Sec. 1. 20-A MRSA §2, sub-§4 is enacted to read:

4.__Lifelong commitment to teaching. It is the intent of the Legislature that those involved in public schools remain committed and involved with students in the classroom during their careers in education.__All persons holding supervisory or managerial positions in public schools with certification in the State shall spend at least 30 minutes per week teaching or supervising students in an elementary, middle or high school classroom.__For the purpose of this section, "supervisory or managerial positions" includes the commissioner and all deputies, assistants, bureau heads, superintendents, assistant superintendents, principals and assistant principals.

Sec. 2. Rulemaking. The State Board of Education shall adopt rules to include the requirement of lifelong commitment to teaching pursuant to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 20-A, section 2, subsection 4 for supervisory or managerial positions in the certification requirement for those positions.

SUMMARY

This bill requires school administrative officials, including the Commissioner of Education, to spend at least 30 minutes per week in the classroom teaching or supervising students. Certification of those officials will be contingent upon fulfilling this requirement.