DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
P.O.
SUPTS. MEMO NO. 12
September 23, 2005
REGULATORY
|
TO: |
Division
Superintendents |
|
FROM: |
Jo Lynne
DeMary Superintendent
of Public Instruction |
|
SUBJECT: |
Technical Amendments
to the Regulations Governing the
Licensure of School Personnel |
The 2005 General Assembly approved three bills that
required technical amendments to the Regulations Governing the Licensure of
School Personnel. The Administrative Process Act (Section 2.2-4006 of the Code
of Virginia) exempts revisions to regulations that are necessary to conform
to changes in
House
Bill 2790 required that the
Board of Education, in its regulations governing teacher licensure, establish
criteria and a procedure to allow persons seeking initial licensure as teachers
through an alternate route as defined by Board regulations to substitute
experiential learning in lieu of coursework.
The new language inserted in the Regulations
Governing the Licensure of School Personnel is as follows:
8VAC20-21-80.
Alternate routes to licensure.
D. Persons seeking initial licensure as teachers through an
alternative route as defined in Board of Education regulations may substitute
experiential learning in lieu of coursework in accordance with Board criteria
and procedures.
On September 21, 2005, the Board of Education received
for first review the proposed Criteria for Implementing Experiential Learning
Credits for Alternate Route Applicants Seeking Initial Licensure. It is anticipated that the Board will receive
the item for final review on October 26, 2005.
The Department of Education will notify school divisions upon the
approval of the proposed criteria.
Senate Bill 949 required the Board of Education regulations
to provide for licensure by reciprocity for individuals who hold a valid
out-of-state license. The following language has been added to the Regulations Governing the Licensure of School
Personnel:
8VAC20-21-90. Conditions for
licensure by reciprocity.
C. Licensure by
reciprocity is provided for individuals who have obtained a valid out-of-state
license that is in force at the time the application for a
Effective September 22, 2005, the change in this regulation allows
individuals who have held a valid out-of-state license in force at the time the
application is made for a
House
Bill 2832 requires the Board
of Education to suspend or revoke the administrative or teaching license of any
person who knowingly and willfully with the intent to compromise the outcome of
an athletic competition procures, sells, or administers anabolic steroids or
causes these drugs to be procured, sold, or administered to students, or by
failing to report student use of anabolic steroids. The new language in the Regulations Governing the Licensure of School Personnel is as
follows:
8VAC20-21-660. Revocation.
A. A license
issued by the Board of Education may be revoked for the following reasons:
1. Obtaining
or attempting to obtain such license by fraudulent means or through
misrepresentation of material facts;
2. Falsification
of school records, documents, statistics, or reports;
3. Conviction of any
felony;
4. Conviction
of any misdemeanor involving moral turpitude;
5. Conduct,
such as immorality, or personal condition detrimental to the health, welfare,
discipline, or morale of students or to the best interest of the public schools
of the
6. Misapplication
of or failure to account for school funds or other school properties with which
the licensee has been entrusted;
7.
Acts related to secure mandatory tests as specified in 22.1-292.1
of the Code of Virginia;
8. Knowingly and willfully with the intent to compromise the outcome
of an athletic competition procures, sells, or administers anabolic steroids or
causes such drugs to be procured, sold, or administered to a student who is a
member of a school athletic team, or fails to report the use of such drugs by a
student to the school principal and division superintendent as required by 22.1-279.3:1.
Any person whose administrative or teaching license is suspended or revoked by
the Board pursuant to this section shall be ineligible for three school years
for employment in the public schools of the Commonwealth; or
9. Other good
and just cause of a similar nature.
8VAC20-21-680. Suspension.
A. A license
may be suspended for the following reasons:
1. Physical,
mental, or emotional incapacity as shown by a competent medical authority;
2. Incompetence or neglect
of duty;
3. Failure or
refusal to comply with school laws and regulations, including willful violation
of contractual obligations;
4.
Acts related to secure mandatory tests as specified in 22.1-292.1
of the Code of Virginia;
5. Knowingly and willfully with the intent to
compromise the outcome of an athletic competition procures, sells, or
administers anabolic steroids or causes such drugs to be procured, sold, or
administered to a student who is a member of a school athletic team, or fails
to report the use of such drugs by a student to the school principal and
division superintendent as required by 22.1-279.3:1.
Any person whose administrative or teaching license is suspended or revoked by
the Board pursuant to this section shall be ineligible for three school years
for employment in the public schools of the Commonwealth; or
6. Other good
and just cause of a similar nature.
If you
have questions about the technical amendments to the Regulations Governing
the Licensure of School Personnel, please contact Dr. Thomas A. Elliott, (Thomas.Elliott@doe.virginia.gov),
assistant superintendent for teacher education and education, at (804) 371-2522
or Mrs. Patty Pitts, (Patty.Pitts@doe.virginia.gov),
director of professional licensure, at (804) 371-2471.
JLD/psp