Licensing Flexibilities to Ensure Quality Educators

• Brian O'Leary
• April 28 2022

HELENA—Superintendent Elsie Arntzen applauds the overwhelming vote of confidence on her flexible recommendations to revise educator licensing rules. Today the Montana Board of Public Education (BPE) held a special meeting at the Montana State Capitol to review and respond to public comments on the recommended licensing rule changes.

This process started in November of 2020 with OPI’s request to BPE to open Chapter 57 of the Administrative Rules of Montana, which houses teacher licensing procedures and rules. A 24-member task force and feedback group consisting of Montana educators and leaders representing rural, urban, and native populations made recommended changes to the Superintendent. The Superintendent reviewed, strengthened, and accepted the recommendations from the task force. On January 13, 2022, the BPE authorized the publishing of these recommendations. On February 24, following the transparent Montana Administrative Procedure Act (MAPA) process, the BPE held a public hearing and accepted written public comment through April 8. The BPE will have a final vote to adopt the licensing flexibilities during their meeting on May 12.

“This is a win for Montana school districts,” said Superintendent Elsie Arntzen. “The vote today by the Board of Public Education honors the teaching profession with an emphasis on quality while providing flexibilities. Montana is leading the nation in the redesign of the educator workforce.”

The BPE voted to agree with public comment to revise educator licensing for some of the following areas:

• Creating pathways to allow an educator to add additional endorsements to their license
• Defining military dependent to include in licensure reciprocity for military spouses and dependents
• Defining approved educator preparation program, as an umbrella term for traditional and alternate educator preparation programs
• Returning unusual cases authority to the State Superintendent
• Keeping the words “credible source” as a rule to ensure members of the public are able to file a complaint about official misconduct
• Expanding pathways to licensing beyond the Praxis including GPA, portfolio, and experience

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