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Work group outlines criteria, waiver conditions for new 'licensed principal' career-ladder tier
Summary
MSDE's administrator work group recommended criteria to move to the licensed principal tier (administrator license, prior level-3 requirements, effective evaluations, LEA readiness, principal induction completion) and proposed waiver conditions for National Board Certification, including experience-based exemptions and out-of-state service.
MSDE staff presented the administrator work group's recommendations for implementing a new "licensed principal" tier under Maryland's educator career ladder and described a proposed waiver pathway for the statute's National Board Certification (NBCT) requirement.
Kelly, MSDE lead for the work group, said the group's approach was to adhere closely to the statute while adding operational criteria the State Board can consider. Core criteria the group recommended for candidates to move to the licensed principal tier include holding the administrator license, having previously met level-3 requirements on the career ladder, an effective recent evaluation, LEA determination that the candidate is ready for principal responsibilities, and successful completion of a principal induction program within one year of assignment (the latter was recommended as guidance but not a statutory requirement).
Because the statute makes NBCT a requirement beginning 07/01/2029, the work group also drafted a waiver process (modeled on existing licensure-waiver language) and four illustrative waiver conditions: when NBCT is not available in a candidate's specialty (e.g., certain specialist roles), when insufficient NBCT candidates exist for a vacancy, three years of effective assistant-principal performance in Maryland prior to 07/01/2029 (or three years as a principal), or five years of effective principal experience in another state. The group cautioned that the induction requirement could become an unfunded mandate if adopted without state guidance or funding for principal induction programs.
Board members praised the flexibility but raised equity and validity questions: some worried that waivers could create a two-tier oversight standard between administrators and the classroom teachers they supervise. Others urged careful definition of "effective" and "highly competent" given LEA-by-LEA differences in evaluations. Kelly said the waiver process text would be modeled on the department's existing licensure-waiver procedures and would be presented for further consultation in January before formal promulgation steps.
Next steps: the board will review the draft criteria and waiver language and MSDE will return to the board in January with a memorandum summarizing feedback for the State Board of Education.
