Signed by Governor Jared Polis

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that reduces testing requirements for obtaining a teaching license in Colorado.

Highlights:

• Requires an early childhood special education, elementary, or special education generalist licensure endorsement candidate who meets the minimum coursework standards by completing a content-based or performance-based assessment (assessments) to complete certain assessments (Sec. 1-3).

• Requires a candidate for an early childhood special education licensure endorsement must complete no more than 2 assessments that measure (Sec. 1-3):

• Knowledge and skills important for the safe and effective practice of a special education teacher who serves students from birth through third grade; and

• Knowledge and skills that an initial teacher must have to support the reading and writing development of students in kindergarten through sixth grade.

• Requires a candidate for an elementary licensure endorsement must complete no more than 2 assessments that measure (Sec. 1-3):

• Mathematical knowledge and skills that are essential for students in kindergarten through 6th grade; and

• Knowledge and skills that an initial teacher must have to support the reading and writing development of students in kindergarten through 6th grade.

• Requires a candidate for a special education generalist licensure endorsement must complete no more than 2 assessments that measure (Sec. 1-3):

• Basic principles of general special education and the application of those principles to realistic situations; and

• Knowledge and skills that an initial teacher must have to support the reading and writing development of students in kindergarten through 6th grade.

• Specifies that 4-year institutions of higher education that offer programs of off-campus instruction and that have courses included in the guaranteed transfer pathway matrix or that are part of a statewide degree transfer agreement may participate in the teacher recruitment education and preparation program (Sec. 1-3).

• Specifies that the provisions of this bill shall take effect 90 days following the final adjournment date of this current legislative session (Sec. 4).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that reduces testing requirements for obtaining a teaching license in Colorado.

Highlights:

• Requires an early childhood special education, elementary, or special education generalist licensure endorsement candidate who meets the minimum coursework standards by completing a content-based or performance-based assessment (assessments) to complete certain assessments (Sec. 1-3).

• Requires a candidate for an early childhood special education licensure endorsement must complete no more than 2 assessments that measure (Sec. 1-3):

• Knowledge and skills important for the safe and effective practice of a special education teacher who serves students from birth through third grade; and

• Knowledge and skills that an initial teacher must have to support the reading and writing development of students in kindergarten through sixth grade.

• Requires a candidate for an elementary licensure endorsement must complete no more than 2 assessments that measure (Sec. 1-3):

• Mathematical knowledge and skills that are essential for students in kindergarten through 6th grade; and

• Knowledge and skills that an initial teacher must have to support the reading and writing development of students in kindergarten through 6th grade.

• Requires a candidate for a special education generalist licensure endorsement must complete no more than 2 assessments that measure (Sec. 1-3):

• Basic principles of general special education and the application of those principles to realistic situations; and

• Knowledge and skills that an initial teacher must have to support the reading and writing development of students in kindergarten through 6th grade.

• Specifies that 4-year institutions of higher education that offer programs of off-campus instruction and that have courses included in the guaranteed transfer pathway matrix or that are part of a statewide degree transfer agreement may participate in the teacher recruitment education and preparation program (Sec. 1-3).

• Specifies that the provisions of this bill shall take effect 90 days following the final adjournment date of this current legislative session (Sec. 4).

Full Bill Text