RELATES TO: KRS 161.020, 161.028, 161.030, 161.048
NECESSITY, FUNCTION, AND CONFORMITY: KRS 161.028(1)(b) requires that the Education Professional Standards Board (EPSB) promulgate administrative regulations setting standards for educator preparation programs. KRS 161.030(1) requires that the EPSB promulgate administrative regulations establishing requirements for issuance of a certificate authorized under KRS 161.010 to 161.126. This administrative regulation establishes the standards for admission to an educator preparation program that is required for certification.
Section 1. Selection and Admission to Educator Preparation Programs. (1) Each accredited provider of an approved program of educator preparation shall adhere to minimum standards for admission to its certification educator preparation programs, including those programs established pursuant to KRS 161.048, in accordance with this section.(2)(a) Admission to an approved undergraduate initial certification education preparation program shall require the following: 1.a. A cumulative grade point average of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale; orb. A grade point average of 3.00 on a 4.0 scale on the last thirty (30) hours of credit completed, in accordance with the following: (i) Grade point average (GPA) shall be calculated by beginning with the most recent course completed and proceeding backward for two (2) semesters in the order the grades fall on the transcript to accumulate the last thirty (30) hours completed; and(ii) If it is necessary to go back further than two (2) semesters, then the courses in the third semester included in the calculation shall be chosen based on the highest grades earned during that third semester; and2. Successful completion of one (1) of the following assessments of basic knowledge:a. The ACT with a composite score of 22 or the corresponding minimum scores: b. The pre-professional skills assessments of basic knowledge administered by the Educational Testing Service with the corresponding minimum scores: (i) "Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators (CASE): Reading (5713)" - 156; (ii) "Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators (CASE): Writing (5723)" - 162; and (iii) "Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators (CASE): Mathematics (5733)" - 150.(b) An applicant may use a combination of ACT and CASE minimum scores to meet the requirements of paragraph (a)2. of this subsection.(c) If an applicant has a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, the educator preparation provider may admit the applicant to an approved undergraduate initial certification education preparation program if the applicant is within five points of one or more of the corresponding minimum scores on the pre-professional skills assessments listed in paragraph (a)2.b. of this subsection.(3) Admission to an approved graduate level initial certification educator preparation program shall require the following: (a) A bachelor's degree or advanced degree awarded by a regionally or nationally accredited college or university with a cumulative grade point average of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale; or(b) A grade point average of 3.00 on a 4.0 scale on the last thirty (30) hours of credit completed, including undergraduate and graduate coursework.(4) Admission to an Option 7 program established in accordance with KRS 161.048(8) shall also require successful completion of one of the following: (a) The assessments in subsection (2)(a)2.b. of this section; or(b) The Graduate Record Exam (GRE) administered by the Education Testing Service with the following corresponding minimum scores on the corresponding sections: 1. Verbal reasoning - 150;2. Quantitative Reasoning - 143; and3. Analytical Writing - 4.0.(5) Admission to an advanced certification educator preparation program shall require the following: (a)1. A statement of eligibility or an initial certificate earned by completion of an approved program through an approved educator preparation provider in Kentucky; or2. For out-of-state applicants, a statement of eligibility or an initial certificate issued by EPSB and earned by completion of a program through an approved educator preparation provider;(b)1. A cumulative grade point average of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale; or2. A grade point average of 3.00 on a 4.0 scale on the last thirty (30) hours of credit completed, including undergraduate and graduate coursework; and(c)1. Completion of requirements for the administrative certificate as established in 16 KAR Chapter 3; or2. Completion of requirements for the certificate as established in 16 KAR 2:070 and 16 KAR 2:090.(6) Each accredited provider of an approved program of educator preparation shall have a formal application procedure for admission that shall include the following: (a) Documentation that the applicant demonstrates the following:(b) Evidence that the applicant has reviewed the Professional Code of Ethics for Kentucky School Certified Personnel established in 16 KAR 1:020; and(c) A method to allow the applicant to demonstrate that the applicant understands professional dispositions expected of professional educators.(7) The educator preparation program shall not enroll undergraduate students in any educator preparation program courses restricted to admitted candidates.(8) The educator preparation provider shall maintain electronic records that document that all students meet the requirements established in this section.Section 2. Selection and Admission to an Approved Educator Preparation Program for Occupation-Based Career and Technical Education. (1) Admission to an approved program of preparation for occupation-based career and technical education that results in certification pursuant to 16 KAR 2:020 shall require: (a) A minimum of a high school diploma or equivalency exam;(b) Four (4) years of successful and appropriate occupational experience in the area to be taught, which shall include:1. At least two (2) years of occupational experience completed within the last five (5) years. A maximum of one (1) year of the required work experience may be satisfied by completion of an approved program of preparation for the occupation to be taught; and2. The occupational experience confirmed by the Kentucky Department of Education, Office of Career and Technical Education;(c) The assessment provisions established in 16 KAR 6:020; and(d) An offer of employment from a state or local technology center, or a school district.(2) Each provider of an approved occupation-based educator preparation program shall have a formal application procedure for admission that shall include the following: (a) Evidence that the applicant has reviewed the Professional Code of Ethics for Kentucky School Certified Personnel established in 16 KAR 1:020; and(b) A method to allow the applicant to demonstrate that the applicant understands professional dispositions expected of professional educators.(3) The educator preparation provider shall not enroll undergraduate students in any educator preparation program courses restricted to admitted candidates.(4) The educator preparation provider shall maintain electronic records that document that all students meet the requirements established in this section.(5) A provider of approved educator preparation programs shall provide notice to the EPSB of which candidates it has admitted to an approved program of educator preparation within six (6) months of the candidate's admission.(6) Failure of an approved educator preparation provider to provide EPSB with notice of each candidate it admitted to an approved program of preparation in accordance with this section may result in action against the provider's accreditation status.Section 3. Assessment Recency. A passing score on an assessment established at the time of admission shall be valid for the purpose of applying for admission for five (5) years from the assessment administration date.Section 4. Annual Report. (1) Each educator preparation provider shall submit an electronic report annually to the EPSB that includes the following program data on each candidate admitted to educator preparation programs: (a) EPSB Person Identifier;(b) Student School Identification number;(c) Social Security number;(i) Present home mailing address;(j) Permanent home mailing address;(m) Total number of credit hours prior to admission to the provider's educator preparation program;(n) Total number of credit hours in educator preparation courses completed prior to admission to the provider's educator preparation program;(o) Grade point average at admission;(p) Current program enrollment status;(q) Program completion date;(r) Grade point average at program completion;(s) Academic major at program completion; and(t) Academic minor or minors at program completion, if applicable.(2) The report shall be submitted in the following manner: (a) The provider shall electronically submit all data identified in subsection (1) to the EPSB; and(b) By September 15 of each year, each institution shall provide written confirmation by electronic mail to the EPSB that all required information has been entered.(3) The preparation program shall exit any candidate who has not been enrolled in at least one (1) course required for program completion within the last twelve (12) months.(4) Failure to submit the annual report in accordance with this section may result in action against the program's accreditation status.23 Ky.R. 2362; 3354; eff. 3-6-1997; 24 Ky.R. 1958; 2375; eff. 5-18-1998; 25 Ky.R. 910; 1357; eff. 12-3-1998; 28 Ky.R. 2076; 2346; eff. 5-16-2002; Recodified from 704 KAR 20:700, 7-2-2002; 35 Ky.R. 77; 758; eff. 9-8-2008; 38 Ky.R. 1169; eff. 4-6-2012; 40 Ky.R. 1318; 1698; eff. 3-7-2014; 43 Ky.R. 2008; 43 Ky.R. 2008; 44 Ky.R. 228; 508; eff. 10-6-2017; 46 Ky.R. 2487, 2880; eff. 9-1-2020; 47 Ky.R. 2616; 48 Ky.R. 764; eff. 11-30-2021.STATUTORY AUTHORITY: KRS 161.028, 161.030