Professional Standards Board adopts new program-approval and licensure regulations; MSDE outlines phased implementation

The Professional Standards Board voted to adopt two major sets of educator regulations on Thursday after reviewing months of public comment. The board approved COMAR 13A.07.06, the program-approval regulations, and COMAR 13A.12, the licensure regulations, in separate roll-call votes following discussion of written testimony and agency responses.

MSDE staff member Kelly said the department will move rapidly to provide technical assistance once the State Board of Education reviews and (if it concurs) the rules are published. Kelly said MSDE is preparing guidance, trainings, example scenarios and updates to the TEACH application system so educator-preparation programs (EPPs) and local education agencies (LEAs) can comply. She recommended an early-spring effective date (March–April 2024) rather than immediate effect, noting the breadth of changes and the department’s busiest operational periods in July.

Why it matters: The new rules change how programs are approved and how candidates qualify for and renew teaching credentials across Maryland. MSDE told the board it will stagger priorities for monitoring and site visits and issue transition policies so educators who renew mid-cycle may complete their current requirements or opt into the new rules without losing credit toward a full validity period.

What the board decided: The board first moved to adopt COMAR 13A.07.06 (program regulations). After a second, members conducted a roll-call vote; the motion carried. Later the board moved to adopt COMAR 13A.12 (licensure). Following roll-call, that motion also carried, with two members recorded as voting no during the licensure roll call.

Votes at a glance: The board recorded roll-call votes for both measures during the meeting; members announced their votes aloud during the roll call. The formal motions were: “Adopt COMAR 13A.07.06” and “Adopt COMAR 13A.12.” MSDE staff confirmed the packet on which the votes were taken included non-substantive edits discussed earlier (typo and terminology clarifications).

Implementation next steps: Kelly said the department will (1) present the adopted regulations to the State Board of Education in December, (2) publish transition guidance and a monitoring schedule for EPP site visits, (3) prepare training and documentation for LEAs and EPPs, and (4) update TEACH system fields and workflows. Staff said the department will accept either the old renewal path or the new one for educators whose renewal period spans the change so that each holder receives a full validity cycle.

Board context: The board and MSDE staff repeatedly emphasized the distinction between what can be done in regulation and what requires legislative change; where statute prescribes a requirement, the department said it must follow current law until the legislature acts. The board recorded its vote after concluding that the public comments had been reviewed and MSDE’s non-substantive edits were acceptable.

What’s next: If the State Board of Education requests substantive changes after its December review, MSDE said any such changes would restart the promulgation process, including republishing the proposal and allowing an additional comment period. Otherwise, MSDE will proceed with staged implementation and technical assistance.