HB307 Alabama 2022 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Alan BakerRepresentative

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2022

Title

Education, issuance of professional educator certificate to individuals completing approved alternative teacher preparation programs, further provided for, St. Board of Education to adopt policies, Sec. 16-23-3.01 added; Sec. 16-23-3 am'd.

Summary

HB307 creates a formal pathway for professional educator certificates through approved alternative teacher preparation programs and shortens the time needed to certify teachers.

What This Bill Does

It lets qualified individuals who have held an alternative teaching certificate for one year receive a professional educator certificate, instead of the three-year requirement. It also authorizes issuing a professional educator certificate to those who complete an approved alternative teacher preparation program. It requires the State Board of Education to adopt policies and creates a database of approved alternative organizations with minimum candidate requirements and criteria to approve organizations. It limits these certificates to certain grade levels, sets a maximum four-year duration (including for emergencies), and outlines renewal and potential conversion to traditional licensure.

Who It Affects

• Prospective and currently practicing teachers pursuing alternative certification paths, who become eligible for professional educator certificates after shorter timeframes or upon completing an approved program.
• School districts, local superintendents, private school administrators, and state education authorities (SBOE and State Superintendent) who issue, oversee, and monitor alternative certification pathways and maintain the new database of approved organizations.

Key Provisions

• Authorizes a professional educator certificate for individuals who have held an alternative certificate for one year (instead of three years) and for those who complete an approved alternative teacher preparation program.
• Adds Section 16-23-3.01 to create a state database of approved alternative teacher education organizations and requires minimum candidate requirements (bachelor's degree, background check, program completion) and organization approval criteria (multi-state operation, at least 10 years, required exams).
• Limits the alternative pathway to teaching grades six through 12, with possible eligibility for kindergarten through eighth grade only in specific subject areas (fine arts or foreign languages), and caps certificate validity at four years (emergency certificates included).
• Aligns renewal and status with traditional licensure, allows time served under alternative certification to count toward continuing service status, and requires mentorship and adherence to policy rules set by the SBOE.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Education