CHAPTER 72

S.P. 430 - L.D. 1251

Resolve, To Establish a System for Verification of

Proficiency for Prelingually Deaf Candidates for Teacher

Certification

Sec. 1. Rules; certification. Resolved: That the State Board of Education shall amend Chapter 115: Certification, Authorization and Approval of Educational Personnel, a rule of the Department of Education, to provide an alternative means of verifying the proficiency of prelingually deaf teacher certification candidates. The alternative must be available for prelingually deaf teacher certification candidates in lieu of the current requirements that teacher certification candidates demonstrate their knowledge of basic skills, subject content and pedagogy through achievement of qualifying scores on standardized qualifying examinations. Notwithstanding the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 20-A, chapters 502 and 502-A, the amendment to the rule is a major substantive rule as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.

Notwithstanding the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 20-A, chapter 502 or any rule that limits the number of years for which a targeted need area certificate may be issued, the Department of Education shall continue to issue renewals of targeted need area certificates pursuant to Title 20-A, section 13011, subsection 9 to prelingually deaf teachers who meet the criteria set forth in rules for such certification. The amendment to the rule adopted pursuant to this resolve must specify when the limitation on the number of renewals of targeted need area certificates for prelingually deaf teachers must be reinstated.