Enhancing Certification Reciprocity to Expand Connecticut's Educator Talent Pool

Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont and Education Commissioner Charlene Russell-Tucker announced the expansion of the northeastern reciprocity agreement to include certified educators throughout the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, and beyond. As of April 21, 2022, "educators in Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Virginia who hold an 'active, valid certificate' may apply and obtain a Connecticut certificate after verification by the State Department of Education," according to a press release. To help further inform the Connecticut State Department of Education's (CSDE) recommendation that the State Board of Education adopt the enhanced reciprocity policy, the Region 2 Comprehensive Center (R2CC) developed the "Teacher Certification Reciprocity Tool," which compares certification requirements among the identified states and territories. The tool also significantly reduces the time required for CSDE analysts to approve out-of-state candidates for certification.