(A) As used in this section, "STEM school" means a science, technology, engineering, and mathematics school established under Chapter 3326. of the Revised Code.

(B) Notwithstanding any other provision of the Revised Code or any rule adopted by the state board of education to the contrary, the state board shall issue a two-year provisional educator license for teaching science, technology, engineering, or mathematics in grades six through twelve in a STEM school to any applicant who meets the following conditions:

(1) Holds a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution of higher education in a field related to the subject area to be taught;

(2) Has passed an examination prescribed by the state board in the subject area to be taught.

(C) The holder of a provisional educator license issued under this section shall complete a structured apprenticeship program provided by an educational service center or a teacher preparation program approved under section 3333.048 of the Revised Code, in partnership with the

STEM school that employs the license holder. The apprenticeship program shall include the following:

(1) Mentoring by a teacher or administrator who regularly observes the license holder's classroom instruction, provides feedback on the license holder's teaching strategies and classroom management, and engages the license holder in discussions about methods for fostering and measuring student learning;

(2) Regularly scheduled seminars or meetings that address the following topics:

(a) The statewide academic standards adopted by the state board under section 3301.079 of the Revised Code and the importance of aligning curriculum with those standards;

(b) The achievement assessments prescribed by section 3301.0710 of the Revised Code;

(c) The school district and building accountability system established under Chapter 3302. of the Revised Code;

(d) Instructional methods and strategies;

(e) Student development;

(f) Assessing student progress and providing remediation and intervention, as necessary, to meet students' special needs;

(g) Classroom management and record keeping.

(D) After two years of teaching under a provisional educator license issued under this section, a person may apply for a five-year professional educator license in the same subject area named in the provisional license. The state board shall issue the applicant a professional educator license if the applicant meets the following conditions:

(1) The applicant completed the apprenticeship program described in division (C) of this section.

(2) The applicant receives a positive recommendation indicating that the applicant is an effective teacher from both of the following:

(a) The chief administrative officer of the STEM school that most recently employed the applicant as a classroom teacher;

(b) The educational service center or teacher preparation program administrator in charge of the apprenticeship program completed by the applicant.

(3) The applicant meets all other requirements for a professional educator license adopted by the state board under section 3319.22 of the Revised Code.

(E) The department of education shall evaluate the experiences of STEM schools with classroom teachers holding provisional educator licenses issued under this section. The evaluation shall cover the first two school years for which licenses are issued and shall consider at least the schools' satisfaction with the teachers and the operation of the apprenticeship programs.

Amended by 128th General AssemblyFile No.9, HB 1, §101.01, eff. 10/16/2009.

Effective Date: 2007 HB119 09-29-2007