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An Act To Amend the Laws Governing Teacher Certification
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 20-A MRSA §13011, sub-§6, as repealed and replaced by PL 2011, c. 635, Pt. B, §2, is amended to read:
 
6. Alternative pathways to certification.   The state board shall develop and adopt rules providing a method for a person who has not completed an approved educator preparation program as defined under section 13008 to obtain provisional educatorteacher certification through an alternative pathway that meets the requirements in section 13012, subsection 7 or that:
 
A. Is designed for candidates who can demonstrate subject matter competency that is directly related to the certificate endorsement being sought and obtained through prior academic achievement or work experience;
 
B. May feature an accelerated program of preparation;
 
C. Uses mentorship programs that partner teacher candidates with mentor teachers; and
 
D. Includes accountability provisions to ensure that teacher candidates demonstrate the knowledge and skills established pursuant to section 13012, subsection 2-B prior to issuance of a provisional teacher certificate.
Sec. 2.  20-A MRSA §13012, sub-§7  is enacted to read:
 
7.  Alternate pathway to provisional teacher certificate.     Notwithstanding subsections 2-A, 2-B and 5 and sections 13032 and 13035-A, a person who has not completed an approved educator preparation program as defined under section 13008 is eligible for a provisional teacher certificate if that person:
 
A.  Has attained certification from a nonprofit organization described in 26 United States Code, Section 501(c)(3) that:
 
(1) Was founded with grant funding from the United States Department of Education;
 
(2) Developed a certification program designed for professionals who want to change careers and become teachers; and
 
(3) Requires an applicant to possess a bachelor's degree; and
 
B.  Has satisfactorily completed a criminal history record check in accordance with section 13011, subsection 8.
 
SUMMARY
This bill provides that a person who has not completed an approved educator preparation program is eligible for a provisional teacher certificate if that person has satisfactorily completed a criminal history record check and attained certification from a nonprofit organization that was founded with United States Department of Education funding and that developed a certification program designed for professionals who want to change careers.