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Work group recommends reinstating transcript‑analysis pathway for fine arts licensure; draft regs to return in June
Summary
A 16‑member work group convened by MSDE recommended reinstating a version of a transcript‑analysis pathway for dance, music, visual art and theater that would lead to conditional licensure (nonrenewable five‑year conditional license if requirements not met); MSDE said draft regulatory language will be reviewed by legal and presented in June.
The Professional Standards and Teacher Education Board heard recommendations May 1 from a fine arts licensure work group that convened after public comments raised licensing barriers for dance, theater and other fine arts teachers.
Lizzie Devereaux, director of comprehensive arts education, and Miss Fitzpatrick presented findings and recommendations developed by a 16‑member group representing higher education, LEAs, arts advocacy organizations and MSDE. The group reviewed public comments from the COMAR 13A.12 educator licensure rollout and examined pathways used by other states.
Presenters said Maryland currently has about 4,700 licensed fine arts (dance, music, visual arts and theater) educators and roughly 490 of those hold conditional credentials. At the start of the 2024–25 school year, MSDE staff reported 96 vacancies in fine arts. Presenters said there currently are no Maryland‑approved alternative preparation programs widely available for fine arts, except for a Bard program in Baltimore City that is limited to Bard School placements.
Work group members recommended reinstating a version of the former transcript‑analysis pathway (COLMAR 13A educator certification route) as a pathway that would result in a conditional PK–12 fine arts license. Under the proposal described to the board, the transcript analysis pathway would not itself be a direct route to a professional license. Instead, an applicant who meets the pathway's requirements would receive a conditional license (five‑year, nonrenewable unless regulatory conditions for professional licensure are met) issued at the discretion of the hiring LEA or state‑operated school when a vacancy cannot be filled by a professionally licensed educator.
MSDE staff said the proposed pathway will require demonstration of content knowledge (options discussed included occupational experience, examination or degree/credit evidence) and some pedagogical coursework that maps to required topics rather than narrowly prescribed courses. The work group also recommended more online and credit‑by‑credit options so candidates can complete pedagogy requirements without enrolling in a full master's program.
Miss Fitzpatrick and Devereaux said the group reached consensus and will deliver draft regulatory language for the board to review in June; MSDE said the draft must undergo legal review before formal publication. Board members thanked work group participants for broad stakeholder participation and noted the recommendations are intended to increase equitable access to the classroom for content experts in the arts.
"The work group across the board supported reinstating a version of transcript analysis," Devereaux said, adding that detailed regulatory language will be presented at the next meeting.
