Committee Reviews Bill Streamlining Educator Certification

The legislature’s Education Committee held a public hearing March 13 on legislation designed to streamline the educator certification process.

HB 5436 is an expansive update to the current certification and preparation requirements, and improves the process and timeline for existing and aspiring educators to get certified.

With more than 1,200 certified educator vacancies throughout school districts in the state, the bill accounts for both education degrees and classroom experience when considering certification.

The bill also establishes the Connecticut Educator Certification and Preparation Board to review existing certification and preparation requirements and make recommendations to the State Board of Education.

CBIA’s 2024 policy solutions include the creation of a task force to develop bachelor’s degree equivalents for second act teachers who want to teach trade courses.

The business community is advocating to include language in the final version of the bill that clearly highlights this initiative as one of the tasks of the proposed Connecticut Educator Certification and Preparation Board.

“It’s important to include the trades industry in the final version of HB 5436,” said CBIA’s Paul Amarone.

“CBIA and several manufacturing and trades groups have been advocating for a more streamlined and experience driven pathway for trades teachers, and we believe this bill is the perfect fit for that initiative.”

For more information, contact CBIA’s Paul Amarone (860.244.1978).