the content area assessment prescribed by the board for the endorsements sought;

(3) Possesses good moral character according to criteria developed by the Virginia Board of Education;

(4) Has been offered and has accepted placement in Teach For America;

(5) Has successfully completed pre-service training and is participating in the professional development requirements of Teach For America, including teaching frameworks, curricula, lesson planning, instructional delivery, classroom management, assessment and evaluation of student progress, classroom diversity, and literacy development;

(6) Has an offer of employment from a local school board to teach in a public elementary or secondary school in the Commonwealth or a preschool program that receives state funds pursuant to subsection C of § 22.1-199.1 of the Code of Virginia; and

(7) Receives a recommendation from the employing school division for a Teach For America License in the endorsement area in which the individual seeks to be licensed.

b. In addition to the criteria set forth in subdivision 9 a of this subdivision 9 subsection, any individual who seeks an endorsement in early childhood, early/primary, or elementary education shall either (i) agree to complete such coursework in the teaching of reading as may be prescribed by the Virginia Board of Education pursuant to 8VAC20-22-130 during the first year of employment or (ii) achieve a passing score on a reading instructional assessment prescribed by the Virginia Board of Education.

c. Teachers issued a Teach For America provisional license shall not be eligible for continuing contract status while employed under the authority of a Teach For America license and shall be subject to the probationary terms of employment specified in § 22.1-303 of the Code of Virginia.

d. The Virginia Board of Education may extend any Teach For America License for one additional year upon request of the employing school division, provided that no Teach For America License shall exceed a total of three years in length.

e. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, upon completion of at least two years of full-time teaching experience in a public elementary or secondary school in the Commonwealth or a preschool program that receives state funds pursuant to subsection C of § 22.1-199.1 of the Code of Virginia, an individual holding a Teach For America License shall be eligible to receive a renewable license if he has (i) achieved satisfactory scores on all professional teacher assessments required by the Virginia Board of Education and (ii) received satisfactory evaluations at the conclusion of each year of employment.

f. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, the Virginia Board of Education shall issue a Teach For America License to any individual who (i) has completed two years of successful teaching in the Teach For America program in another state, (ii) is not eligible to receive a renewable license, and (iii) meets the criteria in subdivision 9 a of this subdivision 9 subsection.

10. Career and Technical Education License. The Career and Technical Education License is a nonrenewable license issued for a three-year validity period.

a. The Career and Technical Education License is available to a qualified individual who has been employed to teach high school career and technical education courses in specific subject areas for no more than 50% of the instructional day or year, on average, and who meets the following requirements:

(1) Submits an application in the form prescribed by the board that includes a recommendation for such a license from the local school board;

(2) Meets certain basic conditions for licensure as outlined in 8VAC20-22-40;

(3) Meets one of the following requirements:

(a) Holds, at a minimum, a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher education and has completed coursework in the career and technical education subject area in which the individual seeks to teach;

(b) Holds the required professional license in the specific career and technical education subject area in which the individual seeks to teach, where applicable; or

(c) Holds an industry certification credential, as that term is defined in § 22.1-298.1 of the Code of Virginia, in the specific career and technical education subject area in which the individual seeks to teach;

(4) Has at least four years of full-time work experience or its equivalent in the specific career and technical education subject area in which the individual seeks to teach; and

(5) Has obtained qualifying scores on the communication and literacy professional teacher's assessment prescribed by the board.

b. The employing school board shall assign a mentor to supervise an individual issued a Career and Technical Education License pursuant to this subsection during the first year of teaching.

c. Except as otherwise provided in subdivision 10 d of this subsection, any individual issued a Career and Technical Education License pursuant to this subsection may be granted subsequent three-year extensions of such license by the board upon recommendation of the local school board.

d. Any individual issued a Career and Technical Education License pursuant to this subsection who completes:

(1) Nine semester hours of specialized professional studies credit from a regionally accredited institution of higher education; or

(2) An alternative course of professional studies proposed by the local school board and approved by the Department of Education shall be granted a three-year extension of such license by the board and may be granted subsequent three-year extensions of such license by the board upon recommendation of the local school board. Any such specialized professional studies credit or alternative course of professional studies may be completed through distance learning programs and shall include human growth and development; curriculum, instructional, and technology procedures; and classroom and behavior management.

e. No Career and Technical Education License issued by the board pursuant to this subsection shall be deemed a provisional license or a renewable license, as those terms are defined in § 22.1-298.1 of the Code of Virginia.

f. Individuals issued a Career and Technical Education License pursuant to this subsection shall not be eligible for continuing contract status while teaching under such license and shall be subject to the probationary terms of employment specified in § 22.1-303 of the Code of Virginia.

g. The provisions of § 22.1-299.6 of the Code of Virginia and of board regulations governing the denial, suspension, cancellation, revocation, and reinstatement of licensure shall apply to a Career and Technical Education License issued pursuant to this subsection.

B. All licenses will be effective from July 1 in the school year in which the application is made. A Virginia employing education division or agency is required to notify employees in writing at the time of employment of the need to meet appropriate assessment requirements for licensure.