Board grants permission to adopt amendments to teacher licensure pathways (COMAR 13A.12.02.03)

The Professional Standards and Teacher Education Board on a voice vote granted permission to adopt amendments to the Code of Maryland Regulations 13A.12.02.03 that create or clarify alternative pathways to teacher licensure, including a fine-arts transcript-analysis pathway and a secondary content transcript-analysis pathway.

Presenter staff told the board the amendments had been published for public comment and that MSDE received 20 comments, ‘‘mostly in support,’’ and will produce guidance and resources to help licensure partners conduct transcript analysis and evaluate acceptable content and occupational experience. The presenter said MSDE will train licensure partners on the new processes.

Rachel McGrain, executive director of Arts Education Maryland Schools, told the board she supported the changes and thanked board members and MSDE staff for the work that led to the provisions for fine-arts licensure pathways.

The motion to grant permission to adopt was made by Dr. Taylor and seconded; the chair called for ayes and recorded no opposition. Board materials and the presenter’s remarks note the revisions are intended to expand alternative routes into teaching for specialists in fine arts and to formalize MSDE’s role in approving transcript-analysis decisions and portfolio-based assessments.

MSDE staff said the changes do not substantially alter existing licensure criteria but add options for evaluating coursework and experience. The department will circulate training and support materials to licensure partners and said any operational changes will be implemented through that training.

Next procedural steps: MSDE will finalize the transmittal and implementation materials and follow the State Board’s permission to adopt process; the regulation will then proceed according to the administrative rules for publication and final adoption.