Virginia HB 979: Provisional teacher licensure; teachers licensed or certified outside of the United States.

Bill Text

VIRGINIAACTSOFASSEMBLY--2022SESSION
CHAPTER656
An Act to amend and reenact § 22.1-298.1 of the Code of Virginia, relating to the Board of Education;
provisional teacher licensure; teachers licensed or certified outside of the United States.
[H979]
ApprovedApril11,2022
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That §22.1-298.1 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:
§22.1-298.1. Regulations governing licensure.
A. As used in this section:
"Alternate route to licensure" means a nontraditional route to teacher licensure available to
individuals who meet the criteria specified in the guidelines developed pursuant to subsection N or
regulations issued by the Board of Education.
"Industry certification credential" means an active career and technical education credential that is
earned by successfully completing a Board of Education-approved industry certification examination,
being issued a professional license in the Commonwealth, or successfully completing an occupational
competency examination.
"Licensure by reciprocity" means a process used to issue a license to an individual coming into the
Commonwealth from another state when that individual meets certain conditions specified in the Board
of Education's regulations.
"Professional teacher's assessment" means those tests mandated for licensure as prescribed by the
Board of Education.
"Provisional license" means a nonrenewable license issued by the Board of Education for a specified
period of time, not to exceed three years, to an individual who may be employed by a school division in
the Commonwealth and who generally meets the requirements specified in the Board of Education's
regulations for licensure, but who may need to take additional coursework, pass additional assessments,
or meet alternative evaluation standards to be fully licensed with a renewable license.
"Renewable license" means a license issued by the Board of Education for 10 years to an individual
who meets the requirements specified in the Board of Education's regulations.
B. The Board of Education shall prescribe, by regulation, the requirements for the licensure of
teachers and other school personnel required to hold a license. Such regulations shall include procedures
for (i) the denial, suspension, cancellation, revocation, and reinstatement of licensure; (ii) written
reprimand of license holders on grounds established by the Board, in accordance with law, notice of
which shall be made by the Superintendent of Public Instruction to division superintendents or their
designated representatives; and (iii) the immediate and thorough investigation by the division
superintendent or his designee of any complaint alleging that a license holder has engaged in conduct
that may form the basis for the revocation of his license. At a minimum, such procedures for
investigations contained in such regulations shall require (a) the division superintendent to petition for
the revocation of the license upon completing such investigation and finding that there is reasonable
cause to believe that the license holder has engaged in conduct that forms the basis for revocation of a
license; (b) the school board to proceed to a hearing on such petition for revocation within 90 days of
the mailing of a copy of the petition to the license holder, unless the license holder requests the
cancellation of his license in accordance with Board regulations; and (c) the school board to provide a
copy of the investigative file and such petition for revocation to the Superintendent of Public Instruction
at the time that the hearing is scheduled. The Board of Education shall revoke the license of any person
for whom it has received a notice of dismissal or resignation pursuant to subsection F of § 22.1-313 and,
in the case of a person who is the subject of a founded complaint of child abuse or neglect, after all
rights to any administrative appeal provided by § 63.2-1526 have been exhausted. Regardless of the
authority of any other agency of the Commonwealth to approve educational programs, only the Board of
Education shall have the authority to license teachers to be regularly employed by school boards,
including those teachers employed to provide nursing education.
The Board of Education shall prescribe by regulation the licensure requirements for teachers who
teach only online courses, as defined in § 22.1-212.23. Such license shall be valid only for teaching
online courses. Teachers who hold a 10-year renewable license issued by the Board of Education may
teach online courses for which they are properly endorsed.
C. The Board of Education's regulations shall include requirements that a person seeking initial
licensure:
1. Demonstrate proficiency in the relevant content area, communication, literacy, and other core skills
for educators by achieving a qualifying score on professional assessments or meeting alternative

2of4
evaluation standards as prescribed by the Board;
2. Complete study in