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An Act To Require School Administrators To Complete 50 Hours of Direct Student Instruction To Be Recertified
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 20-A MRSA §13019-A, sub-§2, as enacted by PL 1985, c. 287, §5, is amended to read:
 
2. Certificate renewal.   A superintendent's certificate is limited to 5 years in duration and may be renewed based on further approved study or demonstrated professional growth and improvement through an approved administrator action plan in accordance with state board rules. Beginning July 1, 2017, the qualifications for renewal of a superintendent's certificate must include the completion of at least 50 hours of direct student instruction.
Sec. 2. 20-A MRSA §13019-B, sub-§2, as enacted by PL 1985, c. 287, §5, is amended to read:
 
2. Certificate renewal.   A principal's certificate is limited to 5 years in duration and may be renewed based on further approved study or demonstrated professional growth and improvement through an approved administrator action plan in accordance with state board rules. Beginning July 1, 2017, the qualifications for renewal of a principal's certificate must include the completion of at least 50 hours of direct student instruction.
Sec. 3. 20-A MRSA §13019-C, sub-§2, as repealed and replaced by PL 1989, c. 878, Pt. B, §18, is amended to read:
 
2. Certificate renewal.   A certificate issued under this section is limited to 5 years in duration and may be renewed based on further graduate study or demonstrated professional growth and improvement through an approved administrator action plan in accordance with state board rules. Beginning July 1, 2017, the qualifications for renewal of a director of career and technical education's certificate must include the completion of at least 50 hours of direct student instruction.
Sec. 4.  20-A MRSA §13019-G  is enacted to read:
§ 13019-G. Renewal of administrator certificates; rules
Beginning July 1, 2017, in addition to the certification renewal requirements established pursuant to sections 13091-A, 13091-B and 13091-C, the state board shall require by rule the completion of at least 50 hours of direct student instruction as a qualification for renewal of such other certificates for administrators as determined to be necessary and beneficial for the efficient operation of the schools in accordance with the provisions of section 13011, subsection 5.
Sec. 5. Renewal of school administrator certificates; rules. The Department of Education and the State Board of Education shall provisionally adopt rules related to the renewal of administrator certificates required by this Act no later than December 31, 2016.
 
SUMMARY
This bill provides that, beginning July 1, 2017, the statutory provisions related to the renewal of certificates for school administrators are amended to include the completion of at least 50 hours of direct student instruction as a qualification for renewal of the administrator's certificate. The bill also directs the Department of Education and the State Board of Education to provisionally adopt rules related to the renewal of certificates for school administrators no later than December 31, 2016.