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Committee pauses on licensure amendments that would allow two-year temporary professional licenses for specialists and administrators missing special-education3
Summary
MSDE and the Professional Standards and Teacher Education Board proposed amending licensure COMAR pages to allow local education agencies to issue a two-year temporary professional license for specialists and administrators who meet all requirements except a 3-credit special education course. Committee members, led by Dr. Lewis and Dr. Mala McC
The Education Policy Committee reviewed proposed amendments to several licensure regulations that would expand the scope of the two-year temporary professional license to allow LEAs and nonpublic schools to hire applicants who meet all initial licensure requirements except a single three-credit special education course (or equivalent CPD credits).
Kelly Meadows of MSDE said the change responds to hiring barriers raised by the Professional Standards and Teacher Education Board (PISTAB) and school-system partners: some specialists (notably social workers) and certain administrator hires were reportedly being blocked by the new April 2024 licensure requirement that administrators and specialists hold a minimum three-credit special education course for initial licensure. The proposed regulatory language would allow issuance of a nonrenewable two-year temporary professional license while the employee completes the missing coursework.
Committee members expressed concern. Dr. Lewis said the proposal "hurts my heart," arguing that administrators and many specialists need knowledge of special education in order to fulfill responsibilities such as participating in IEP meetings. Other members said they supported exploring options but asked for more data on how many hires lack the coursework and whether narrower carve-outs (for example, limited to social workers) might be preferable. The committee did not vote on the amendments and asked MSDE and PISTAB to revisit the changes and return with additional analysis and alternatives.
Why it matters: The licensure change would affect hiring flexibility in LEAs and nonpublic schools statewide. Committee members warned that broad exemptions could leave administrators and specialists unprepared for special-education responsibilities; MSDE said the change aimed to balance hiring realities with workforce shortages.
