A bill

to amend the South Carolina Code of Laws by amending Section 59-26-85, relating to NBPTS recertification; so as to provide that a teacher with an active teaching certificate who meets certain national board for professional teaching standards renewal requirements shall recieve an annual increase in pay.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

SECTION 1.   Section 59-26-85(A) of the S.C. Code is amended to read:

   (A)(1) Teachers who are certified by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) before July 1, 2010, shall enter a recertification cycle for their South Carolina certificate consistent with the recertification cycle for National Board certification and NBPTS certified teachers moving to this State are exempted from initial certification requirements and are eligible for continuing contract status and their recertification cycle will be consistent with National Board certification. Teachers receiving national certification from the NBPTS before July 1, 2010, shall receive an increase in pay for the initial ten-year National Board certification and no more than one ten-year renewal of National Board certification. The pay increase shall be determined annually in the appropriations act. The established amount shall be added to the annual pay of the nationally certified teacher.

      (2) Teachers who apply on or after July 1, 2010, for certification by the NBPTS shall enter a recertification cycle for their South Carolina certificate and consistent with the initial ten-year cycle for National Board certification, and teachers moving to this State who apply for National Board certification on or after July 1, 2010, and subsequently achieve National Board certification are exempted from initial certification requirements and are eligible for continuing contract status and their recertification cycle will be consistent with the initial ten-year cycle. Teachers receiving national certification from the NBPTS on or after July 1, 2010, only shall receive an increase in pay for the initial ten years of the certification. The pay increase shall be determined annually in the appropriations act. The established amount shall be added to the annual pay of the nationally certified teacher.

   (3)   Notwithstanding items (1) and (2) pertaining to the duration of the pay increase for National Board certification, a teacher who is certified by NBPTS shall receive an annual increase in pay for as long as the teacher has an active teaching certificate and meets any NBPTS renewal requirements. The pay increase must be determined annually in the general appropriations act. The established amount must be added to the annual pay of the nationally certified teacher.

SECTION 2.   This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

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