SB 26-126

Senate Bill 26-126, which has been signed into law, makes it easier for experienced teachers from other states or countries to get teaching licenses in Colorado. It removes the requirement that these teachers must have had their experience within the last seven years and allows the Colorado Department of Education (CDE) to issue professional teacher licenses based on at least three years of successful teaching elsewhere. The bill also sets up a quicker licensing process for teachers from states that are part of an agreement called the 'Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact,' as long as they pass a background check and have an equivalent license in their home state. This change helps attract more experienced educators to Colorado's schools.

Official Summary

The act allows the state department of education (CDE) to issue a professional teacher license to a teacher with at least 3 years of successful teaching experience in another state or country for which CDE has granted reciprocity. The act eliminates the requirement that an applicant have the successful teaching experience within the previous 7 years.     The act creates a temporary licensing process for teachers from states that participate in the 'Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact' (Compact). The process requires that CDE:Issue an initial teacher license within 30 days of receiving a complete teacher license application from a person licensed by a Compact state when the applicant passes a criminal history record check and holds an unencumbered eligible license issued by a Compact state that is equivalent to an eligible license in Colorado; and Publish an annual table showing how out-of-state licenses correspond to Colorado endorsement areas.     The act repeals the temporary licensing process when CDE begins issuing licenses pursuant to the Compact.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

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