EPSB approves waiver to allow Kentucky student teachers to maintain classified employment during 2023-2024 school year

Approved a conditional waiver

FRANKFORT, KY) – At its meeting on July 21, the Education Professional Standards Board (EPSB) approved a conditional waiver of 16 KAR 5:040, Section 5(7) to allow student teachers to maintain classified employment for the 2023-2024 school year.

This approval allows student teachers who also are employed as classified staff members in the district where they are completing student teaching to maintain their employment status while completing the requirements of 16 KAR 5:040, Section 5. Student teachers maintaining classified employment are still required to meet the requirements of 16 KAR 5:040, but they can receive compensation through their classified employment with the district.

Use of this conditional waiver requires the classified employment to be approved by the district, as well as approval from the educator preparation provider that the student teacher is able to meet the requirements of the student teaching placement while maintaining classified employment.

The recent addition of the Option 9 pathway allowed candidates in that route to complete student teaching requirements while maintaining classified employment. This conditional waiver allows similar opportunities for candidates in traditional educator preparation programs and serves to support school districts seeking to grow their own educators by investing in their current classified staff. Additionally, this waiver allows adult learners returning to teacher certification programs to maintain their full-time employment, pay and benefits while completing their student teaching requirements.

The EPSB approved the conditional waiver for the 2023-2024 school year. During the school year, staff from the Kentucky Department of Education's Office of Educator Licensure and Effectiveness will solicit feedback on the waiver while working to amend the student teaching regulation.