HB 5436 is a piece of legislation resulting from tremendous work and expertise that was developed by the Connecticut Educator Certification Council (CECC)—convened by the Commissioner of Education in August 2023.
The CECC’s efforts present solutions to the current process to become an educator—which reflects the past, not the future, of the profession. The steps to becoming an educator in Connecticut currently focus too much on inputs, like courses, degrees and exams, and not enough on the quality of teachers’ instructional practices and effectiveness once they are in the classroom. However, with the changes recommended by the CECC, the state is poised to embark upon a more effective process of teacher preparation and certification.
This bold proposal is well-positioned to produce a positive impact for students: more qualified and diverse educators, and higher standards in the classroom.