EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
Underlining indicates amendments to bill.
Strike out indicates matter stricken from the bill by amendment or deleted from the law by
amendment.
*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
Committee Report: Favorable with amendments
House action: Adopted
Read second time: March 3, 2024
CHAPTER ______
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; authorizing a local school system to 9
establish a comprehensive induction program to aid in meeting a certain 10
requirement for initial teacher certification; altering the qualification requirements 11
for a teacher who holds a professional license or certificate from another state; and 12
generally relating to initial teacher certification. 13
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 14
Article – Education 15
Section 6–121(a), 6–125, 6–126, and 6–705 16
Annotated Code of Maryland 17
(2022 Replacement Volume and 2023 Supplement) 18
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 19
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 20
Article – Education 21
2 HOUSE BILL 945
6–121. 1
(a) A teacher preparation program shall: 2
(1) Include the following components of instruction: 3
(i) Basic research skills and methods and training on the routine 4
evaluation and use of research and data to improve student performance; 5
(ii) Differentiation of instruction and demonstration of cultural 6
competence for students of diverse racial, ethnic, linguistic, and economic backgrounds with 7
different learning abilities; 8
(iii) Implementation of restorative approaches for student behaviors; 9
(iv) Identifying and assessing, in the context of the classroom, typical 10
student learning deficits and techniques to remedy learning deficits; 11
(v) Recognizing and effectively using high quality instructional 12
materials, including digital resources and computer technology; 13
(vi) Core academic subjects that teachers will be teaching; 14
(vii) Methods and techniques for identifying and addressing the social 15
and emotional needs of students, including trauma–informed approaches to pedagogy; 16
(viii) Skills and techniques for effective classroom management; and 17
(ix) Training in the skills and techniques for teaching effectively in a 18
virtual learning environment, including the use of online curriculum; 19
(2) Require program participants to demonstrate competency in each of the 20
components required under paragraph (1) of this subsection; AND 21
(3) Provide training in the knowledge and skills required to understand 22
and teach the Maryland curriculum frameworks[; and 23
(4) On or after July 1, 2025, require passing a nationally recognized, 24
portfolio–based assessment of teaching ability as a requirement for graduation]. 25
6–125. 26
(a) (1) The Department shall determine whether the Basic Literacy Skills test 27
[required] APPROVED for initial teacher certification is at least as rigorous as the similar 28
examination administered by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts SUFFICIENTLY 29
RIGOROUS. 30 HOUSE BILL 945 3
(2) If the Department determines the Basic Literacy Skills test is 1
insufficient under paragraph (1) of this subsection, the Department shall develop a new 2
literacy examination of sufficient rigor. 3
(3) The Department may not limit the number of times an individual may 4
take the literacy examination developed under this subsection in order to pass. 5
(b) (1) (i) Beginning after the implementation of the literacy examination 6
under subsection (a) of this section, the Department shall develop and administer 7
challenging, subject–specific examinations tailored to the subjects and grade level at which 8
teachers will teach. 9
(ii) Subject–specific examinations shall be at least as rigorous as 10
similar examinations administered in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts RIGOROUS, 11
AS DEFINED BY THE DEPARTMENT . 12
(iii) The Department may not limit the number of times an individual 13
may take a subject–specific examination to pass the examination. 14
(2) Before a subject–specific examination developed under paragraph (1) of 15
this subsection is administered, the Department shall develop standards for the 16
subject–specific examination and submit the standards to each Department–approved 17
teacher preparation program 1 year before the first year in which the examination is 18
expected to be administered. 19
(3) A teacher preparation program with standards for a subject–specific 20
examination developed by the Department under paragraph (2) of this subsection shall 21
incorporate the standards into the curriculum of the teacher preparation program in a 22
timely manner. 23
6–126. 24
(a) (1) This subsection applies to individuals who have graduated from a 25
teacher preparation program [approved by the Department] or an alternative teacher 26
preparation program. 27
(2) Beginning on July 1, 2025, to qualify for an initial certificate an 28
individual shall: 29
(i) PASS THE SUBJECT –SPECIFIC EXAMINATION S UNDER § 30
6–125 OF THIS SUBTITLE ; 31
(II) MEET ONE OF THE FOLLO WING QUALIFICATIONS : 32
4 HOUSE BILL 945
1. Subject to paragraph (3) of this subsection, pass a 1
nationally recognized, portfolio–based assessment of teaching ability; OR 2
2. SUBJECT TO PARAGRAPH (4) OF THIS SUBSECTION , 3
COMPLETE A RIGOROUS LOCAL SCHOOL SYSTEM TEACHER INDUCTION PR OGRAM 4
THAT LASTS FOR THE LESSER OF : 5
A. 3 YEARS; OR 6
B. THE AMOUNT OF TIME A TEACHER MAY HOLD A 7
CONDITIONAL TEACHER CERTIFICATE; 8
(III) MEET ONE OF THE FOLLO WING QUALIFICATIONS : 9
1. PASS A BASIC LITERACY SKILLS ASSESSMENT 10
APPROVED BY THE DEPARTMENT UNDER § 6–125 OF THIS SUBTITLE; 11
3. 2. HOLD A DEGREE FROM A REGIONALLY ACCREDITE D 12
EDUCATIONAL INSTITUT ION AND HAVE EARNED A MINIMUM OVERALL CU MULATIVE 13
GRADE POINT AVERAGE OF 3.0 ON A 4.0 SCALE OR ITS EQUIVAL ENT ON THE MOST 14
RECENTLY EARNED DEGR EE; OR 15
4. 3. SUBMIT DOCUMENTATION SATISFACTORY TO THE 16
DEPARTMENT OF SATISFACTORY HAVING RECEIVED EFFE CTIVE EVALUATIONS 17
FROM A LOCAL SCHOOL SYSTEM FROM COMPLETION OF A RIGOROUS TEACHER 18
INDUCTION PROGRAM FO R THE LESSER OF: 19
A. 3 YEARS; OR 20
B. THE AMOUNT OF TIME A TEACHER MAY HOLD A 21
CONDITIONAL TEACHER CERTIFICATE FOR 3 YEARS; AND 22
[(ii) (IV) Pass a rigorous State–specific examination of mastery of 23
reading instruction and content for the grade level the individual will be teaching; and] 24
(iii) (V) Satisfactorily complete any other requirements 25
established by the State Board. 26
(3) An individual who graduates from a teacher preparation program in 27
the State who passed a nationally recognized, portfolio–based assessment [as a 28
requirement to graduate under § 6–121 of this subtitle] may not be required to take the 29
assessment more than one time. 30
(4) (I) IN ORDER TO SATISFY T HE REQUIREMENTS OF P ARAGRAPH 31
(2)(II)2 OF THIS SUBSECTION , A CANDIDATE FOR AN I NITIAL TEACHER CERTI FICATE 32 HOUSE BILL 945 5
SHALL SUBMIT DOCUMEN TATION TO THE DEPARTMENT THAT THE C ANDIDATE HAS 1
COMPLETED A RIGOROUS COMPREHENSIVE INDUCT ION PROGRAM , ESTABLISHED IN 2
ACCORDANCE WITH § 6–117 OF THIS SUBTITLE , THAT MEETS THE REQUI REMENTS 3
OF THIS PARAGRAPH . 4
(II) THE COMPREHENSIVE IND UCTION PROGRAM SHALL BE 5
DEVELOPED BY A LOCAL SCHOOL SYSTEM , EITHER INDEPENDENTLY OR 6
COLLABORATIVELY WITH OTHER LOCAL SCHOOL S YSTEMS. 7
(III) BEFORE ESTABLISHING A COMPREHENSIVE INDUCT ION 8
PROGRAM, ONE OR MORE LOCAL SC HOOL SYSTEMS SHALL S UBMIT A PLAN FOR THE 9
PROGRAM TO THE DEPARTMENT AND THE ACCOUNTABILITY AND 10
IMPLEMENTATION BOARD. 11
(IV) THE COMPREHENSIVE IND UCTION PROGRAM SHALL 12
INCLUDE A LOCALLY DE VELOPED PORTFOLIO CO MPONENT THAT IS ALIG NED WITH 13
THE INTERSTATE TEACHER ASSESSMENT AND SUPPORT CONSORTIUM 14
STANDARDS. 15
(V) A TEACHER PREPARATION PROG RAM OR AN ALTERNATIV E 16
TEACHER PREPARATION PROGRAM MAY USE THE LOCALLY DEVELOPED PO RTFOLIO 17
COMPONENT UNDER SUBP ARAGRAPH (IV) OF THIS PARAGRAPH AS MEETING A 18
PORTION OF THE COURS EWORK REQUIREMENTS O F THE PROGRAM . 19
(VI) A CANDIDATE WHO SATISFACTORILY COMPL ETES A 20
COMPREHENSIVE INDUCT ION PROGRAM ESTABLIS HED IN ACCORDANCE WI TH THIS 21
PARAGRAPH MAY NOT BE REQUIRED TO PASS A N ATIONALLY RECOGNIZED , 22
PORTFOLIO–BASED ASSESSMENT OF TEACHING ABILITY . 23
(b) In addition to any other requirements established by the State Board, to 24
qualify for a certificate in the State, a teacher who [graduated from an institution of higher 25
education in another state or] holds a professional license or certificate from another state 26
shall: 27
(1) [Pass an examination of teaching ability within 18 months of being 28
hired by a local school system] MEET THE REQUIREMENTS FOR AN INITIAL TEACH ER 29
CERTIFICATE UNDER SU BSECTION (A) OF THIS SECTION ; or; 30
(2) Hold an active National Board Certification from the National Board 31
for Professional Teaching Standards; OR 32
(3) COMPLETE A COMPREHENS IVE INDUCTION PROGRA M IN 33
ACCORDANCE WITH SUBS ECTION (A)(4) OF THIS SECTION . 34
6 HOUSE BILL 945
(c) (1) The Department, after a reasonable period of review and assessment, 1
shall determine whether one of the assessments of teaching skill [required] APPROVED for 2
initial teacher certification under this section more adequately measures the skills and 3
knowledge required of a highly qualified teacher. 4
(2) If the Department makes a determination under paragraph (1) of this 5
subsection that requires a revision to the statutory requirements for initial teacher 6
certification, the Department shall, in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State Government 7
Article, submit a report to the General Assembly on or before the next September 1 on its 8
recommendations for revising the qualifications for initial teacher [licensure] 9
CERTIFICATION . 10
(d) (1) The Department shall actively monitor and assess, during their 11
implementation and development, new teacher standards and assessments produced under 12
this section for any negative impact on the diversity of teacher candidates passing the 13
initial teacher certification assessments. 14
(2) The Department shall report the results of its monitoring and 15
assessment to the Accountability and Implementation Board established under § 5–402 of 16
this article. 17
6–705. 18
(a) IT IS THE INTENT OF T HE GENERAL ASSEMBLY THAT THE PRO CESS FOR 19
INITIAL CERTIFICATIO N OF QUALIFIED TEACH ERS AND OTHER SCHOOL PERSONNEL 20
EDUCATED OR CREDENTI ALED IN OTHER STATES BE EFFICIENT AND EFF ECTIVE TO 21
ENCOURAGE MORE TEACH ERS AND OTHER SCHOOL PERSONNEL TO LIVE AN D WORK 22
IN THE STATE. 23
(B) Subject to the rules and regulations that are implemented according to § 24
6–704 of this subtitle, the State Superintendent [may] SHALL PURSUE AND make an 25
agreement with the appropriate educational authority of any other state THAT HAS 26
SUBSTANTIALLY EQUIVA LENT CREDENTIALING R EQUIREMENTS OTHERWIS E 27
REQUIRED BY THIS TIT LE to provide for reciprocity in the certification of teachers. 28
[(b)] (C) Subject to the regulations of the Board, the State Superintendent may 29
accept the accreditation for certification purposes of a program for teacher preparation if: 30
(1) The accreditation is granted by a recognized national accrediting 31
agency; and 32
(2) The institution preparing the teachers is in another state. 33
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 34
1, 2024. 35