On Tuesday, Sept. 12, the Kansas State Board of Education approved licensure test changes.

Recommendations approved by the State Board were:

• Removing the Principles of Learning and Teaching (PLT) pedagogy exam as a requirement for licensure.

• Establishing a process through the Licensure Review Committee to address educators who completed Kansas-approved teacher preparation programs but haven’t passed the required content exam after two attempts to qualify for a standard Kansas teaching license.

The approval of these items means that effective immediately Kansas program completers and out-of-state program completers won’t be required to take the PLT pedagogy exam to qualify for a standard initial teaching license.

Individuals who have a current valid temporary nonrenewable license and only require a passing PLT score to qualify for a standard initial teaching license will be reissued a standard initial teaching license. Those who have a temporary nonrenewable license that lists both content testing and the PLT will be reissued an edited temporary nonrenewable license with the PLT requirement removed.

KSDE’s Teacher Licensure team will review all currently valid temporary nonrenewable licenses and reissue applicable licenses. Educators aren’t required to submit an application to receive a reissued license.

If an educator doesn’t have a current valid temporary nonrenewable license and hasn’t qualified for a standard initial Kansas teaching license because he or she hasn’t received a passing PLT score, the individual can email Teacher Licensure at TLALicense@ksde.org to verify eligibility for an initial teaching license and receive instructions on how to apply for the license.

A process for people who haven’t passed the required content exam after two attempts is under development. The process will be established as quickly as possible, and guidance will be sent out once the final process is approved by the State Board.

Emergency Substitute License Temporary Modification - Wednesday, May 10, 2023

At the May 10, 2023, meeting, the Kansas State Board of Education moved to allow for an extension of the temporary modification to the Emergency Substitute License for two years.

Temporary Expanded Qualification: Expires June 30^th of the expiration year, and will not be eligible for renewal after June 30, 2025

License Limitations:

• License is non-transferable, limited to the local school district listed on the license.
  • Can apply for multiple districts if each district submits an expanded emergency substitute qualification form.
  • Only one $60.00 application fee is required if an educator applies to multiple districts.
• Individual may serve no more than 25 consecutive days in the same assignment.
• Individual may substitute up to 75 school days each semester in one school district.

Application Process:

An individual may temporarily qualify for an emergency substitute license with the following:

• High school diploma.

and

• Completion of Greenbush’s Emergency Substitute Training Modules (training may be completed now *).

​and

• Verification of hire from a local school district.
• Application and $60 processing fee.
• Fingerprint background check and $50 fee.

*Click here to register and complete the Greenbush Emergency Substitute Training Modules: plus.greenbush.org.

Expanded Emergency Substitute Application Instruction:

To apply for the emergency substitute license based on completion of the Greenbush Training Modules, complete the following:

1. Complete the Greenbush Emergency Substitute Training Modules.
   1. The Greenbush training modules include a step-by-step video that details how to submit the application.  HERE is a link to the video.
2. Submit the Form 8 application via the Kansas Licensure Application System. Here is a link to the application system User Login for KSDE Web Applications.
3. Within the “Education Information” Section of Form 8, select the following:
   1. State: “KS”
   2. Name of College/University: “Greenbush – Modified Emergency Substitute”
   3. Degree Earned: “No”
   4. Transcript Delivery Method: “Upload Transcript”
4. Upload the Greenbush Certificate of Completion to the application.
5. Submit payment.
6. Contact the hiring district to complete the Expanded Emergency Substitute Qualification Form

Expanded Emergency Substitute Application Local School District Instructions:

1. Complete the Expanded Emergency Substitute Qualification Form for hired applicants.
2. Submit the completed form to experienceform@ksde.org.

The Kansas State Board of Education on Feb. 14, 2023, voted to approve a set of pending regulations regarding licensure.

Below are links to a summary of the changes and the impact they will have. The changes are broken down into three categories: significant changes, added endorsements, and name changes.

Regulations Update Summary

Regulation 91-1: Licensure Regulations

All license regulations can be found here

There is a new policy for extending an Initial Teaching License if it expires the same semester a mentoring program will be completed.

Educators will now complete Form 21: Upgrade an Initial Teaching License to a Professional License Based on Mentoring. The Extension of Initial Teaching License Form will no longer be used.

School Specialist and School Leadership are not eligible for an extension.

Please note that the application will start with a basic question: “Have you completed mentoring?” The educator will need to answer “YES” in order to submit the application.

The district MUST verify completion of mentoring at the end of the semester and enter a future date of completion within the form.

While processing the application, the licensure team will extend the Initial Teaching License to the date the district verifies mentoring will be completed. A Professional Teaching License will be issued with an effective date equivalent to the date mentoring was completed as verified by the district.

It is the responsibility of the applicant and the district to notify KSDE Teacher License if the mentoring was not completed.  

If you have questions, please submit them to TLALicense@ksde.org