The state Board of Regents on Monday approved a reform plan for teacher preparation that would place far more emphasis on classroom experience.

It also would streamline the process for experts in other fields to become teachers and allow cultural institutions and research centers to award teaching degrees.

In addition, the plan would provide incentives of up to $30,000 over five years to teachers in shortage areas — including science, math and special education — who take positions in struggling schools.

The proposed reforms, which were spelled out at an Albany news conference, are based on the premise that the training, testing and licensing of new teachers in many ways are not directly related to their ability to help students learn.

“We want to see that [new teachers] can actually perform in front of students,” State Education Commissioner David M. Steiner said.

The proposals, which Steiner called the start of “a new era of reform,” all apply to new teachers. They would not change the state’s tenure laws, which provide teachers broad protections after three years or more on the job.

Regents Chancellor Merryl H. Tisch said the Regents don’t plan to propose changes in tenure, which she said is a function of the State Legislature.

“We are not a legislative body here at the state Education Department,” she said. “We do not plan to have a role in that.”

The reforms proposed Monday would:

Base evaluations of prospective teachers far more heavily on classroom performance, through both live and videotaped monitoring.

Reduce the academic requirements for professionals in other fields who want to become teachers and can demonstrate their expertise by passing rigorous subject-area tests. Their training would then focus on teaching skills.

Allow cultural institutions, research centers and nonprofit organizations to certify teachers. Colleges and universities dominate that role and would continue to be key players.

Offer bonuses of as much as $30,000 to teachers in shortage areas who accept positions in high-needs schools. Steiner said there is a “deep need” for teachers in science, technology, math, engineering, special education and English as a second language.

The Regents agreed to those measures in principle, with the details to be worked out and considered again when they are more specific.

Colleges, unions, community groups and others will be involved in the planning, Steiner said. “All of these things need to be worked out collectively and openly,” he said. “This is very much a beginning, but it’s an important beginning.”