EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*hb0945*
HOUSE BILL 945
F1 4lr2781
CF SB 771
By: Delegates Ebersole, Fair, Palakovich Carr, Patterson, Vogel, Wilkins, and Wu
Introduced and read first time: February 2, 2024
Assigned to: Ways and Means
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
Education – Initial Teacher Certification – Requirements 2
FOR the purpose of repealing a provision of law that requires a teacher preparation 3
program to require a student to pass a certain assessment as a graduation 4
requirement; altering the requirements for initial teacher certification; repealing 5
certain certification requirements to pass a certain literacy test, a certain skills 6
assessment, and a certain reading mastery test; requiring, rather than authorizing, 7
the State Superintendent of Schools to pursue and make certain reciprocal educator 8
credentialing agreements with other states; and generally relating to initial teacher 9
certification. 10
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 11
Article – Education 12
Section 6–121(a), 6–125, 6–126, and 6–705 13
Annotated Code of Maryland 14
(2022 Replacement Volume and 2023 Supplement) 15
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 16
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 17
Article – Education 18
6–121. 19
(a) A teacher preparation program shall: 20
(1) Include the following components of instruction: 21
(i) Basic research skills and methods and training on the routine 22
evaluation and use of research and data to improve student performance; 23
2 HOUSE BILL 945
(ii) Differentiation of instruction and demonstration of cultural 1
competence for students of diverse racial, ethnic, linguistic, and economic backgrounds with 2
different learning abilities; 3
(iii) Implementation of restorative approaches for student behaviors; 4
(iv) Identifying and assessing, in the context of the classroom, typical 5
student learning deficits and techniques to remedy learning deficits; 6
(v) Recognizing and effectively using high quality instructional 7
materials, including digital resources and computer technology; 8
(vi) Core academic subjects that teachers will be teaching; 9
(vii) Methods and techniques for identifying and addressing the social 10
and emotional needs of students, including trauma–informed approaches to pedagogy; 11
(viii) Skills and techniques for effective classroom management; and 12
(ix) Training in the skills and techniques for teaching effectively in a 13
virtual learning environment, including the use of online curriculum; 14
(2) Require program participants to demonstrate competency in each of the 15
components required under paragraph (1) of this subsection; AND 16
(3) Provide training in the knowledge and skills required to understand 17
and teach the Maryland curriculum frameworks[; and 18
(4) On or after July 1, 2025, require passing a nationally recognized, 19
portfolio–based assessment of teaching ability as a requirement for graduation]. 20
6–125. 21
(a) (1) The Department shall determine whether the Basic Literacy Skills test 22
[required] APPROVED for initial teacher certification is at least as rigorous as the similar 23
examination administered by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. 24
(2) If the Department determines the Basic Literacy Skills test is 25
insufficient under paragraph (1) of this subsection, the Department shall develop a new 26
literacy examination of sufficient rigor. 27
(3) The Department may not limit the number of times an individual may 28
take the literacy examination developed under this subsection in order to pass. 29
(b) (1) (i) Beginning after the implementation of the literacy examination 30
under subsection (a) of this section, the Department shall develop and administer 31 HOUSE BILL 945 3
challenging, subject–specific examinations tailored to the subjects and grade level at which 1
teachers will teach. 2
(ii) Subject–specific examinations shall be at least as rigorous as 3
similar examinations administered in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. 4
(iii) The Department may not limit the number of times an individual 5
may take a subject–specific examination to pass the examination. 6
(2) Before a subject–specific examination developed under paragraph (1) of 7
this subsection is administered, the Department shall develop standards for the 8
subject–specific examination and submit the standards to each Department–approved 9
teacher preparation program 1 year before the first year in which the examination is 10
expected to be administered. 11
(3) A teacher preparation program with standards for a subject–specific 12
examination developed by the Department under paragraph (2) of this subsection shall 13
incorporate the standards into the curriculum of the teacher preparation program in a 14
timely manner. 15
6–126. 16
(a) (1) This subsection applies to individuals who have graduated from a 17
teacher preparation program [approved by the Department] or an alternative teacher 18
preparation program. 19
(2) Beginning on July 1, 2025, to qualify for an initial certificate an 20
individual shall: 21
(i) PASS THE SUBJECT –SPECIFIC EXAMINATION S UNDER § 22
6–125 OF THIS SUBTITLE; 23
(II) MEET ONE OF THE FOLLOWING QUALIFICATIONS : 24
1. Subject to paragraph (3) of this subsection, pass a 25
nationally recognized, portfolio–based assessment of teaching ability; 26
2. PASS A BASIC SKILLS A SSESSMENT; 27
3. HOLD A DEGREE FROM A REGIONALLY AC CREDITED 28
EDUCATIONAL INSTITUT ION AND HAVE EARNED A MINIMUM OVERALL CUMULATIVE 29
GRADE POINT AVERAGE OF 3.0 ON A 4.0 SCALE OR ITS EQUIVAL ENT ON THE MOST 30
RECENTLY EARNED DEGR EE; OR 31
4. SUBMIT DOCUMENTATION SATISFACTORY TO THE 32
DEPARTMENT OF SATISFA CTORY EVALUATIONS FR OM A LOCAL SCHOOL SY STEM 33 4 HOUSE BILL 945
FROM COMPLETION OF A RIGOROUS TEACHER I NDUCTION PROGRAM FOR THE 1
LESSER OF: 2
A. 3 YEARS; OR 3
B. THE AMOUNT OF TIME A TEACHER MAY HOLD A 4
CONDITIONAL TEACHER CERTIFICATE ; AND 5
[(ii) Pass a rigorous State–specific examination of mastery of reading 6
instruction and content for the grade level the individual will be teaching; and] 7
(iii) Satisfactorily complete any other requirements established by 8
the State Board. 9
(3) An individual who graduates from a teacher preparation program in 10
the State who passed a nationally recognized, portfolio–based assessment [as a 11
requirement to graduate under § 6–121 of this subtitle] may not be required to take the 12
assessment more than one time. 13
(b) In addition to any other requirements established by the State Board, to 14
qualify for a certificate in the State, a teacher who [graduated from an institution of higher 15
education in another state or] holds a professional license or certificate from another state 16
shall: 17
(1) [Pass an examination of teaching ability within 18 months of being 18
hired by a local school system] MEET THE REQUIREMENTS FOR AN INITIAL TEACHER 19
CERTIFICATE UNDER SU BSECTION (A) OF THIS SECTION ; or 20
(2) Hold an active National Board Certification from the National Board 21
for Professional Teaching Standards. 22
(c) (1) The Department, after a reasonable period of review and assessment, 23
shall determine whether one of the assessments of teaching skill [required] APPROVED for 24
initial teacher certification under this section more adequately measures the skills and 25
knowledge required of a highly qualified teacher. 26
(2) If the Department makes a determination under paragraph (1) of this 27
subsection that requires a revision to the statutory requirements for initial teacher 28
certification, the Department shall, in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State Government 29
Article, submit a report to the General Assembly on or before the next September 1 on its 30
recommendations for revising the qualifications for initial teacher [licensure] 31
CERTIFICATION . 32
(d) (1) The Department shall actively monitor and assess, during their 33
implementation and development, new teacher standards and assessments produced under 34 HOUSE BILL 945 5
this section for any negative impact on the diversity of teacher candidates passing the 1
initial teacher certification assessments. 2
(2) The Department shall report the results of its monitoring and 3
assessment to the Accountability and Implementation Board established under § 5–402 of 4
this article. 5
6–705. 6
(a) IT IS THE INTENT OF T HE GENERAL ASSEMBLY THAT THE PRO CESS FOR 7
INITIAL CERTIFICATIO N OF QUALIFIED TEACH ERS AND OTHER SCHOOL PERSONNEL 8
EDUCATED OR CREDENTI ALED IN OTHER STATES BE EFFICIENT AND EFF ECTIVE TO 9
ENCOURAGE MORE TEACH ERS AND OTHER SCHOOL PERSONNEL TO LIVE AND W ORK 10
IN THE STATE. 11
(B) Subject to the rules and regulations that are implemented according to § 12
6–704 of this subtitle, the State Superintendent [may] SHALL PURSUE AND make an 13
agreement with the appropriate educational authority of any other state THAT HAS 14
SUBSTANTIALLY EQUIVA LENT CREDENTIALING R EQUIREMENTS OTHERWIS E 15
REQUIRED BY THIS TIT LE to provide for reciprocity in the certification of teachers. 16
[(b)] (C) Subject to the regulations of the Board, the State Superintendent may 17
accept the accreditation for certification purposes of a program for teacher preparation if: 18
(1) The accreditation is granted by a recognized national accrediting 19
agency; and 20
(2) The institution preparing the teachers is in another state. 21
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 22
1, 2024. 23