May 26, 2011

HOUSE OKS BILL THAT ALLOWS PRIVATE SCHOOL
EXPERIENCE FOR CERTIFICATION OF TEACHERS

The House of Representatives voted unanimously Thursday to approve legislation (HB 6434) championed by Rep. Henry Genga (D-East Hartford) that allows teachers in private schools to obtain professional certification as long as they meet all of the same continuing education requirements of public school teaching and at no cost to the state.

“Student teaching is a valuable component of the teacher certification process. In addition, this bill allows college students to student teach in a private school setting, which would provide them with the skills to serve others and further the values and practices of their profession. This bill, which has bipartisan support also in the Senate, recognizes the importance of that,” said Genga, who sought the legislation. The bill now goes to the Senate.

Genga said the bill also allows certified teachers working at private schools to serve as cooperating teachers, as long as they pay the cost of their participation in the state’s cooperating teacher program and those private schools receive no state funding for cooperating teacher professional development. Cooperating teachers are those who are certified by the state and provide supervision of student teachers.