Senate Bill 14
SPONSOR
Senator Frank Hoagland (District 30) TARGETS K-12 School Districts Educator Training Programs and Standards DESCRIPTION This bill expands eligibility of who can be hired as an educator in Ohio schools to include veterans who do not hold teaching licenses. |
COMMITTEE
Senate Education Committee INTRODUCED January 11, 2023 WATCH TESTIMONY Sponsor - Feb 7, 2023 BILL General Info | As-Written | Analysis Sponsor Testimony |
SB 14 Details
Senate Bill 14 allows veterans to become unlicensed K-12 teachers.
Summary of SB 14
Eligibility of Veteran
Registration
The bill conditions employment upon completion of a criminal records check, after which the veteran must submit the criminal records check to and register with the Department. The Department must then enroll the veteran in the retained applicant fingerprint database (RAPBACK) in the same manner it would for a licensed teacher.
The Department cannot accept the application of a veteran who has pleaded guilty to, been found guilty of, or been convicted of any offenses prescribed under continuing law that preclude employment in K-12 schools. If the Department receives notification through RAPBACK of the arrest or conviction of a veteran employed as an unlicensed teacher, it must Office of Research and notify the employing district or school. The Department also may take any disciplinary action authorized under law against the veteran as if the veteran were a licensed educator.
Veteran May Teach Core Subject Area
Continuing law prohibits a school district or STEM school from employing a teacher to provide instruction in a core subject area, unless the teacher is “properly certified or licensed.” As an exception to that prohibition, the bill permits a veteran employed as an unlicensed teacher to provide instruction in core subject areas.
A teacher is “properly certified or licensed” if the teacher has completed all requirements for certification or licensure in the subject areas and grade levels in which the teacher provides instruction. Core subject areas include reading and English language arts, math, science, social studies, foreign language, and fine arts.
Law Retained by the Bill
The bill retains provisions of continuing law that apply to a veteran employed as an unlicensed teacher. Specifically, it:
Veterans Currently Employed as Unlicensed Teachers
The bill expressly permits a veteran employed as an unlicensed teacher prior the bill’s effective date to remain employed after that date. However, that veteran must meet the professional development requirements under continuing law and comply with the bill’s new registration requirement. The veteran also remains subject to the state Superintendent’s authority to revoke a right to teach.
Summary of SB 14
- Permit a school district, community school, or STEM school to employ as a teacher an eligible veteran who does not hold an educator license.
- Establish related service, educational, registration, and mentorship requirements that a veteran must meet in order to be employed as a teacher.
- Provide an exception to the “properly certified or licensed” teacher requirement, permitting an eligible veteran to teach in a core subject area.
- Require hiring districts to assign a licensed teacher to mentor that veteran employed as an unlicensed teacher. The mentorship must last for at least the first two years of the veteran’s employment. The mentor must have at least three years of teaching experience in any of grades K-12. If the employer is a district, the mentor also must have received a rating of skilled or higher on the mentor’s most recent performance evaluation.
Eligibility of Veteran
- The veteran received an honorable discharge or a medical separation from the Armed Forces
- The veteran completed at least 48 months of active duty military service
- The veteran has satisfied one of the following:
- 1. Has a letter from a former commanding officer stating the veteran is qualified to teach;
- 2. Earned a master training specialist certification from the U.S. Navy;
- 3. Served as a training officer or a lead instructor; or
- 4. Served as a noncommissioned officer, warrant officer, or senior enlisted person
- The veteran has demonstrated mastery of the subject area to be taught, as determined by the district or school
- The veteran completed at least 60 college credits with a G.P.A. of at least 2.5 out of 4.0 from one or more accredited institutions of higher education
- Any veteran who served as a noncommissioned officer, warrant officer, or senior enlisted person, as well as any veteran who served as a training officer.
Registration
The bill conditions employment upon completion of a criminal records check, after which the veteran must submit the criminal records check to and register with the Department. The Department must then enroll the veteran in the retained applicant fingerprint database (RAPBACK) in the same manner it would for a licensed teacher.
The Department cannot accept the application of a veteran who has pleaded guilty to, been found guilty of, or been convicted of any offenses prescribed under continuing law that preclude employment in K-12 schools. If the Department receives notification through RAPBACK of the arrest or conviction of a veteran employed as an unlicensed teacher, it must Office of Research and notify the employing district or school. The Department also may take any disciplinary action authorized under law against the veteran as if the veteran were a licensed educator.
Veteran May Teach Core Subject Area
Continuing law prohibits a school district or STEM school from employing a teacher to provide instruction in a core subject area, unless the teacher is “properly certified or licensed.” As an exception to that prohibition, the bill permits a veteran employed as an unlicensed teacher to provide instruction in core subject areas.
A teacher is “properly certified or licensed” if the teacher has completed all requirements for certification or licensure in the subject areas and grade levels in which the teacher provides instruction. Core subject areas include reading and English language arts, math, science, social studies, foreign language, and fine arts.
Law Retained by the Bill
The bill retains provisions of continuing law that apply to a veteran employed as an unlicensed teacher. Specifically, it:
- 1. Requires the veteran to complete 15 hours of approved professional development every five years; and
- 2. Authorizes the Superintendent of Public Instruction to revoke the veteran’s right to teach if, after an investigation and an adjudication, the state Superintendent determines the veteran is not competent to teach.
Veterans Currently Employed as Unlicensed Teachers
The bill expressly permits a veteran employed as an unlicensed teacher prior the bill’s effective date to remain employed after that date. However, that veteran must meet the professional development requirements under continuing law and comply with the bill’s new registration requirement. The veteran also remains subject to the state Superintendent’s authority to revoke a right to teach.
Honesty for Ohio Education's Position
Honesty for Ohio Education opposes Senate Bill 14.
- SB 14 is a short-sighted answer to a long-term issue: While there is an urgent need to address the growing teacher shortage crisis and serious staffing shortages across Ohio, SB 14 is a dangerous, short-sighted solution that does nothing to stem the flight of teachers or ensure students are taught by highly trained educators.
- SB 14 is a distraction from the root causes driving the teacher shortage crisis: Rather than addressing the myriad of issues driving highly trained and talented educators from of the educator workforce (including workplace conditions, low salaries, threats and intimidation, and culture wars), SB 14 ignores the systemic issues and instead simply replaces skilled educators with underqualified, uncertified, and unprepared adults.
- SB 14 could reduce the quality of Ohio education: Dismissing licensing standards and preservice training for educators is another attempt by certain legislators to lower the quality of public education in Ohio and deprive students of an honest, high-quality education.
- Ohio students deserve the best: Ohio students, families, and communities deserve top-tier, highly educated teachers who are trained and certified to work with children and minors. The training and experience of our educators has a direct impact on the education provided to our students.
- We support the current Troops to Teachers Program: Ohio has a strong tradition of building professional pathways for veterans to join the educator workforce. Through its Alternative Educator Licensure Program, the Buckeye State offers anyone who holds a bachelor's degree the chance to earn a teaching credential. In addition, qualifying individuals who have a high school diploma, five years of documented work experience, and completes an approved preservice career-technical education program in these areas can teach in career technical programs. Learn more HERE
Honesty Coalition Partners Speak Out
This bill was introduced as SB 361 in the 134th General Assembly, which ended in 2022. During that time, Honesty for Ohio Education coalition partners voiced their opinions on the impact this bill might have.
Melissa Cropper, President, Ohio Federation of Teachers:
Certainly, we respect the service that our military vets have given our country," Ohio Federation of Teachers President Melissa Cropper said. "But the expertise and skills they have in that area don’t necessarily transfer over to the classroom."
Cropper said teaching K-12 children how to read is fundamentally different than teaching adults. And SB 361 would also allow those who served as noncommissioned officers, warrant officers and senior enlisted persons to qualify.
"It's basically saying you don’t need certain education to teach in the classroom," Cropper said.
She'd rather see state lawmakers focus on the long-term, systemic issues causing current teachers to leave the profession and college students to choose other careers.
"We need to treat teachers as professionals," Cropper said. "Give them some voice in the decision-making and some autonomy in the classroom. Reduce class sizes. Pay them better."
Scott DiMauro, President, Ohio Education Association:
Ohio Education Association President, Scott DiMauro, tells 21News the proposed bill is a watered down version of an effective law.
"We don't need a new bill, we already have a program in place that I think addresses the needs that this bill is trying to address," DiMauro said.
"In order to address the educator shortage, we have to make sure we have quality training and professional development for everyone who is serving our students in the classroom," he said.
Melissa Cropper, President, Ohio Federation of Teachers:
Certainly, we respect the service that our military vets have given our country," Ohio Federation of Teachers President Melissa Cropper said. "But the expertise and skills they have in that area don’t necessarily transfer over to the classroom."
Cropper said teaching K-12 children how to read is fundamentally different than teaching adults. And SB 361 would also allow those who served as noncommissioned officers, warrant officers and senior enlisted persons to qualify.
"It's basically saying you don’t need certain education to teach in the classroom," Cropper said.
She'd rather see state lawmakers focus on the long-term, systemic issues causing current teachers to leave the profession and college students to choose other careers.
"We need to treat teachers as professionals," Cropper said. "Give them some voice in the decision-making and some autonomy in the classroom. Reduce class sizes. Pay them better."
Scott DiMauro, President, Ohio Education Association:
Ohio Education Association President, Scott DiMauro, tells 21News the proposed bill is a watered down version of an effective law.
"We don't need a new bill, we already have a program in place that I think addresses the needs that this bill is trying to address," DiMauro said.
"In order to address the educator shortage, we have to make sure we have quality training and professional development for everyone who is serving our students in the classroom," he said.
TESTIMONY
HOW TO SUBMIT TESTIMONY
**DO NOT SEND TESTIMONY UNTIL THE APPROPRIATE HEARING IS ANNOUNCED**
STEP 1:
PREPARE YOUR TESTIMONY
Read tips for preparing and submitting testimony HERE
STEP 2:
EMAIL TESTIMONY DOCUMENTS TO COMMITTEE
Email a PDF of your testimony & this completed Witness Slip to
[email protected]
**IMPORTANT**
Do NOT send your testimony until the appropriate hearing is announced.
You must submit your testimony 24 hours ahead of the scheduled hearing.
Indicate in your email that you are submitting opposition testimony this bill and ask for a confirmation of receipt.
All testimony will be uploaded HERE
STEP 3:
ARRIVE EARLY FOR IN-PERSON TESTIMONY
Arrive at least 1 hour prior to the scheduled hearing
There is convenient parking in the Statehouse Parking Garage
Sign in on the witness roster in the hearing room