Section 3319.26 | Alternative educator licenses.

(A) Except as provided in division (H) of this section, the state board of education shall adopt rules establishing the standards and requirements for obtaining an alternative resident educator license or an alternative educator license for teaching in grades kindergarten to twelve, or the equivalent, in a designated subject area or in the area of intervention specialist, as defined by rule of the state board.

(B) The superintendent of public instruction and the chancellor of higher education jointly shall develop an intensive pedagogical training institute to provide instruction in the principles and practices of teaching for individuals seeking an alternative resident educator license. The instruction shall cover such topics as student development and learning, pupil assessment procedures, curriculum development, classroom management, and teaching methodology.

(C) Except as provided in division (H) of this section, the rules adopted under this section shall require applicants for the alternative resident educator license to satisfy the following conditions prior to issuance of the license, but they shall not require applicants to have completed a major or coursework in the subject area for which application is being made:

(1) Hold a minimum of a baccalaureate degree;

(2) Successfully complete the pedagogical training institute described in division (B) of this section or the preservice training provided to participants of a teacher preparation program that has been approved by the chancellor. The chancellor may approve any such program that requires participants to hold a bachelor's degree; have either a cumulative undergraduate grade point average of at least 2.5 out of 4.0, or its equivalent or a cumulative graduate school grade point average of at least 3.0 out of 4.0; and successfully complete the program's preservice training.

(3) Pass an examination in the subject area for which application is being made.

(D) An alternative resident educator license shall be valid for two years and shall be renewable.

(E) The rules shall require the holder of an alternative resident educator license, as a condition of continuing to hold the license, to do all of the following:

(1) Show satisfactory progress in taking and successfully completing professional development provided by a teacher preparation program that has been approved by the chancellor under division (C)(2) of this section;

(2) Take an assessment of professional knowledge in the second year of teaching under the license.

The holder of an alternative resident educator license may obtain a professional educator license upon completion of the requirements contained in division (F) of this section or may renew the alternative resident educator license issued under this section, at which point the renewed license shall become an alternative educator license.

(F) The rules shall provide for the granting of an optional professional educator license to a holder of an alternative resident educator license upon successfully completing all of the following:

(1) Two years of teaching under the alternative license;

(2) The additional professional development described in division (E)(1) of this section or at least twelve additional semester hours, or the equivalent, of college coursework in the principles and practices of teaching in such topics as student development and learning, pupil assessment procedures, curriculum development, classroom management, and teaching methodology;

(3) The assessment of professional knowledge described in division (E)(2) of this section. The standards for successfully completing this assessment and the manner of conducting the assessment shall be the same as for any other individual who is required to take the assessment pursuant to rules adopted by the state board under section 3319.22 of the Revised Code.

(4) The Ohio teacher residency program;

(5) All other requirements for a professional educator license adopted by the state board under section 3319.22 of the Revised Code.

(G) A person who is assigned to teach in this state as a participant in the teach for America program or who has completed two years of teaching in another state as a participant in that program shall be eligible for a license only under section 3319.227 of the Revised Code and shall not be eligible for a license under this section.

(H) The board shall issue an alternative resident educator license in accordance with Chapter 4796. of the Revised Code to an applicant if either of the following applies:

(1) The applicant holds a license in another state.

(2) The applicant has satisfactory work experience, a government certification, or a private certification as described in that chapter as an educator for grades kindergarten through twelve in a state that does not issue that license.

(I) The holder of an alternative resident educator license may teach preschool students under that license.