District Resources
Updates to Rule 21 and 24 June 2025
Labeled below are the most recent updates to Rule 21 and 24 that districts need to be aware of. Please note, these are summaries of the changes. If you want more detailed information, please look through Rule 21 and 24 that can be found on the home page.
- Official Transcripts– transcripts will no longer be required if completing an educator preparation program in Nebraska. We will utilize the recommendation from the certification officer.
- Admin and Teacher Renewals– If a teacher or administrator does not meet the 0.5 FTE of experience to renew their regular respective certificates, they will now need to obtain 6 hours of semester credit or equivalent professional development no matter how long their certificate has been expired.
- Equivalent Professional Development- Defined as structured professional development learning that supports teacher or administrator practices. Fifteen (15) contact hours of PD verified by a Nebraska school administrator is equivalent to one semester hour OR two (2) years of full-time employment as a teacher or administrator is equivalent to three (3) semester credit hours.
- Alternative Program Teaching Permit– No longer have pathways to qualify. Applicants need a BA degree, a plan in place with an institution and a job offer.
- Certificate Expirations– All certificate types (besides conditionals) will now expire on 9/30.
- Local Sub Permit– These permits now required 48 semester credit hours to obtain. They are still valid for 5 years and have a 90-day restriction.
- Paraprofessional Sub Permit– New permit type that is valid in the school system that is requesting the permit. Applicants must be hired as a para for the district and may sub no more than 45 days in a school year with no more than 5 of those days being consecutive.
- Designated Endorsement– refers to the list of endorsements designated by the Commissioner that can be added to a regular teaching certificate by taking a content test.
- Equivalent Professional Education– Programs approved by the Commissioner to qualify an applicant for a designated endorsement.
- Endorsement Program Requirements– a Nebraska EPP may reduce the total required credit hours for any teaching endorsement by up to 50% if the EPP determines the applicant demonstrates competency in endorsement area pursuant to criteria approved by the Commissioner.
- Content Test– Passing the Praxis content test will no longer be a requirement when completing a program through an educator preparation program, including administrative endorsement. This does not take away the ability to add endorsements by taking a content test.
- Computer Science Endorsement– a new supplemental endorsement to teach programs that develop computer science and technology skills in grades 7-12. This endorsement requires 6 semester credit hours.
District Frequently Asked Questions
How do we request conditionals?
To request conditionals, you will need to use the google form that is posted on the NDE bulletin or request the form by emailing katelyn.larsen@nebraska.gov or molly.barnett@nebraska.gov.
What can we request a conditional for?
Conditionals may be requested for the following items:
- Fingerprint clearance for the applicant (please note, we must have fingerprint cards and a fee in our office for this).
- Any forms from Nebraska Colleges OR transcripts (please note, we must have one of those two things to issue the conditional).
- Local sub missing an HRT course
What can’t we request a conditional for?
If they haven’t finished their program or are waiting for one of the pieces to qualify them, we cannot issue a conditional.
- a content test score for adding an endorsement or qualifying for a temporary
- a completion of the American Board program
How do we determine what Alternative Pathway our applicant qualifies for?
Starting on June 4th, 2025, alternative permits require the following: A BA degree, a job offer and a plan in place with an institution. There are no longer pathways that applicants need to qualify through.
What forms are needed for an alternative?
Our office needs transcripts showing a Bachelor’s degree, an official request from the district and an Alt. Program Permit Form. If obtaining an applicant is obtaining an alternative and has not held a teaching certificate in the past, they will need this form:
- Alternative Program Permit Form in-state: https://www.education.ne.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Alt-Program-Permit-Form-NE-Institution.pdf
- Alternative Program Permit Form out-of-state: https://www.education.ne.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Alternative-Program-Permit-Form.pdf
If the applicant has held a teaching or administrative certificate in the past and is working on getting it renewed, they will need this form:
- Alternative Program Permit Teacher/Admin Renewal: https://www.education.ne.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/In-State-Alternative-Form-Teacher-Admin-Renewal.pdf
How can my district utilize this certification path?
If you have a para or can hire someone as a para that has at least 2 years of college experience with at least 48 credit hours and has taken and passed the praxis content test, you can utilize this certificate path.
What’s the catch?
This certificate is only good for 2 years and cannot be renewed. The applicant utilizing this path will either need to have completed at least a BA degree in 2 years to move to an Alternative or complete their full program.
What are the steps that the district needs to take?
- Request the temporary on the conditional permit request form. This is not a certificate that applicants can just go in and apply for, so we need the request to know that we need to change over the type of certificate.
- Send in a letter or contract for your para that you will be utilizing in the teacher’s role.
How do applicants read their dashboard and communicate with analyst?
On their TEACH dashboard, at the top is secure communication. This is where they will received deficiencies for their application. Below they will see their application status. Check out this document that explains the application progress. How to read the dashboard: https://www.education.ne.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/how-to-read-the-dashboard.pdf
How do we read the Public Lookup?
If the public lookup says that a teacher has an active certificate, they have something active in our system. You should be able to tell if it is a local sub, alternative or full teaching certificate. If a certificate says pending, please know that they do not have that specific certificate active and they may not even have an application in.
How can we check our staff’s expiring certificates?
Once you log in to the BPP portal, you will go to the “reports” button at the top of the page. You will select “Staff Expiration Reports” and “Run”. This will run a list of all your staff who have certificates that are expiring the coming year. This list gets updated as teachers apply and our office issues renewals.
How do we check to see what staff isn’t registered on TEACH?
After logging in to the BPP portal, you will go to “reports” button at the top of the page. Then go to the “Queries” and choose “Staff Not Registered”. It will give you a list of your staff that have not yet registered in the BPP. It is important to help them get registered, or they will not get notified of their certificates expiring.
General Contact: nde.tcertweb@nebraska.gov
Katelyn Larsen: katelyn.larsen@nebraska.gov or 402-405-2661
Molly Barnett: molly.barnett@nebraska.gov or 531-893-2985
Analyst:
- Bethina Garrett: 402-471-2497
- David Smith: 402-471-0949
- Suzanna Perez: 402-471-0958
- Melissa Saathoff: 402-471-1602
- Shawn Gaskill: 402-432-1207
How can we check the legal status of a teacher?
NDE has a public lookup for “Disciplinary Actions” that you are able to utilize. All public actions are recorded on this site. Disciplinary Action – Nebraska Department of Education
What do we do if we need to submit a complaint to the investigations team?
The NDE investigations team will only accept complaints through the complaint form found on their website. They cannot accept complaints typed directly into the body of an email. Complaint Form – Nebraska Department of Education