2023 Montana Code Annotated › Title 20. Education › Chapter 4. Teachers, Superintendents, and Principals › Part 1. Certification of Teaching and Supervisory Personnel › 20-4-120. Alternative teacher credentialing

20-4-120. Alternative teacher credentialing.
(1) The superintendent of public instruction shall issue a class 2 standard certificate to an applicant who meets all of the following requirements:
(a) the applicant holds a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university;
(b) the applicant passes a criminal history background check in the manner prescribed under rules adopted by the board of public education;
(c) the applicant completes coursework related to Indian education for all, pursuant to Title 20, chapter 1, part 5, that is required of other class 2 standard certificate applicants under rules adopted by the board of public education; and
(d) the applicant has successfully completed an alternative teacher certification and endorsement program that includes the following:
(i) subject-area content training in the area in which the applicant seeks to be certified and endorsed; and
(ii) pedagogical training that covers effective instructional delivery, classroom management and organization, assessment, instructional design, and professional learning and leadership.
(2) An individual who successfully completes an alternative teacher certification and endorsement program and who is granted a class 2 standard certificate under this section:
(a) is authorized to teach the subjects and grade levels corresponding with the individual's completed alternative teacher certification and endorsement program; and
(b) may be required by the board of public education to participate in a district mentorship and induction program in the first year of full-time employment.
(3) The state shall treat an individual who successfully earns a class 2 standard certificate under this section in the same manner as an individual who completes a traditional teacher preparation program and is issued a class 2 standard certificate, including following the same process for certifications under 20-4-106 that require a class 2 standard certificate as a prerequisite to other certifications.
(4) For purposes of this part, the following definitions apply:
(a) "Alternative teacher certification and endorsement program" means a teacher certification and endorsement program that meets the requirements of this section, and has been approved by the board of public education upon recommendation of the superintendent of public instruction. The approval of an alternative teacher certification and endorsement program may not require a supervised teaching experience or licensure from another state or any characteristic except as provided in this section and must require either:
(i) affiliation with or status as a public or private institution of higher education; or
(ii) that the alternative teacher certification and endorsement program is accepted for teacher licensure in at least five states and has operated for at least 10 years.
(b) "Certification and endorsement" means the classifications of teacher and specialist certificates and the corresponding subject fields for endorsement according to the board of education policy for certification endorsement as referenced in 20-4-106.
History: En. Sec. 1, Ch. 470, L. 2023.