Section 10-NEW - [Newly enacted section not yet numbered] Connecticut Educator Preparation and Certification Board(a) There is established the Connecticut Educator Preparation and Certification Board. The board shall be responsible for modernizing and aligning educator preparation and certification to ensure that policies are optimized to attract and retain effective and diverse professionals for employment in the state's public schools.(b) The board shall develop standards and proposals for regulations or legislation relating to educator preparation and certification. Such standards and proposals shall reflect the teaching profession and respond to emerging understandings of effective, evidence-based practices and address the following objectives: (1) Building streamlined, flexible pathways in the educator profession that are grounded in a commitment to educator effectiveness, (2) enabling educators to broaden their scope of practice to meet more students' needs, (3) ensuring educator preparation programs are accountable for both the quality training experiences and outcomes for candidates, (4) creating a system to help educators continuously improve their practice that supports and rewards educators who demonstrate mastery, (5) supporting improved data transparency regarding the state's distribution of educators and educator vacancies and accountability for remedying observed inequities, and (6) treating educators as professionals and lifelong learners who need access to high-quality professional learning and mentorships throughout their careers.(c) The board shall consist of the following members: (1) Four public school classroom teachers, who are classroom teachers at the time of their appointment and throughout their term on the board, as follows: (A) Two appointed by the Connecticut Education Association, one of whom is a teacher for students in grades kindergarten to grade six, inclusive, and one of whom is a high school teacher;(B) One appointed by the American Federation of Teachers-Connecticut, one of whom is a special education teacher; and(C) One appointed by the Connecticut Teacher of the Year Council.(2) Three representatives from an educator preparation program approved by the State Board of Education, as follows: (A) One appointed by the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education Connecticut Chapter, who is a representative from an educator preparation program offered by a public institution of higher education;(B) One appointed by the Connecticut Conference of Independent Colleges; and(C) One appointed by the Commissioner of Education, who is a representative of an alternate route to certification program.(3) Three administrators, who are employed by a local or regional board of education, as follows:(A) One appointed by the Connecticut Association of Public School Superintendents, who is a superintendent of schools for an urban school district;(B) One appointed by the Connecticut Association of Schools, who represents a rural school district; and(C) One appointed by the Connecticut Federation of School Administrators, who represents a suburban school district.(4) One appointed by the Connecticut Association of Boards of Education.(5) One appointed by the Connecticut Business and Industry Association, who is a representative from the education and workforce affiliate of the association.(6) A representative from the Increasing Educator Diversity Policy Oversight Council, established pursuant to section 10-156bb of the general statutes, designated by the council.(7) The Commissioner of Education, or the commissioner's designee.(8) The Commissioner of Early Childhood, or the commissioner's designee.(9) The superintendent of the Technical Education and Career System, or the superintendent's designee.(d) All initial appointments to the board shall be made not later than August 1, 2024. Any vacancy shall be filled by the appointing authority not later than ten days following such vacancy. Members shall serve three-year terms.(e) The chairperson and vice chairperson of the board shall be elected from among the voting members of the board. The board shall establish bylaws for the operation and management of the board. An employee of the Department of Education shall be designated by the Commissioner of Education to serve as the administrator of the board.(f) Not later than January 1, 2026, and annually thereafter, the board shall develop an annual report that includes a detailed summary of the substance and disposition of any standards and proposals for regulations or legislation developed by the board or the State Board of Education pursuant to section 11 of this act. The board shall submit such annual report to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to education, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes.Conn. Gen. Stat. § 10-NEW
Added by P.A. 24-0041,S. 10 of the Connecticut Acts of the 2024 Regular Session, eff. 7/1/2024.