Policy 5100: Approval of Education Personnel Preparation Programs updates include requiring teacher and administrator preparation programs to contain a minimum of three semester hours of instructional technology coursework. The updates also requires candidates for licensure to complete field-based experience in the areas in which they will be certified and requires programs approved by the West Virginia Board to employ full-time faculty with a degree, expertise or certification in the areas in which they are teaching.  

“If we expect our children to learn 21st century skills, we must make sure we help West Virginia teachers stay up to date so they can bring the world into their classroom and take their students out into the real world,” said state Superintendent Steve Paine. “These changes will help us on this journey.”  

The revisions also allow up to 40 hours of experience outside of the public school to be considers toward the 125-hour field-based experience requirement and reduces the period that higher education institutions can be placed on conditional approval from two years to 18 months.  

In addition, changes extend the time an applicant can apply for licensure from three months to a year, consolidates two reporting requirements and adds Chinese and instructional technology as areas to be recognize on the professional teaching certificate.  

The Board also approved changes to Policy 5202: Minimum requirements for the Licensure of Professional/Paraprofessional Personnel and Advanced Salary Classifications.  

Beginning Jan. 1, 2008, teachers renewing their certification must have three of six hours of coursework in instructional technology. The revisions also create an advanced credential to recognize and reward educators for completing coursework, professional development and testing requirements outside the requirements for professional licensure.