Conn. Gen. Stat. § 10-145b

Current with legislation from the 2024 Regular and Special Sessions.

Section 10-145b - Teaching certificates

(a) The State Board of Education, upon receipt of a proper application, shall issue an initial educator certificate to any person who (1) holds a bachelor's degree or an advanced degree from an institution of higher education that is regionally accredited or has received an equivalent accreditation, and (2) has successfully completed one of the pathways described in section 6 of this act. In addition, on and after July 1, 2018, each applicant shall have completed a subject area major as defined by the State Board of Education, except (A) as provided in section 10-145l, or (B) where an applicant achieves a satisfactory evaluation on an appropriate State Board of Education approved subject area assessment or has completed advanced coursework in a relevant subject area. Any such initial educator certificate issued prior to July 1, 2025, that has not expired on or before July 1, 2025, shall be extended to be valid for a period of ten years from the date of issuance, and any such initial educator certificate issued on and after July 1, 2025, shall be valid for ten years and may be extended by the Commissioner of Education for an additional year for good cause upon the request of the superintendent in whose school district such person is employed or upon the request of the assessment team reviewing such person's performance, provided the commissioner may not grant such extension more than three times to any person. The commissioner may, upon application, reissue an initial educator certificate to any person who holds, but has not served under, an initial educator certificate, if such person can demonstrate that he or she satisfies the preparation and eligibility requirements that were in place at the time such initial educator certificate was originally issued to such person.

(b) During the period of employment in a public school, a person holding an initial educator certificate shall (1) be under the supervision of the superintendent of schools or of a principal, administrator or supervisor designated by such superintendent who shall regularly observe, guide and evaluate the performance of assigned duties by such holder of an initial certificate, and (2) participate in a beginning educator program if there is such a program for such person's certification endorsement area.

(c)

(1) The State Board of Education, upon request of a local or regional board of education, shall issue a temporary ninety-day certificate to any applicant in the certification endorsement areas of elementary education, middle grades education, secondary academic subjects, special subjects or fields, special education, early childhood education and administration and supervision, or in the certification endorsement areas corresponding to teacher shortage areas, as determined by the Commissioner of Education pursuant to section 10-8b, when the following conditions are met:

(A) The employing agent of a board of education makes a written request for the issuance of such certificate and attests to the existence of a special plan for supervision of temporary ninety-day certificate holders;

(B) The applicant meets the following requirements, except as otherwise provided in subparagraph (C) of this subdivision:

(i) Holds a bachelor's degree from an institution of higher education accredited by the Board of Regents for Higher Education or Office of Higher Education or regionally accredited with a major either in or closely related to the certification endorsement area in which the requesting board of education is placing the applicant or, in the case of secondary or special subject or field endorsement area, possesses at least the minimum total number of semester hours of credit required for the content area, except as provided in section 10-145l;

(ii) Has met the requirements pursuant to subsection (b) of section 10-145f;

(iii) Presents a written application on such forms as the Commissioner of Education shall prescribe;

(iv) Has successfully completed an alternate route to certification program provided by the Board of Regents for Higher Education or the Office of Higher Education or public or independent institutions of higher education, regional educational service centers or private teacher or administrator training organizations and approved by the State Board of Education;

(v) Possesses an undergraduate college overall grade point average of at least "B" or, if the applicant has completed at least twenty-four hours of graduate credit, possesses a graduate grade point average of at least "B"; and

(vi) Presents supporting evidence of appropriate experience working with children; and

(C) The Commissioner of Education may waive the requirements of subparagraphs (B)(v) or (B)(vi), or both, of this subdivision upon a showing of good cause.

(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this section on and after July 1, 1989, the State Board of Education, upon receipt of a proper application, shall issue an initial educator certificate to any person who has taught successfully while holding a temporary ninety-day certificate and meets the requirements established in regulations adopted pursuant to section 10-145d.

(d)

(1) On and after July 1, 2019, in order to be eligible to obtain an initial educator certificate, each person shall be required to complete (A) a course of study in special education comprised of not fewer than thirty-six hours, which shall include (i) instruction on the growth and development of exceptional children, including children with a disability, gifted and talented children and children who may require special education, and (ii) methods for identifying, planning for and working effectively with special needs children in a regular classroom, and (B) a course or courses of study in special education relating to instruction on classroom techniques in reading, differentiated instruction, social-emotional learning, culturally responsive pedagogy and practice and assistive technology. The provisions of this subdivision shall not apply to any person who has been issued an initial educator certificate prior to July 1, 2019.

(2) On and after July 1, 2016, in order to be eligible to obtain a provisional educator certificate, each person shall be required to complete a course of study in special education comprised of not fewer than thirty-six hours, which shall include an understanding of the growth and development of exceptional children, including children with a disability, gifted and talented children and children who may require special education, and methods for identifying, planning for and working effectively with special needs children in a regular classroom.

(3) Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection to the contrary, each applicant for such certificates who has met all requirements for certification except the completion of the course in special education shall be entitled to a certificate (A) for a period not to exceed one year, provided the applicant completed a teacher preparation program either in the state prior to July 1, 1987, or outside the state, or completed the necessary combination of professional experience or coursework as required by the State Board of Education, or (B) for a period not to exceed two years if the applicant applies for certification in an area for which a bachelor's degree is not required.

(e)

(1) On and after July 1, 1989, and until June 30, 2025, the State Board of Education, upon receipt of a proper application, shall issue a provisional educator certificate to any person who (A) has successfully completed a beginning educator program and one school year of successful teaching as attested to by the superintendent, or the superintendent's designee, in whose local or regional school district such person was employed, (B) has completed at least three years of successful teaching in a public school in another state or a nonpublic school approved by the State Board of Education or appropriate governing body in another state within ten years prior to application for such provisional educator certificate, as attested to by the superintendent, or the superintendent's designee, in whose school district such person was employed, or by the supervising agent of the nonpublic school in which such person was employed, and has met preparation and eligibility requirements for an initial educator certificate, or (C) has successfully taught with a provisional teaching certificate for the year immediately preceding an application for a provisional educator certificate as an employee of a local or regional board of education or facility approved for special education by the State Board of Education. The commissioner may, upon application, reissue a provisional educator certificate to any person who holds a provisional educator certificate, if such person can demonstrate that he or she satisfies the preparation and eligibility requirements that were in place at the time such provisional educator certificate was originally issued to such person.

(2) The commissioner may not issue or reissue any provisional educator certificates on or after July 1, 2025. Any person who holds a provisional educator certificate and is not eligible to advance to the professional educator certificate shall be eligible to be issued an initial educator certificate.

(f) Any person holding a standard or permanent certificate on July 1, 1989, shall be eligible to receive upon application a professional educator certificate to replace said standard or permanent certificate. On and after July 1, 1989, standard and permanent certificates shall no longer be valid.

(g)

(1) On or after July 1, 1989, and prior to July 1, 2018, to qualify for a professional educator certificate, a person who holds or has held a provisional educator certificate under subsection (e) of this section shall have completed thirty credit hours of course work beyond the baccalaureate degree. It is not necessary that such course work be taken for a master's degree and such work may include graduate or undergraduate courses.

(2) On and after July 1, 2018, and prior to July 1, 2025, to qualify for a professional educator certificate, a person who holds or has held a provisional educator certificate under subsection (d) of this section shall hold a master's degree in an appropriate subject matter area, as determined by the State Board of Education, related to such teacher's certification endorsement area.

(3) On and after July 1, 2025, to qualify for a professional educator certificate, a person who holds an initial educator certificate or a provisional educator certificate shall (A) have completed at least fifty school months of successful teaching for one or more boards of education or approved nonpublic schools in this state while holding such initial educator certificate or provisional educator certificate, (B) have satisfactorily completed the teacher education and mentoring program, in accordance with the provisions of section 10-145o, and (C) either (i) hold a master's degree or higher in an appropriate subject matter area, or (ii) complete an alternate pathway to professional licensure jointly approved by the State Board of Education and the Educator Preparation and Certification Board. On and after July 1, 2025, the state board, upon receipt of a proper application, shall issue a professional educator certificate to any person who satisfies the qualifications described in this subdivision, except the state board may waive the requirement described in subparagraph (C) of this subdivision upon a showing of good cause.

(h) Each professional educator certificate shall be valid for ten years and continued every ten years thereafter.

(i)

(1) The State Board of Education may take one or more of the following actions, in accordance with the provisions of subdivision (2) of this subsection, against a person holding a certificate, permit or authorization based on conduct that occurred prior or subsequent to the issuance of such certificate, permit or authorization:

(A) Revoke the holder's certificate, permit or authorization;

(B) suspend the holder's certificate, permit or authorization; or

(C) place the holder's certificate on probation, subject to conditions determined by the Commissioner of Education.

(2) The State Board of Education may take any of the actions described in subparagraphs (A) to (C), inclusive, of subdivision (1) of this subsection with respect to a holder's certificate, permit or authorization issued pursuant to sections 10-144o to 10-149, inclusive, for any of the following reasons:

(A) The holder of the certificate, permit or authorization obtained such certificate, permit or authorization through fraud or misrepresentation of a material fact;

(B) the holder has persistently neglected to perform the duties for which the certificate, permit or authorization was granted;

(C) the holder is professionally unfit to perform the duties for which the certificate, permit or authorization was granted;

(D) the holder is convicted in a court of law of a crime involving moral turpitude or of any other crime of such nature that in the opinion of the board continued holding of a certificate, permit or authorization by the person would impair the standing of certificates, permits or authorizations issued by the board; or

(E) other due and sufficient cause. The State Board of Education may revoke any certificate, permit or authorization issued pursuant to said sections if the holder is found to have intentionally disclosed specific questions or answers to students or otherwise improperly breached the security of any administration of a mastery examination, pursuant to section 10-14n. In any revocation proceeding pursuant to this section, the State Board of Education shall have the burden of establishing the reason for such revocation by a preponderance of the evidence. Revocation shall be in accordance with procedures established by the State Board of Education pursuant to chapter 54.

(3) When the Commissioner of Education is notified, pursuant to section 10-149a , or 17a-101i, that a person holding a certificate, permit or authorization issued by the State Board of Education under the provisions of sections 10-144o to 10-149, inclusive, has been convicted of (A) a capital felony, under the provisions of section 53a-54b in effect prior to April 25, 2012, (B) arson murder, pursuant to section 53a-54d, (C) a class A felony, (D) a class B felony, except a violation of section 53a-122, 53a-252 or 53a-291, (E) a crime involving an act of child abuse or neglect as described in section 46b-120, or (F) a violation of section 17a-101o, 53-21, 53-37a, 53a-60b, 53a-60c, 53a-71, 53a-72a, 53a-72b, 53a-73a, 53a-88, 53a-90a, 53a-99, 53a-103a, 53a-181c, 53a-191, 53a-196, 53a-196c, 53a-216, 53a-217b or 21a-278 or subsection (a) of section 21a-277, any certificate, permit or authorization issued by the State Board of Education and held by such person shall be deemed revoked and the commissioner shall notify such person of such revocation, provided such person may request reconsideration pursuant to regulations adopted by the State Board of Education, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54. As part of such reconsideration process, the board shall make the initial determination as to whether to uphold or overturn the revocation. The commissioner shall make the final determination as to whether to uphold or overturn the revocation.

(4) The State Board of Education may deny an application for the initial issuance or renewal of a certificate, permit or authorization for any of the following reasons:

(A) The applicant seeks to obtain a certificate, permit or authorization through fraud or misrepresentation of a material fact;

(B) the applicant has been convicted in a court of law of a crime involving moral turpitude or of any other crime of such nature that in the opinion of the board issuance of a certificate, permit or authorization would impair the standing of certificates, permits or authorizations issued by the board; or

(C) other due and sufficient cause. Any applicant denied a certificate, permit or authorization shall be notified in writing of the reasons for denial. Any applicant denied a certificate, permit or authorization may request a review of such denial by the State Board of Education.

(5) A person whose certificate, permit or authorization has been denied, revoked or suspended may not be employed in a public school during the period of denial, revocation or suspension. A person whose certificate, permit or authorization has been placed on probation may be employed in a public school during the period of probation in accordance with the terms of such probation.

(6) The State Board of Education may take any of the actions described in subparagraphs (A) to (C), inclusive, of subdivision (1) of this subsection, with respect to an applicant's or holder's certificate, permit or authorization a result of the applicant or holder having been subject to disciplinary action for any of the reasons described in subdivision (2) of this subsection by a duly authorized professional disciplinary agency of any state, a federal governmental agency, the District of Columbia, a United States possession or territory or a foreign jurisdiction. The State Board of Education may rely upon the findings and conclusions made by a duly authorized professional disciplinary agency of any state, a federal governmental agency, the District of Columbia, a United States possession or territory or foreign jurisdiction in taking such action.

(7) Any local or regional board of education or private special education facility approved by the commissioner shall report to the commissioner when an employee, who holds a certificate, permit or authorization, is dismissed pursuant to subdivision (3) of subsection (d) of section 10-151.

(8) The State Board of Education may, pursuant to chapter 54, adopt or revise regulations relating to the procedure by which the State Board of Education may take any of the actions described in subparagraphs (A) to (C), inclusive, of subdivision (1) of this subsection.

(j) Not later than thirty days after receipt of notification, any initial educator certificate holder who is not granted a provisional educator certificate, or any provisional educator certificate holder who is not granted a professional educator certificate, or any professional educator certificate holder who is not granted a continuation, under the provisions of sections 10-145a to 10-145d, inclusive, and 10-146b, may appeal to the State Board of Education for reconsideration. Said board shall review the records of the appropriate certification period, and, if a hearing is requested in writing, hold such hearing not later than sixty days after such request and render a written decision not later than thirty days after the conclusion of such hearing. Any teacher aggrieved by the decision of said board may appeal from such decision in accordance with the provisions of section 4-183 and such appeal shall be privileged with respect to assignment of such appeal.

(k) For the purposes of this section "supervisory agent" means the superintendent of schools or the principal, administrator or supervisor designated by such superintendent to provide direct supervision to a provisional certificate holder.

(l) Upon application to the State Board of Education for the issuance of any certificate in accordance with this section and section 10-145d, there shall be paid to the board by or on behalf of the applicant a nonreturnable fee of two hundred dollars in the case of an applicant for an initial educator certificate, two hundred fifty dollars in the case of an applicant for a provisional educator certificate and three hundred seventy-five dollars in the case of an applicant for a professional educator certificate, except that applicants for certificates for teaching adult education programs mandated under subparagraph (A) of subsection (a) of section 10-69 shall pay a fee of one hundred dollars; persons eligible for a certificate or endorsement for which the fee is less than that applied for shall receive an appropriate refund; persons not eligible for any certificate shall receive a refund of the application fee minus fifty dollars; and persons holding standard or permanent certificates on July 1, 1989, who apply for professional certificates to replace the standard or permanent certificates, shall not be required to pay such a fee. Upon application to the State Board of Education for the issuance of a subject area endorsement there shall be paid to the board by or on behalf of such applicant a nonreturnable fee of one hundred dollars. With each request for a duplicate copy of any such certificate or endorsement there shall be paid to the board a nonreturnable fee of fifty dollars.

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 10-145b

(P.A. 74-331, S. 2, 7; P.A. 76-373, S. 1, 2; 76-436, S. 470, 681; P.A. 77-573, S. 24, 30; 77-603, S. 8, 125; P.A. 78-218, S. 97, 212; P.A. 82-218, S. 37, 46; P.A. 83-134, S. 1, 2; 83-587, S. 13, 96; P.A. 84-241, S. 2, 5; 84-298, S. 1, 2; May Sp. Sess. P.A. 86-1, S. 23, 58; P.A. 87-499, S. 7, 34; P.A. 88-273, S. 2, 9; 88-360, S. 14-18, 63; P.A. 89-137, S. 2-5, 11, 12, 14; 89-251, S. 67, 203; P.A. 90-230, S. 78, 101; 90-325, S. 1, 14, 15; P.A. 91-208 , S. 1 , 11 ; 91-288 , S. 1 ; May Sp. Sess. P.A. 92-6 , S. 1 , 2 , 117 ; P.A. 93-70 , S. 1 , 2 ; 93-353 , S. 15 -18, 52; P.A. 94-221 , S. 20 ; P.A. 95-58 , S. 1 , 4 ; 95-259 , S. 14 , 32 ; P.A. 96-244 , S. 11 , 12 , 63 ; 96-246 , S. 15 ; P.A. 98-243 , S. 15 , 25 ; 98-252 , S. 37 , 44 , 80 ; P.A. 99-211 , S. 9 , 10 ; P.A. 00-220 , S. 7 , 43 ; P.A. 01-173 , S. 15 , 53 , 67 ; P.A. 02-106 , S. 5 , 6 , 8 ; P.A. 03-76 , S. 44 ; P.A. 04-138 , S. 1 ; P.A. 05-288 , S. 49 ; P.A. 08-148 , S. 1 ; 08-153 , S. 7 ; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-3 , S. 152 ; June 19 Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-1 , S. 2 ; P.A. 10-71 , S. 2 ; P.A. 11-48 , S. 285 ; 11-93 , S. 18 ; 11-127 , S. 1 ; P.A. 12-5 , S. 8 ; 12-59 , S. 7 ; 12-116 , S. 36 ; 12-156 , S. 5 , 6 ; 12-173 , S. 4 ; P.A. 13-118 , S. 8 , 9 ; 13-169 , S. 1 ; 13-207 , S. 8 ; P.A. 15-108 , S. 1 , 3 ; 15-205 , S. 12 ; June Sp. Sess. 15-5 , S. 276 ; P.A. 16-41 , S. 8 ; P.A. 17-14 , S. 8 , 9 ; 17-173 , S. 2 ; 17-202 , S. 18 ; P.A. 18-34 , S. 4 ; 18-51 , S. 5 .)

Amended by P.A. 24-0041,S. 1 of the Connecticut Acts of the 2024 Regular Session, eff. 7/1/2024.

Amended by P.A. 22-0038, S. 3 of the Connecticut Acts of the 2022 Regular Session, eff. 7/1/2022.

Amended by P.A. 22-0038, S. 2 of the Connecticut Acts of the 2022 Regular Session, eff. 7/1/2022.

Amended by P.A. 22-0038, S. 1 of the Connecticut Acts of the 2022 Regular Session, eff. 7/1/2022.

Amended by P.A. 19-0100, S. 4 of the Connecticut Acts of the 2019 Regular Session, eff. 7/1/2019.

Amended by P.A. 19-0074, S. 6 of the Connecticut Acts of the 2019 Regular Session, eff. 7/1/2019.

Amended by P.A. 18-0051, S. 5 of the Connecticut Acts of the 2018 Regular Session, eff. 7/1/2018.

Amended by P.A. 18-0034, S. 4 of the Connecticut Acts of the 2018 Regular Session, eff. 7/1/2018.

Amended by P.A. 17-0202, S. 18 of the Connecticut Acts of the 2017 Regular Session, eff. 10/1/2017.

Amended by P.A. 17-0173, S. 2 of the Connecticut Acts of the 2017 Regular Session, eff. 7/1/2017.

Amended by P.A. 17-0014, S. 9 of the Connecticut Acts of the 2017 Regular Session, eff. 7/1/2017.

Amended by P.A. 17-0014, S. 8 of the Connecticut Acts of the 2017 Regular Session, eff. 7/1/2017.

Amended by P.A. 16-0041, S. 8 of the Connecticut Acts of the 2016 Regular Session, eff. 7/1/2016.

Amended by P.A. 15-0005, S. 276 of the Connecticut Acts of the 2015 Special Session, eff. 7/1/2015.

Amended by P.A. 15-0205, S. 12 of the Connecticut Acts of the 2015 Regular Session, eff. 7/1/2015.

Amended by P.A. 15-0108, S. 3 of the Connecticut Acts of the 2015 Regular Session, eff. 7/1/2015.

Amended by P.A. 15-0108, S. 1 of the Connecticut Acts of the 2015 Regular Session, eff. 7/1/2015.

Statute constitutional as applied to holding of standard or permanent certificates. 210 Conn. 286 . Cited. 221 Conn. 549 ; 238 Conn. 1 ; 240 Conn. 119 . Cited. 45 CA 476 .

See Sec. 10-148a re professional development. See Sec. 17a-101i re certification revocation upon conviction of a crime involving an act of child abuse.