expanding opportunities for teacher certification
last updated 03/18/03, 3:00PM
From House Calendar No. 17, 2/26/03
HB 499, expanding opportunities for teacher certification. OUGHT TO PASS WITH AMENDMENT
Rep. John R.M. Alger for Education: This bill will add certification of New Hampshire teachers through the
American Board for Certification of Teacher Excellency (ABCTE), a part of the re-enacted Federal
Elementary and Secondary School Act entitled "No Child Left Behind". The committee, the school board and
the Superintendents’ Association, along with the National Educators Association, supported the bill, as does
the New Hampshire Department of Education, as amended. The committee heard an outstanding presentation
on the program by Dr. Madigan, the President of ABCTE. It is especially aimed at encouraging people of
other professions to obtain a teaching certification and offers "passport" certification across the various
states. Vote 17-0.
Amendment to HB 499
Proposed by the Committee on Education - C
Amend the bill by inserting after section 1 the following and
renumbering the original section 2 to read as 3:
2 New Paragraph; Master Teacher Certification. Amend RSA 189:14-f by
inserting after paragraph III the following new paragraph:
IV. Any person possessing a valid certification from the American
Board for Certification of Teacher Excellence as a master teacher
shall be deemed to have fulfilled the requirements for the master
teacher credential set forth in this section.
AMENDED ANALYSIS
This bill requires the state board of education to adopt rules:
I. Recognizing certification by the American Board for Certification
of Teacher Excellence as equivalent to a credential issued by the
department of education.
II. Allowing school districts to elect to follow the guidelines of
the American Board for certification of Teacher Excellence in the
hiring of school district staff and administrative personnel.
III. Recognizes master teacher certification issued by the American
Board for Certification of Teacher Excellence as equivalent to the
master teacher credential in this state.