Relating to assessment scores set by the department of education for successful completion of a practitioner preparation program and for initial teacher licensure and providing for related matters

If the department sets new passing scores in subsequent years, a student who successfully completes the practitioner preparation program shall be deemed to have achieved minimum passing scores. The state board must adopt rules requiring that the director of the department of education waive the assessment requirements for one year for a person who has completed approved practitioner preparation program course requirements but attained an assessment score below the minimum. The board of educational examiners must adopt rules to create a nonrenewable initial one-year license for applicants who obtain a waiver and present it within days of issuance to the board. A licensure applicant who applies for such an initial one-year license must also provide an affidavit from the administrator of a school district or an accredited nonpublic school verifying that an offer of a teaching contract has been made and that the school district or accredited nonpublic school has made every reasonable and good faith effort but has failed to employ an Iowa-licensed teacher for the specified subject. Provisions of law that restrict initial licensure to those who have successfully completed an approved practitioner preparation program and to those who have met board standards for initial licensure are made inapplicable to persons who meet initial one-year licensure and waiver requirements.