Sec. 12.5. (a) The department shall grant an initial practitioner license to an individual who:

(1) possesses a bachelor’s degree from an accredited postsecondary four (4) year institution;

(2) successfully completes an alternative teacher certification program that includes:

(A) the required content training in the area in which the individual seeks to be licensed;

(B) pedagogy training and an examination that is in substantive alignment with nationally recognized pedagogical standards and teaches effective:

(i) instructional delivery;

(ii) classroom management and organization;

(iii) assessment;

(iv) instructional design; and

(v) professional learning and leadership;

(C) successful demonstration of content area proficiency in an examination that includes content area material in substantive alignment with nationally recognized content area standards in the areas that the individual is required to have a license to teach;

(D) verification from a third party that regularly reviews educational and professional examinations that the alternative certification examination is equal to or greater in rigor than the written examination under section 12 of this chapter;

(E) content within the curriculum that prepares teacher candidates to use evidence based trauma informed classroom instruction, including instruction in evidence based social emotional learning classroom practices that are conducive to supporting students who have experienced trauma that may interfere with a student’s academic functioning; and

(F) content within the curriculum that:

(i) beginning July 1, 2024, is aligned to the science of reading; and

(ii) beginning July 1, 2024, prepares teacher candidates or program participants who seek to obtain an elementary generalist license that is valid for teaching in kindergarten through grade 5 or an early childhood license that is valid for teaching prekindergarten through grade 3 to obtain the literacy endorsement required under section 19.7 of this chapter;

(3) successfully completes a Praxis Subject Assessment;

(4) holds a valid cardiopulmonary resuscitation certification from a provider approved by the department; and

(5) has attended youth suicide awareness and prevention training.

     (b) The individual must complete a one (1) year practical experience program during the individual’s first year in the classroom when the individual is employed as a full-time teacher. The provider must:

(1) provide the practical experience program at no cost to the state or to the school corporation, charter school, or state accredited nonpublic school; and

(2) as part of the practical instruction program, provide instruction in:

(A) instructional design and planning;

(B) effective instructional delivery;

(C) classroom management and organization;

(D) effective use of assessment data;

(E) content in federal and Indiana special education laws; and

(F) required awareness, preparation, and understanding of:

(i) individualized education programs;

(ii) service plans developed under 511 IAC 7-34;

(iii) choice special education plans developed under 511 IAC 7-49; and

(iv) plans developed under Section 504 of the federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 U.S.C. § 794.

     (c) An in-state alternative teacher certification program under subsection (a)(2) must operate in accordance with the procedures and program approval standards and requirements set by the department and the state board for teacher education programs for the licensure of teachers.

     (d) An out-of-state alternative teacher certification program under subsection (a)(2) must:

(1) currently operate in at least five (5) states; and

(2) have operated an alternative teacher certification program for at least ten (10) years.

     (e) An individual who receives an alternative teacher certification under subsection (a)(2) is authorized to teach the subject and educational level that the individual has successfully completed.

     (f) An individual who receives an initial practitioner license under this section shall be treated in the same manner as an individual who receives an initial practitioner license after completing a traditional teacher preparation program.

     (g) An individual who graduates from an alternative teacher certification program must be treated in the same manner as a traditional teacher preparation program graduate during the transition from an initial practitioner license to a practitioner license.

     (h) An individual who receives an initial practitioner license under this section may not teach a special education course for a special education student for the period the individual maintains a license under this section unless the individual is at least twenty-six (26) years of age and employed in a school setting or with another community organization, including a for-profit or nonprofit organization, to provide care or instruction for a student with a physical, intellectual, or developmental disability. However, an individual who receives an initial practitioner license under this section may not be a teacher of record for a special education student for the period the individual maintains the initial practitioner license.

     (i) A school corporation, charter school, or state accredited nonpublic school shall submit a plan to the department if the school corporation, charter school, or state accredited nonpublic school hires one (1) or more individuals who have received an initial practitioner license under this section. The plan must be submitted in a manner prescribed by the department and must include a description of how the school corporation, charter school, or state accredited nonpublic school will, excluding the practical experience program described in subsection (b), provide an individual who receives an initial practitioner license under this section opportunities to obtain exposure to classroom management and instructional techniques, including meaningful exposure to special education. The plan is a public record.

     (j) Not later than July 1, 2024, the department shall prepare a report that shall be submitted to the general assembly in an electronic format under IC 5-14-6. The report must contain the following information:

(1) Data showing how many teachers obtained an initial practitioner license under this section.

(2) A description of the number of teachers who received an initial practitioner license under this section who are currently employed as a teacher by each:

(A) school corporation;

(B) charter school; or

(C) state accredited nonpublic school.

The description must include a breakdown of the subjects taught by teachers who receive an initial practitioner license under this section.

(3) A comparison of the Praxis Subject Assessment pass rates for individuals who receive an initial practitioner license under this section in comparison with the Praxis Subject Assessment pass rates for teachers who obtained an initial practitioner license using a different pathway to licensure.

(4) A description of how many teachers who received an initial practitioner license under this section are rated as effective or highly effective.

As added by P.L.96-2021, SEC.2. Amended by P.L.134-2022, SEC.1; P.L.243-2023, SEC.11.