Senate Passes Bill Creating Alternative Licensure Pathways for Career-Technical Educators

COLUMBUS—The Ohio Senate passed House Bill 432 which provides a streamlined pathway for those looking to obtain a career-technical educator license. State Senator Andrew Brenner (R-Delaware) supported this bill. 

"This bill cuts red tape for those looking to become a career-tech educator and sets them up to be successful in the classroom," said Brenner.

House Bill 432 allows career-tech instructors to obtain a license by applying directly instead of having to first receive an offer of employment, and then having their application submitted by the school hiring them. Additionally, HB 432 creates an alternative career-technical licensure program that can be established by an approved local career-technical institution. 

"As Ohio's manufacturing industry grows, we have more jobs to fill and more students that are seeking a career-tech education. It is vital that those seeking this education have the opportunity to learn and are not turned away due to a shortage of educators in the field," said the senator.

House Bill 432 was amended to revise the recently enacted student privacy law, Senate Bill 29, which prohibits schools and educational technology providers from tracking student activity on school-issue devices. This modification will help with parental notifications, and clarifies that curriculum providers, assessment providers, and information technology centers are not considered technology providers. This change will also significantly reduce the number of notifications sent to parents.

This bill now heads to the Ohio House for a concurrence vote.