State reg written by NCES teacher is now law

NORTH CANAAN — A legislative amendment, and a valuable civics lesson, were successfully achieved by a North Canaan Elementary School teacher.Beth Johnson, who teaches fifth and sixth grades, recently earned her master’s degree in technology, hoping to become a K-to-eight technology, or computer, teacher. What she discovered was that, because the standard certification is now K-to-six, she would have to go back to school for additional certification she didn’t really need.So, she contacted state Sen. Andrew Roraback (R-30). He sponsored a legislative amendment (written by Johnson) requiring the state Board of Education to change its regulations regarding specialized degrees. Johnson’s goal was to fix the glitch for all teachers that find themselves in the same boat. Her master’s required 30 credits of technology classes — more than sufficient, she said, to teach any student.“There are currently 95 K-to-eight schools in the state of Connecticut,” Johnson said in a statement read into the record during a legislative hearing at the capital on March 7. “This means that my predicament is one that is faced not only by me, but by others who would choose to teach technology and other specialized subjects without Connecticut certification available.”Bill No. 6499 passed the House on May 17, by a vote of 119 to 23. On June 8, at 11:26 p.m. just minutes before the legislative session ended, the Senate approved it unanimously.

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