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HB 157

NEW SCHOOL LICENSES

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Brian Baca and 2 co-sponsors

Creates separate site-admin and superintendent licenses, requires PED-approved prep with clinical residency, replaces the 3-B license, and adds provisional routes to ease shortages.

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Bill Summary · HB 157

Summary — HB 157: New School Licenses (School Administrator Development Act)

Status: Enacted (effective July 1, 2025 for some provisions; substantive licensure changes staged through 2027–2029)
Primary focus: Education — creation of new, differentiated school administrator and superintendent licenses; standards and approval processes for administrator preparation programs; transition from the existing “3‑B” license structure.

Main purpose and intent

HB 157 establishes the School Administrator Development Act to (1) create separate licensure pathways for site administrators (assistant principals, principals, charter head administrators) and superintendents, (2) strengthen preparation and induction for school leaders by requiring department‑approved preparation programs aligned to research‑based standards, and (3) modernize reciprocity, provisional licensure, and transition rules to replace the current uniform 3‑B administrator license.

Key provisions

  • Licensure structure

    • Creates three site‑administrator license levels: Provisional, Initial, and Professional (lengths, renewal rules, and experience/education requirements vary by level).
    • Creates two superintendent license levels: Provisional and Superintendent, with distinct experience and program requirements.
    • Defines “site administrator” (assistant principal, principal, charter head administrator) and distinguishes these roles from other district or central office administrators.
    • Requires criminal history checks for all new administrator license applicants.

  • Preparation programs, approval, and standards

    • Directs the Public Education Department (PED) to set criteria and approve all site administrator preparation programs.
    • Approval criteria emphasize comprehensive curriculum aligned to national/state standards, cohort models, robust clinical experiences (residency/clinical practice), trained coaches, formal district partnerships, and data collection/monitoring of program outcomes.
    • PED must monitor program success and collect designated data elements.

  • Transition, reciprocity, and waivers

    • Provides provisional licensure options to address staffing shortages (permit serving while completing preparation/induction).
    • Adds an out‑of‑state superintendent reciprocity path: a candidate with an unencumbered administrator license from another state, at least three years’ superintendent experience, enrollment in a PED‑approved superintendent induction program, and meeting other PED requirements may obtain a superintendent license.
    • Establishes transition dates and a delayed repeal of the current 3‑B license.

  • Timeline (as amended)

    • Jan 15, 2027: Administrator preparation programs must have applied to PED (new/revised programs).
    • July 1, 2027: PED must approve new/revised programs.
    • July 1, 2029: Holders of an active 3‑B license (on that date) are to be granted a professional site administrator license and a superintendent license; existing 3‑B license repealed on this date.

Who is affected

  • Current and aspiring school leaders (principals, assistant principals, charter heads, superintendents)
  • Teachers and instructional support providers who will pursue site administrator licensure
  • Educator preparation programs (EPPs) — must redesign and apply for PED approval
  • Public Education Department — new program approval, monitoring, and possible bureau creation
  • School districts/charters — induction/mentoring obligations, use of provisional licenses
  • State budget and education funding stakeholders

Fiscal impact and implementation costs

  • LESC/LFC analyses estimate implementation costs of roughly $2.2 million in FY26 (components cited by analysts include a PED leadership bureau, residency/residency study, aspiring superintendent academy, induction programs for first‑year principals and superintendents, data collection, and program coordinators).
  • The House appropriations substitute (HAFC) included $2.28 million in funding contingent on enactment.
  • Recurring personnel needs estimated: one PED FTE and multiple FTEs at educator preparation programs (study estimates ~7 EPP FTEs leading to recurring costs ~ $900k annually of the total).
  • The bill does not itself appropriate funds; the noted appropriation was included in related budget language.

Expected effects / significant issues

  • Seeks to professionalize and better align leader preparation with evidence‑based features (residency/clinical practice, better induction/mentoring).
  • Aims to create clearer role‑specific licensure tied to the distinct responsibilities of principals vs. superintendents.
  • Will require EPPs and PED to redesign curricula, develop new clinical/residency capacity, and increase data/monitoring.
  • Implementation depends on available funding and PED capacity; program redesign and staffing needs create near‑term costs but are intended to improve principal and district leadership quality long term.

Legislative context

  • Bill traced through House Education, Senate Finance, and other committees with amendments that (a) moved program/deadline dates, and (b) broadened the grant of new licenses to holders of the old 3‑B license (final transition date: July 1, 2029).
  • Endorsed by the Legislative Education Study Committee (LESC).

If you want, I can:
- Produce a one‑page fact sheet for school districts summarizing immediate administrative steps they should take; or
- Extract the exact licensure criteria and renewal requirements in table form for quick reference.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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