CHAPTER 4. TRANSITION TO TEACHING PROGRAM
IC 20-28-4
Chapter 4. Transition to Teaching Program
IC 20-28-4-1
"Program"
Sec. 1. As used in this chapter, "program" refers to the transition
to teaching program established by section 2 of this chapter.
As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.12.
IC 20-28-4-2
Establishment
Sec. 2. The transition to teaching program is established to
accomplish the following:
(1) Facilitate the transition into the teaching profession of
competent professionals in fields other than teaching.
(2) Allow competent professionals who do not hold a teaching
license to earn and be issued a teaching license through
participation in and satisfactory completion of the program.
As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.12.
IC 20-28-4-3
Program; development and administration
Sec. 3. Subject to the requirements of this chapter, the department
shall develop and administer the program. The department shall
determine the details of the program that are not included in this
chapter.
As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.12. Amended by P.L.246-2005,
SEC.150.
IC 20-28-4-4
Program; requirements
Sec. 4. Each accredited teacher education school and department
in Indiana shall establish a course of study that constitutes the
postsecondary education component of the program. The
postsecondary education component required under this section must
comply with the following requirements:
(1) Include the following study requirements:
(A) For a program participant who seeks to obtain a license
to teach in grades 6 through 12, up to eighteen (18) credit
hours of study or the equivalent that prepare a program
participant to meet Indiana standards for teaching in the
subject areas corresponding to the area in which the program
participant has met the education requirements under section
5 of this chapter, unless the program participant
demonstrates that the program participant requires fewer
credit hours of study to meet Indiana standards for teaching.
(B) For a program participant who seeks to obtain a license
to teach in kindergarten through grade 5, twenty-four (24)
credit hours of study or the equivalent, which must include
at least six (6) credit hours in teaching reading, that prepare
a program participant to meet Indiana standards for teaching,
unless the program participant demonstrates that the
program participant requires fewer credit hours of study to
meet Indiana standards for teaching.
(2) Focus on the communication of knowledge to students.
(3) Include suitable field or classroom experiences if the
program participant does not have teaching experience.
As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.12. Amended by P.L.246-2005,
SEC.151; P.L.2-2007, SEC.215.
IC 20-28-4-5
Participants; qualifications
Sec. 5. An individual who wishes to participate in the program
must have one (1) of the following qualifications:
(1) For a program participant who seeks to obtain a license to
teach in grades 6 through 12, one (1) of the following:
(A) A bachelor's degree or the equivalent with a grade point
average of at least three (3.0) on a four (4.0) point scale from
an accredited postsecondary educational institution in the
subject area that the individual intends to teach.
(B) A graduate degree from an accredited postsecondary
educational institution in the subject area that the individual
intends to teach.
(C) Both:
(i) a bachelor's degree from an accredited postsecondary
educational institution with a grade point average of at
least two and five-tenths (2.5) on a four (4.0) point scale;
and
(ii) five (5) years professional experience;
in the subject area that the individual intends to teach.
(2) For a program participant who seeks to obtain a license to
teach in kindergarten through grade 5, one (1) of the following:
(A) A bachelor's degree or the equivalent with a grade point
average of at least three (3.0) on a four (4.0) point scale from
an accredited institution of higher education.
(B) Both:
(i) a bachelor's degree from an accredited postsecondary
educational institution with a grade point average of at
least two and five-tenths (2.5) on a four (4.0) point scale;
and
(ii) five (5) years professional experience in an education
related field.
As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.12. Amended by P.L.2-2007, SEC.216.
IC 20-28-4-6
Program participants; initial standard license; requirements
Sec. 6. The department shall grant an initial standard license to a
program participant who does the following:
(1) Successfully completes the postsecondary education
component of the program.
(2) Demonstrates proficiency through a written examination in:
(A) basic reading, writing, and mathematics;
(B) pedagogy; and
(C) knowledge of the areas in which the program participant
is required to have a license to teach;
under IC 20-28-5-12(b).
(3) Participates successfully in a beginning teacher internship
program under IC 20-6.1-8 (repealed) that includes
implementation in a classroom of the teaching skills learned in
the postsecondary education component of the program.
(4) Receives a successful assessment of teaching skills upon
completion of the beginning teacher internship program under
subdivision (3) from the administrator of the school where the
beginning teacher internship program takes place, or, if the
program participant does not receive a successful assessment,
continues participating in the beginning teacher internship
program.
As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.12. Amended by P.L.246-2005,
SEC.152; P.L.2-2007, SEC.217.
IC 20-28-4-7
Restricted initial standard license
Sec. 7. This section applies to a program participant who has a
degree described in section 5 of this chapter that does not include all
the content areas of a standard license issued by the department. The
department shall issue an initial standard license that is restricted to
only the content areas in which the program participant has a degree
unless the program participant demonstrates sufficient knowledge in
other content areas of the license.
As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.12. Amended by P.L.246-2005,
SEC.153.
IC 20-28-4-8
Program participant school corporation employee; qualified
instructor in subject area
Sec. 8. A school corporation may hire a program participant to
teach only in the subject area in which the participant meets the
qualifications set forth under section 5 of this chapter.
As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.12.
IC 20-28-4-9
Participant; renewal of initial standard license
Sec. 9. After receiving an initial standard license under section 6
or 7 of this chapter, a program participant who seeks to renew the
participant's initial standard license must meet the same requirements
as other candidates for license renewal.
As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.12.
IC 20-28-4-10
Rules
Sec. 10. (a) The advisory board may adopt rules under IC 4-22-2
to administer this chapter.
(b) Rules adopted under this section must include a requirement
that accredited teacher education schools and departments in Indiana
submit an annual report to the department of the number of
individuals who:
(1) enroll in; and
(2) complete;
the program.
As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.12. Amended by P.L.246-2005,
SEC.154.
IC 20-28-4-11
Teacher shortage areas; employment of transition to teaching
program participants; conditions; transition to teaching permit
Sec. 11. (a) This section applies only to:
(1) a school corporation; or
(2) a subject area;
that is designated by the state board as having an insufficient supply
of licensed teachers.
(b) The governing body of a school corporation or the appointing
authority of an accredited nonpublic school may employ a program
participant if the program participant is hired to teach in a subject
area or a school corporation to which this section applies.
(c) Before employing a program participant under subsection (b),
the superintendent of the school corporation must make a
determination that one (1) of the following conditions exists:
(1) There is no fully certified and highly qualified teacher
available for the position.
(2) The program participant is the best qualified candidate for
the position.
(d) A program participant who is employed under this section is
eligible to receive a transition to teaching permit. The transition to
teaching permit is valid for three (3) years, and may not be renewed.
(e) A program participant who is employed under this section:
(1) shall enter into either:
(A) a regular teacher's contract under IC 20-28-6-5; or
(B) a temporary teacher's contract under IC 20-28-6-6, if
replacing a teacher on a leave of absence;
(2) is eligible to participate in a mentor teacher program; and
(3) satisfies the field or classroom experience component of the
program under section 4(3) of this chapter.
(f) The state board:
(1) shall review; and
(2) may renew;
the designation of a school corporation or a subject area as having an
insufficient supply of licensed teachers not more than two (2) years
following the initial designation under subsection (a).
As added by P.L.150-2006, SEC.2. Amended by P.L.121-2009,
SEC.9.