Sec. 1. 20-A MRSA §13032, as enacted by PL 1983, c. 859, Pt. I, §§2 and 3, is amended to read:

§13032. Qualifying examination

The provisional teacher certificate shall may only be issued to those applicants who have taken the teacher qualifying examinations examination. The examinations examination may be administered in separate parts and may be taken by applicants for provisional teacher certificates at any time after completion of the sophomore year of attendance at a post-secondary higher education institution. The examination shall must test the applicant in the following areas area:

1. Communication skills. Communication skills, which include listening, reading and writing;

2. General knowledge. General knowledge, which includes concepts from a variety of disciplines, including literature and fine arts, mathematics, science and social studies; and

3. Professional knowledge. Professional knowledge, which focuses on the knowledge and cognitive processes the teacher uses in decision-making, with emphasis on how those processes will be applied in the classroom.

4.__Basic skills.__Basic skills, which includes reading, writing and mathematics.

The applicant shall be is responsible for the costs associated with taking the teacher qualifying examinations examination.

Sec. 2. 20-A MRSA §13035, as enacted by PL 1983, c. 859, Pt. I, §§2 and 3, is repealed.

Sec. 3. 20-A MRSA §13035-A is enacted to read:

§13035-A.__Qualifying scores

1.__Basic skills scores.__Beginning September 1, 2000, in order to be eligible for a provisional teacher certificate, an applicant must achieve the minimum qualifying scores on the teacher qualifying examinations examination in basic skills pursuant to section 13032, subsection 4.

2.__Core battery scores.__Until September 1, 2004, notwithstanding subsection 1, an applicant that has taken and