HB836: Microcredentials; DOE to develop a plan to adopt, etc.


VIRGINIA ACTS OF ASSEMBLY -- CHAPTER
An Act to require the Department of Education to develop a plan to adopt and implement standards for microcredentials.
[H 836]
Approved

 

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. § 1. The Department of Education shall develop a plan to adopt and implement standards for microcredentials used toward add-on endorsements and renewal of licenses earned by Virginia license holders in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. Such plan shall include (i) a process for reviewing and administering educator microcredentials; (ii) assurances that educator microcredentials rely upon demonstrable evidence from the submission of artifacts, such as student projects and teacher lesson plans, that are then objectively scored against existing rubrics; and (iii) assurances that educator microcredentials focus on interrelated competencies leading to logical teacher professional development pathways and stacks of educator microcredentials and align with the Board of Education's ongoing work on educator professional development. Such plan shall also include the resources needed for statewide implementation. The Department of Education shall complete and submit the plan to the Chairmen of the House Committee on Education, the House Committee on Appropriations, the Senate Committee on Education and Health, and the Senate Committee on Finance no later than December 1, 2020.


HOUSE BILL NO. 836
AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE
(Proposed by the House Committee on Education
on January 29, 2020)
(Patron Prior to Substitute--Delegate Carroll Foy)
A BILL to require the Department of Education to develop a plan to adopt and implement standards for microcredentials.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. § 1. The Department of Education shall develop a plan to adopt and implement standards for microcredentials used toward add-on endorsements and renewal of licenses earned by Virginia license holders in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. Such plan shall include (i) a process for reviewing and administering educator microcredentials; (ii) assurances that educator microcredentials rely upon demonstrable evidence from the submission of artifacts, such as student projects and teacher lesson plans, that are then objectively scored against existing rubrics; and (iii) assurances that educator microcredentials focus on interrelated competencies leading to logical teacher professional development pathways and stacks of educator microcredentials and align with the Board of Education's ongoing work on educator professional development. Such plan shall also include the resources needed for statewide implementation. The Department of Education shall complete and submit the plan to the Chairmen of the House Committee on Education, the House Committee on Appropriations, the Senate Committee on Education and Health, and the Senate Committee on Finance no later than December 1, 2020.

HOUSE BILL NO. 836

Offered January 8, 2020
Prefiled January 7, 2020
A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 22.1-299.8, relating to the Department of Education; microcredentials; standards.
Patron-- Carroll Foy

Committee Referral Pending

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered 22.1-299.8 as follows:

§ 22.1-299.8. Microcredentials; standards.

The Department of Education shall develop and adopt standards for microcredentials earned by public school teachers in the Commonwealth, including microcredentials used toward add-on endorsements, initial licensure, renewal of licensure, and professional development points in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields, that align with nationally-accepted standards for microcredentials, such as those utilized by the nonprofit organization Digital Promise. Such standards shall include (i) educator microcredentials focused on discrete competencies based upon relevant, peer-reviewed research in the specific domain or discipline; (ii) educator microcredentials that rely upon demonstrable evidence from the submission of artifacts, such as student projects and teacher lesson plans, that are then objectively scored against existing rubrics; and (iii) educator microcredentials that focus on interrelated competencies leading to logical teacher professional development pathways and stacks of educator microcredentials. Any entity that issues microcredentials to public school teachers in the Commonwealth shall comply with such standards.