Sec. 80-5.24. Residency certificate

(a) A student who is enrolled in the classroom academy residency pilot program, a pilot of a registered and approved teacher education program, may, upon submission of an application with a recommendation by the partnering institution of higher education and a recommendation by the partnering school district, receive a residency certificate under this section.

(b) This certificate shall only be issued to candidates enrolled in a classroom academy residency pilot program, as approved by the department, and who receive an assurance from the partnering school district that the resident has an employment commitment for the length of the residency program and a plan for providing mentoring and instructional support to the residency candidate that is acceptable to the department.

(c)

(1) The certificate shall be valid for no more than three years from its effective date; provided however, the certificate shall have an earlier expiration date if one of the following conditions occurs: the resident successfully completes the residency program, as determined by the partnering institution of higher education; or the resident exits the program, as determined by the partnering higher education institution;

(2) The certificate shall not be renewable.

(3) For individuals called to active duty in the Armed Forces, the validity period of the residency certificate may be extended for the time of active service and an additional 12 months from the end of such service, provided that the holder is a student in a registered or approved graduate program of teacher education.

(d) Upon successful completion of the residency program, as determined by the partnering higher education institution and partnering school district, up to one year of the residency experience may be credited toward the experience required for the student’s professional teaching certificate; provided that such experience meets the requirements set forth in section 80-3.4 of this Part.