An Act To Improve the Quality of Teachers
Maine Legislature, Session 127, LD 1370
Committee Amendment CA_A_S432 (Senate)
Amends: 20-A MRSA §13012, 20-A MRSA §13015, 20-A MRSA §13406, 20-A MRSA §13407, 20-A MRSA §15689, 20-A MRSA §15689-A

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 'A " to S.P. 502, L.D. 1370, Bill, "An Act To 
Improve the Quality of Teachers" 
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause and before the 
summary and inserting the following: 
'Sec. 1. 20-A MRSA §13012, sub-§2-A, as amended by PL 2011, c. 635, Pt. B, 
§4, is further amended to read: 
2-A. Qualifications. State board rules governing the qualifications for a provisional 
teacher certificate must require that a certificate may only be issued to an applicant who 
meets the requirements of subsection 2-B, has successfully completed 90 hours of 
practicum and a student teaching experience of at least 15 weeks, which must commence 
no later than the applicant's junior year and continue only after the applicant's satisfactory 
disposition assessment during the applicant's senior year. and: 
A. 
For elementary school, has met academic and preprofessional requirements 
established by the state board for teaching at the elementary school level and has 
graduated with a grade point average of at least 3.0 based on a 4.0 grade point system 
in the applicant's teacher preparation course work from an accredited, degree-granting 
educational institution upon completion of: 
(1) A bachelor's degree from a 4-year accredited college or university; 
(2) A 4-year program in liberal arts and sciences; or 
(3) An approved 4-year teacher preparation program and has majored in the 
subject area to be taught or an interdisciplinary program in liberal arts; 
B. 
For secondary school, has met academic and preprofessional requirements 
established by the state board for teaching at the secondary school level and has 
graduated with a grade point average of at least 3.0 based on a 4.0 grade point system 
in the applicant's teacher preparation course work from an accredited, degree-granting 
educational institution upon completion of: 
(1) A bachelor's degree from a 4-year accredited college or university; 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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COMMIITEE AMENDMENT" I\" to S.P. 502, L.D. 1370 
(2) A 4-year program in liberal arts and sciences; or 
(3) An approved 4-year teacher preparation program and has majored in the 
subject area to be taught; 
C. Is otherwise qualified by having met separate educational criteria for specialized 
teaching areas, including, but not limited to, special education, home economics, 
agriculture, career and technical education, art, music, business education, physical 
education and industrial arts, as established by the state board for teaching in these 
specialized areas; or 
D. 
Has completed 6 credit hours of approved study within 5 years prior to 
application, has met entry-level standards and has held either a professional teacher 
certificate that expired more than 5 years prior to the application date or a provisional 
teacher certificate issued prior to July 1, 1988 that expired more than 5 years prior to 
the application date. 
For the purposes of this subsection, "practicum" means direct student engagement, 
including but not limited to tutoring, planning and implementing lesson plans and 
otherwise directly interacting with students on an individual basis or in a group setting. 
"Practicum" does not include activities that are composed solely of observing classrooms 
or students. 
Sec. 2. 20-A MRSA §13012, sub-§2-C is enacted to read: 
2-C. Teacher preparation programs. Except as provided in this subsection, by 
July 1, 2017: 
A. An educational institution offering an approved teacher preparation program must 
maintain a 3.0 average grade point average for all students completing the program 
and receiving a recommendation from the educational institution for certification in 
the preceding academic year; 
B. An educational institution offering an approved teacher preparation program shall 
develop a disposition assessment instrument that clearly describes the operational 
definition of each disposition component for candidates; 
C. An educational institution offering an approved teacher preparation program shall 
report to the department average grade point averages and shall report them 
separately for undergraduate and postbaccalaureate program completers who receive 
recommendations for certification; and 
D. The dean or director of an approved teacher preparation program in compliance 
with the requirements of paragraphs A, B and C may request that the commissioner 
waive the grade point average requirement established under subsection 2-A, 
paragraphs A and B for an applicant for a provisional teacher certificate under 
extenuating circumstances. 
If an educational institution through its teacher preparation program is unable to meet the 
grade point average requirements by July 1, 2017, the educational institution may request 
up to 2 one-year extensions from the commissioner. The commissioner may not provide 
an extension that commences on or after July 1, 2019. 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT"A "to S.P. 502, L.D. 1370 
Sec. 3. 20-A MRSA §13015, sub-§3, ,r,rc and D, as enacted by PL 1983, c. 
845, §4, are amended to read: 
C. A description of the duties of the master teacher responsible for the design and 
coordination of a teacher action plan; aed 
D. A description of any current or planned linkages the support system has or will 
have with institutions of higher education, department personnel and members of the 
public in the operation of its support system~; and 
Sec. 4. 20-A MRSA §13015, sub-§3, ,rE is enacted to read: 
E. For provisional teachers during each year of their probationary period: 
(1) Observations of classroom instruction of a minimum of 4 classes; and 
(2) Formative feedback and continuous improvement conversations throughout 
the school year. 
Sec. 5. 20-A MRSA §13406, as enacted by PL 2005, c. 635, §6, is repealed. 
Sec. 6. 20-A MRSA §13407 is enacted to read: 
§13407. Minimum salaries beginning in 2017-2018 school year 
Each school administrative unit shall establish a minimum salary of $40,000 for 
certified teachers for the school year starting after June 30, 2017 and in each subsequent 
school year. Each school administrative unit shall provide to the department on or before 
October 1st the number of teachers eligible for incremental salary increases as defined in 
section 15689, subsection 7-A. paragraph A. 
Sec. 7. 20-A MRSA §15689, sub-§7-A is enacted to read: 
7-A. Adiustment for minimum teacher salary. Beginning in fiscal year 2017-18 
and in each subsequent fiscal year, the commissioner shall, in accordance with this 
subsection, increase the state share of the total allocation to a qualifying school 
administrative unit by an amount necessary to achieve the minimum salary for certified 
teachers established in section 13407. 
A. As used in this subsection, unless the context otherwise indicates, "qualifying 
school administrative unit" means a school administrative unit that the commissioner 
determines to have a locally established salary schedule with a minimum teacher 
salary of less than $40,000 in school year 2016-2017. As used in this subsection, 
unless the context otherwise indicates, "incremental salary increases" means the 
incremental increases in the salaries of teachers employed by a qualifying school 
administrative unit in school year 2016-2017 necessary to meet the minimum salary 
requirements of section 13407 in fiscal year 2017-18 and thereafter. 
B. The commissioner shall allocate the funds appropriated by the Legislature in 
fiscal year 2017-18 and each subsequent fiscal year in accordance with the following. 
(1) The amount of increased funds provided to qualifying school administrative 
units under this subsection must be the amount necessary to fund the incremental 
salary increases. 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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COMMITIEE AMENDMENT "A" to S.P. 502, L.D. 1370 
(2) 
The number of teachers eligible for incremental salary increases in a 
qualifying school administrative unit for a fiscal year must be based on the local 
staff information supplied to the department pursuant to section 13407 in that 
fiscal year. 
(3) The increased funds provided under this subsection must be issued to the 
qualifying school administrative units as an adjustment to the state school 
subsidy for distribution to the teachers. Qualifying school administrative units 
must use the payments provided under this subsection to provide salary 
adjustments to those teachers eligible for incremental salary increases. The 
department shall collect the necessary data to allow the funds to be included in 
the qualifying school administrative unit's monthly subsidy payments beginning 
no later than February 1st of each fiscal year. 
Sec. 8. 20-A MRSA §15689-A, sub-§27 is enacted to read: 
27. Salary supplements for approved support systems for teacher certification. 
The commissioner shall pay the costs attributable to the involvement of teachers in the 
operation of a school administrative unit's support system approved in accordance with 
the provisions of section 13015. The amount of the payments must be equal to the 
teacher's per diem salary rate multiplied by the number of days the teacher is involved in 
the operation of an approved support system. 
Sec. 9. State Board of Education; rulemaking. The State Board of Education 
shall amend the standards and procedures for the review and approval of preparation 
programs for education personnel established in its rule Chapter 114: Purpose, Standards 
and Procedures for the Review and Approval of Preparation Programs for Education 
Personnel to articulate and outline clear standards for the memorandum of understanding 
between student teachers, teacher preparation programs and participating school 
administrative units. The State Board of Education must solicit comments from teacher 
preparation programs, teachers and school administrative unit leaders as to the 
appropriate standards that should be part of any memorandum of understanding. The 
proposed amendments to the rules must include: 
1. A memorandum of understanding template, which must be developed with teacher 
preparation programs and cooperating teachers, that clearly outlines the requirements for 
both participants. 
Student teachers, teacher preparation programs and school 
administrative units hosting cooperating teachers must be required to sign a memorandum 
of understanding outlining the expectations of all parties involved in the student teaching 
experience and practicum; 
2. Ways to increase the number of cooperating teachers, including but not limited to 
financial compensation, a positive effect on the performance evaluation of a cooperating 
teacher, recertification credit and college credit; and 
3. Rules to implement the grade point average requirement provisions for teacher 
preparation programs established under the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 20-A, section 
13012, subsection 2-C related to the issuance of provisional teacher certificates. 
Rules adopted or amended pursuant to this section are major substantive rules as 
defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A. The State Board of Education shall 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A" to S.P. 502, L.D. 1370 
submit the provisionally adopted amendments to its rule Chapter 114: Purpose, Standards 
and Procedures for the Review and Approval of Preparation Programs for Education 
Personnel to the Executive Director of the Legislative Council by January 13, 2017. 
Sec. 10. Professional Standards Board. The Governor shall appoint members 
for all vacant positions on the Professional Standards Board established under the Maine 
Revised Statutes, Title 20-A, chapter 502-B no later than September 1, 2016, and the 
Professional Standards Board shall convene a meeting no later than October 1, 2016. 
Sec. 11. Costs. The Department of Education shall determine the amount of state 
funds necessary to meet the requirements of the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 20-A, 
section 15689, subsection 7-A and shall report that amount to the joint standing 
committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over education matters no later than 
December 15, 2016. The committee shall report out a bill to the First Regular Session of 
the 128th Legislature to provide the necessary funding. 
Sec. 12. Appropriations and allocations. The following appropriations and 
allocations are made. 
FINANCE AUTHORITY OF MAINE 
Student Financial Assistance Programs 0653 
Initiative: Provides funding to pay the costs of doubling the amount of loans awarded to 
eligible students from the Educators for Maine Program. 
GENERAL FUND 
All Other 
GENERAL FUND TOTAL 
SUMMARY 
2015-16 
$0 
$0 
2016-17 
$250,000 
$250,000 
This amendment is the majority report of the Joint Standing Committee on Education 
and Cultural Affairs and, like the bill, proposes to improve teacher quality in the State by 
amending the current statutes related to programs involving teacher preparation, support 
systems for provisional teachers, teacher certification, teacher salaries and college loans 
for students enrolled in a program of study leading to certification as a teacher. 
The amendment amends the provisions of the bill that expand the student teaching 
experience and academic achievement requirements for a provisional teacher certificate. 
The amendment specifies the number of hours of practicum an applicant must complete, 
clarifies the time frame during which the student teaching experience must occur and 
specifies that the grade point average requirement applies only to an applicant's teacher 
preparation course work. The bill increases to 24 the minimum number of weeks of 
student teaching experience an applicant must complete; the amendment retains the 
current requirement of 15 weeks. The amendment enacts a grade point average 
requirement with respect to applicants recommended by educational institutions offering 
teacher preparation programs. 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" A" to S.P. 502, L.D. 1370 
The amendment retains the provisions of the bill that strengthen the support systems 
required to provide assistance for provisional teachers during each year of their 
probationary period and that require the Commissioner of Education to pay salary 
supplements to teachers who are involved in the operation of such systems. 
The amendment removes the provision of the bill that requires an individual who is 
issued a teacher certificate on or after July 1, 2015 and has not completed a master's 
degree program to complete a master's degree program before the individual may have 
the individual's certificate renewed or be issued another certificate. 
The amendment provides that the provisions of the bill increasing the minimum 
salary for certified teachers to $40,000 apply beginning with the 2017-2018 school year 
and that the provisions of the bill that include in the school funding formula the state 
funding for the incremental costs of meeting this minimum apply beginning in fiscal year 
2017-18. The amendment removes the provision of the bill requiring the Commissioner 
of Education to pay the increased teacher retirement contributions resulting from the 
increase in minimum salary. 
The amendment removes the provision of the bill that requires the Department of 
Education to increase the qualifying scores for the standardized qualifying examinations 
for initial teacher certification. 
The amendment requires the State Board of Education to amend its rule Chapter 114: 
Purpose, Standards and Procedures for the Review and Approval of Preparation Programs 
for Education Personnel to articulate and outline clear standards for the memorandum of 
understanding between student teachers, teacher preparation programs and participating 
school administrative units. 
The amendment directs the Governor to appoint members to vacant positions on the 
Professional Standards Board by September 1, 2016 and directs the board to reactivate by 
October 1, 2016. 
The amendment provides additional appropriations for the Educators for Maine 
Program within the Finance Authority of Maine in order to double the annual investment 
of state loan funds awarded to eligible students. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Revised: 03/21/16 
;Wac 
LD 1370 
LR 891(02) 
An Act To Improve the Quality of Teachers 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment ''A' rs -tr2>Z ""\ 
Committee: Education and Cultural Affairs 
l 
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Net Cost (Savings) 
General Fund 
Appropriations/Allocations 
General Fund 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Future biennium cost increase - General Fund 
Future biennium cost increase - School Administrative Units 
FY 2015-16 
FY 2016-17 
$0 
$250,000 
$0 
$250,000 
Projections 
FY 2017-18 
$250,000 
$250,000 
Projections 
FY 2018-19 
$250,000 
$250,000 
This bill includes ongoing General Fund appropriations of $250,000 per year beginning in fiscal year 2016-17 to the 
Student Financial Assistance Program within the Finance Authority of Maine for the costs of doubling the amount of 
loans awarded to eligible students in the Educators for Maine Program. 
This legislation requires local school adminstrative units to increase the minimum salary for certified teachers to 
$40,000 beginning in the 2017-2018 school year. Although the actual cost can not be determined at this time, the 
estimated cost is expected to be approximately $12.2 million in fiscal year 2017-18 and $11.0 million in fiscal year 
2018-19. This estimate is derived by adjusting teacher salary data provided by the Department of Education for the 
2015-2016 school year for assumed cost-of-living increases of 1.6% per year and an estimated 75 new teachers hired 
at the current minimum salary of $30,000 per year. Because the language in the bill is not clear as to how salaries for 
part-time teachers is to be addressed, this fiscal note does not provide an estimated cost for these teachers. It also 
does not address the additional costs to local school administrative units to adjust salary schedules for certified 
teachers whose salaries will be above the $40,000 minimum in fiscal year 2017-18 when teachers whose salaries are 
below the $40,000 threshold will be increased to $40,000. 
Additionally, this requirement will increase the employer contribution for the normal cost component of the Maine 
Public Employers Retirement System (MainePERS) due to the increase in salaries. Because the contribution rate for 
the normal cost component for teachers for fiscal year 201 7-18 is not yet known, this fiscal note utilizes the rate for 
the 2016-2017 biennium of 3.36%. When this rate is applied to the projected increase in teacher salaries, the 
additional amount local school administrative units will have to pay to MainePERS for the normal cost of teacher 
retirement is estimated to be $409,880 in fiscal year 2017-18 and $370,225 in fiscal year 2018-19. 
LR0891(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of2 
CA (~-lt32J 
This bill requires the Department of Education to determine the amount of state funds necessary to fund the increase 
in the minimum salary for teachers and report that amount to the Joint Standing Committee on Education and Cultural 
Affairs no later than December 15, 2016 and provides that the committee shall report out a bill to the First Regular 
Session of the 128th Legislature to provide the necessary funding. Unless this funding is approved and enacted by the 
I 28th Legislature during the 1st Regular session, the full cost of this measure will be borne by local school 
administrative units. For any future fiscal year that the State chooses not to fund the additional cost of this minimum 
salary requirement, local school administrative units will be required to fund 100% of the cost. 
LR0891(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 2 of2