Section R7-2-609. Elementary Teaching Certificates

A.      Except as noted, all certificates are subject to the general certi- fication provisions in R7-2-607 and the renewal requirements in R7-2-619.

B.       Provisional Elementary Certificate – grades K through eight

1.        The certificate is valid for three years and is not renew- able but may be extended as set forth in R7-2-606(H) or (I).

2.        The requirements are:

a.         A bachelor’s degree,

b.        One of the following:

i.         Completion of a teacher preparation program in elementary education from an accredited insti- tution or a Board-approved teacher preparation program, described in R7-2-604; or

ii.        Forty-five semester hours of education courses which teach the knowledge and skills described in R7-2-602, including at least eight semester hours of practicum in grades K through eight. Two years of verified teaching experience in grades Prekindergarten through eight may be substituted for the eight semester hours of practicum; or

iii.      A valid elementary certificate from another state.

c.         A passing score on the professional knowledge por- tion of the Arizona Teacher Proficiency Assessment;

d.        A passing score on the elementary education subject knowledge portion of the Arizona Teacher Profi- ciency Assessment; and

e.         A valid fingerprint card issued by the Arizona Department of Public Safety.

C.      Standard Elementary Certificate – grades K through eight

1.        The certificate is valid for six years.

2.        The requirements are:

a.         A provisional elementary certificate;

b.        A passing score on the performance portion of the Arizona Teacher Proficiency Assessment. If a per- formance portion of the Proficiency Assessment has not been adopted by the Board, two years of verified full-time teaching experience may be used to fulfill this requirement;

c.         A valid fingerprint clearance card issued by the Ari- zona Department of Public Safety; and

d.        Forty-five hours or three semester hours of instruc- tion in research-based systematic phonics. An accredited institution or other provider may provide this instruction.

Historical Note

Adopted effective December 4, 1998 (Supp. 98-4).

Amended by final rulemaking at 6 A.A.R. 1132, effective March 10, 2000 (Supp. 00-1). Section R7-2-609 amended by emergency rulemaking under A.R.S. § 41-1026 at 8

A.A.R. 2562, effective May 23, 2002 for a period of 180 days (Supp. 02-2). May 23, 2002 emergency rulemaking renewed under A.R.S. § 41-1026 at 8 A.A.R. 5132, effec- tive November 19, 2002 (Supp. 02-4). Amended by final

rulemaking at 9 A.A.R. 1605, effective May 5, 2003 (Supp. 03-2). Former R7-2-609 recodified to R7-2-610; new R7-2-609 recodified from R7-2-608 at 16 A.A.R. 68, effective December 8, 2008 (Supp. 10-1). R7-2-609 “Pre- kindergarten” corrected to “PreK” at request of the Board, Office File No. M09-444, filed November 24, 2009 (Supp. 10-1). Amended by exempt rulemaking at 16

A.A.R. 235, effective December 7, 2009 (Supp. 10-3). Amended by exempt rulemaking at 16 A.A.R. 1249,

effective May 24, 2010 (Supp. 10-4).