Licensure Loopholes: Connecticut

Analysis of Connecticut's policies

Connecticut offers a nonrenewable interim certificate, valid for 12 months, to teachers who have not passed required state licensing tests. Applicants are eligible for an interim certificate only once and must complete required tests prior to the certificate's expiration date.

The interim certificate is issued to: teachers new to Connecticut who have taught for at least three school years and are certified in their home state, graduates of approved teacher preparation programs outside Connecticut and charter school teachers hired after July 1st in any school year who meet the requirements for entry into Connecticut's alternative certification program.

Citation

Connecticut State Department of Education: Certification for Out-of-State Residents http://www.sde.ct.gov/sde/cwp/view.asp?a=2613&Q=321284 HB 6901 http://www.cga.ct.gov/2009/ACT/PA/2009PA-00001-R00HB-06901SS2-PA.htm Connecticut State Department of Education: Obtaining Connecticut Educator Certification http://www.sde.ct.gov/sde/lib/sde/pdf/cert/obtaining1109aw.pdf

Recommendations for Connecticut

Ensure that all teachers pass required subject-matter licensing tests before they enter the classroom.
While Connecticut's policy minimizes the risks brought about by having teachers in classrooms who lack sufficient or appropriate subject-matter knowledge by offering its interim certificate for one year only, the state could take its policy a step further and require all teachers to meet subject-matter licensure requirements prior to entering the classroom.

State response to our analysis

Connecticut recognized the factual accuracy of this analysis.