South Carolina General Assembly
117th Session, 2007-2008

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Bill 3476


Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter


(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)

A BILL

TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING ARTICLE 4 TO CHAPTER 25, TITLE 59, TO ENACT THE "TEACHER RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION IMPROVEMENT ACT" SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT A SCHOOL DISTRICT MAY HIRE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE CERTIFIED BY THE AMERICAN BOARD FOR THE CERTIFICATION OF TEACHER EXCELLENCE (ABCTE) PURSUANT TO CERTAIN CONDITIONS.

Whereas, it is recognized that the Nation faces a shortage of certified school teachers; and

Whereas, South Carolina faces a shortage of certified teachers which, if not met, will create a crisis in our public schools; and

Whereas, the shortage of certified teachers in South Carolina is evidenced by the following:

(1)    As of January 2006, there existed 548 vacant teaching positions.

(2)    The total number of teachers leaving the teaching profession at the end of the 2004-05 school year was 5,574.

(3)    At the start of school in the fall of 2006, due to the shortage of certified teachers, there were 748 noncertified teachers who were granted waivers to teach; and

Whereas, the State Department of Education has created the "Program for Alternative Certification for Educators" (PACE), which has succeeded in providing annually more certified teachers for South Carolina schools than from any other single source of certified teachers; and

Whereas, despite the significant efforts of the state's institutions of higher learning and the PACE program, South Carolina continues to face a significant teacher shortage; and

Whereas, there exists a pool of individuals in other professions who possess bachelor's and master's degrees in substantive areas who desire to change careers and teach in the public schools; and

Whereas, the current certification avenues available to these individuals creates certain barriers to entry to the teaching profession; and

Whereas, in recognition of barriers, the United States Department of Education, at no cost to the State, funded the American Board for the Certification of Teaching Excellence (ABCTE) to create an additional avenue to certify highly qualified teachers at the option of states and school districts; and

Whereas, South Carolina is committed to providing beginning teachers with mentoring programs as they transition into the profession and become part of the learning community, as research shows that mentor induction programs can significantly reduce teacher turnover and give those new to the education community the tools needed to be successful in the classroom; and

Whereas, mentoring is a crucial component of the certification process in the American Board's Passport to Teaching program; and

Whereas, the American Board for the Certification of Teaching Excellence has partnered with the New Teacher Center in Santa Cruz, California, to provide a leading research-based mentoring induction program to give new teachers the support they need for professional growth and development to improve student achievement; and

Whereas, the States of Florida, Pennsylvania, Mississippi, Idaho, Utah, and New Hampshire have authorized school districts to hire individuals who have been certified by the ABCTE; and

Whereas, the General Assembly finds it prudent and necessary to enact legislation that will allow school districts to hire teachers who have been certified by the ABCTE and who meet the requirements of this act.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

SECTION    1.    This act may be cited as the "Teacher Recruitment and Retention Improvement Act".

SECTION    2.    Chapter 25, Title 59 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Article 4

Teacher Recruitment and Retention Improvement

Section 59-25-310.    In addition to individuals certified for employment as school teachers pursuant to Article 3 of this chapter, a school district may hire individuals who are certified by the American Board for the Certification of Teacher Excellence (ABCTE) and who meet the requirements of this article.

Section 59-25-320.    A person certified by the ABCTE must not be hired by a school district in South Carolina without submitting to the district a Federal Bureau of Investigation fingerprint card and without having undergone a criminal records check by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division and a national criminal records check supported by fingerprints and conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation pursuant to Section 59-25-115(B).

Section 59-25-330.    A person certified by the ABCTE and who has met the requirements of Section 59-25-320 is considered to have met the requirements of initial certification as that term is defined and used pursuant to regulations promulgated by the State Board of Education and may be initially hired by a school district as an induction-contract teacher pursuant to State Board of Education regulations.

Section 59-25-340.    A person certified for employment as a teacher by the ABCTE or Article 3 of this chapter and initially hired by a school district as an induction-contract teacher may be provided access to the research-based mentoring induction program offered by ABCTE in partnership with the New Teacher Center at the University of California.

Section 59-25-350.    A person certified by the ABCTE who is hired by a school district has the same responsibilities and rights as teachers hired pursuant to Article 3 of this chapter. All laws, rules, and regulations not inconsistent with this article also apply to persons certified by the ABCTE pursuant to this article."

SECTION    3.    This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

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