Resolve, To Expand Access to Foreign Language Instruction in Maine Schools

Emergency preamble. Whereas,  acts and resolves of the Legislature do not become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and

Whereas,  this legislation must be enacted as an emergency measure in order to retain highly qualified foreign language teachers whose first language is not English in secondary schools; and

Whereas,  in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, therefore, be it

Sec. 1. World language teachers. Resolved: That the State Board of Education shall amend its rules concerning testing and certification for world language teachers to specify that a targeted need certificate held by an individual whose first language is the target language that the individual teaches may be renewed annually if the individual documents the need for an extension and is enrolled in a tutorial program to improve the individual's required basic skills in reading and writing and mathematics. The rule amendment must also specify that there is no limit on the number of times this type of certification may be renewed under these conditions. Notwithstanding the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 20-A, section 13011, subsection 9, rules amended or adopted under this section are routine technical rules pursuant to Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.

Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation takes effect when approved.