DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
P.O.
SUPTS. MEMO NO. 144
June 20, 2008
INFORMATIONAL
|
TO: |
Division
Superintendents |
|
FROM: |
Billy K.
Cannaday, Jr. Superintendent
of Public Instruction |
|
SUBJECT: |
Amendments
to the Code of Virginia Permitting
the Board of Education to Extend a Provisional License for a Teacher who is
Activated or Deployed for Military Service |
This memorandum provides information
regarding a revision to Section 22.1-299 of the Code of Virginia passed by the 2008 Virginia General Assembly. This amendment permits the Board of Education
to extend a three-year provisional license for a teacher who is activated or
deployed for military service within a school year. Below is the revised Code section, and the amendments are
noted in italics.
Section 22.1-299.
License required of teachers.
No teacher shall
be regularly employed by a school board or paid from public funds unless such
teacher holds a license or provisional license issued by the Board of Education
or a three-year local eligibility license issued by a local school board
pursuant to 22.1-299.3.
Notwithstanding the provision in 22.1-298.1
that the provisional license is limited to three years, if a teacher employed
in Virginia under a provisional license is activated or deployed for military
service within a school year (July 1-June 30), an additional year will be added
to the teacher's provisional license for each school year or portion thereof
the teacher is activated or deployed. The additional year or years shall be
granted the following year or years after the return of the teacher from
deployment or activation. Local school divisions may grant similar extensions
for local eligibility licenses in their discretion.
In accordance
with regulations prescribed by the Board, a person not meeting the requirements
for a license or provisional license may be employed and paid from public funds
by a school board temporarily as a substitute teacher to meet an emergency.
This
act to amend the Code became
effective upon its passage. Please
submit any requests, in writing, for the extension directly to Dr. James L.
Lanham, director of licensure. If you
have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Mrs. Patty S. Pitts,
assistant superintendent for teacher education and licensure, by e-mail at Patty.Pitts@doe.virginia.gov or
by telephone at (804) 371-2522 or Dr. Lanham by e-mail at James.Lanham@doe.virginia.gov
or by telephone at (804) 371-2471.
BKCJr/psp