An Act To Protect Teachers from Professional Teacher Certificate Endorsement Changes
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 20-A MRSA §13006-A, sub-§3, as enacted by PL 2017, c. 235, §5 and affected by §41, is repealed and the following enacted in its place:
3. Application of rules revising credential qualifications or endorsements. An amendment to the rules adopted to implement this chapter or chapter 502 that revises the qualifications for a credential or the grades or subject area endorsements for a professional teacher certificate does not apply to the following:
A. A person who held an active credential or endorsement during the school year preceding the adoption of revisions to the rules;
B. A person who held an active conditional certificate during the school year preceding the adoption of revisions to the rules;
C. A program completer who qualified for a recommendation for certification as a teacher during the school year preceding the adoption of revisions to the rules;
D. A person enrolled in an educator preparation program during the school year preceding the adoption of revisions to the rules; or
E. A person who began the application process for professional teacher certification with the department during the school year preceding the adoption of revisions to the rules.
Sec. 2. 20-A MRSA §13013, sub-§3, as amended by PL 2017, c. 235, §12 and affected by §41, is further amended to read:
3. Endorsements. A professional teacher certificate must be issued with an endorsement that specifies the grades and subject area that the teacher is deemed determined qualified to teach. A holder of a professional teacher certificate may not teach outside the certificate holder's area of endorsement unless the certificate holder has received a waiver from the commissioner in accordance with state board rules.
Sec. 3. 20-A MRSA §13013, sub-§5, as enacted by PL 2017, c. 235, §12 and affected by §41, is amended to read:
5. Renewal. A professional teacher certificate may be renewed for 5-year periods in accordance with state board rules, which must require, at a minimum, that the teacher, whether employed or unemployed, complete at least 6 semester hours of professional or academic study or in-service training designed to improve the performance of the teacher in the field. If the teacher has attained certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, the renewal period is for 10 years. If a rule adopted pursuant to section 13006-A amends the endorsement specifications for grades or subject areas for a teacher's professional teacher certificate, the teacher may renew the teacher's professional teacher certificate with the same grades and subject areas endorsements as were issued with the active professional teacher certificate that is held by the teacher at the time of the amendment.
Effective 90 days following adjournment of the 129th Legislature, Second Regular Session, unless otherwise indicated.