Maryland education staff outline career ladder, NBCT incentives and timeline for principal licensure
June 01, 2023 | Maryland Department of Education, School Boards, Maryland
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Maryland Department of Education staff on Tuesday walked board members through the agency's Pillar 2 blueprint implementation plan, detailing a multi-tier career ladder for educators, a new support program for National Board candidates and statutory changes that will affect principal licensure in 2029.
Kelly, a presenter from MSDE, said the agency submitted its implementation plan in March and focused the briefing on career-ladder tiers and programs closely aligned to the board's work. "MSDE again, submitted their plan in March and Google it," Kelly said, directing members to the MSDE blueprint implementation plan online.
The ladder includes multiple tiers: a state-certified teacher at the base, Tier 2 for educators who are "pursuing" advanced credentials such as National Board certification or an approved 30-credit course of study, and Tier 3 for leadership tracks including assistant principals and NBCTs who take on teacher-leadership roles. Kelly said enrollment or documented candidacy should serve as evidence that a teacher is "pursuing" an advanced credential.
On compensation, Kelly outlined the incentive structure in current law: teachers who hold National Board certification receive a $10,000 salary increase, and those working in designated low-performing schools receive an additional $7,000 ("a total of $17,000"), subject to maintaining the certification.
Kelly also described a new support program required under the blueprint that establishes a state coordinator and local NBC coordinators and facilitators to support candidates. "Our NBC coordinator started yesterday. Her name is Melissa Chandler," Kelly said, adding that the state coordinator will train and support local facilitators.
Board members sought specific definitions and implementation details. Members asked whether "pursuing" means enrollment in a candidacy or merely intent; Kelly said enrollment or a formal program application is the most plausible documentary standard but deferred to the AIB and the forthcoming regulations for final definitions. Several members also pressed for clarity about whether existing mentor teachers would be grandfathered if they do not already hold National Board certification; Kelly said that timelines and local flexibility would vary and recommended reading local LEA blueprints on the AIB website.
The group examined licensure language affecting principals. Kelly read statutory text that says beginning July 1, 2029 a teacher generally must be an NBCT (MBC) to be a licensed principal, though the state board may establish waivers and an induction/training pathway. "So it's not the assistant principal, it's the principal," Kelly said when summarizing the provision and noted that waivers and consultation with the state board will be part of the subsequent work.
Members raised implementation concerns: inconsistent local models during previous induction pilots, the use of substitutes rather than sustainable teaching positions, varying LEA technology systems for tracking PDPs, and the workload for administrators who will verify PDP categories. One member summarized outreach findings: many rank-and-file teachers are not yet aware of the changes and expect to rely on local HR or certification offices for guidance.
Kelly and attendees also reviewed recruitment work under Pillar 2: the Teach Maryland website and a recent Teach Maryland conference attended by 270 high school students from 15 districts, which organizers plan to repeat in the fall.
Practical next steps included directing board members to review LEA blueprint submissions on the AIB website, compiling members' questions into an FAQ or chart for public-facing guidance, and returning for further discussion at the board's August meeting and a longer session provisionally scheduled for Sept. 14.
A procedural vote at the start of the meeting canceled the July meeting. "I was just gonna move to, cancel the July PISTID meeting," a member said; the motion was seconded by Dr. Taylor and carried by voice vote.
The board adjourned at 11:53 a.m. with staff and members agreeing to circulate the collected questions and to follow up on data and reporting requirements as regulations move toward publication in the Maryland Register and subsequent local implementation.
Kelly, a presenter from MSDE, said the agency submitted its implementation plan in March and focused the briefing on career-ladder tiers and programs closely aligned to the board's work. "MSDE again, submitted their plan in March and Google it," Kelly said, directing members to the MSDE blueprint implementation plan online.
The ladder includes multiple tiers: a state-certified teacher at the base, Tier 2 for educators who are "pursuing" advanced credentials such as National Board certification or an approved 30-credit course of study, and Tier 3 for leadership tracks including assistant principals and NBCTs who take on teacher-leadership roles. Kelly said enrollment or documented candidacy should serve as evidence that a teacher is "pursuing" an advanced credential.
On compensation, Kelly outlined the incentive structure in current law: teachers who hold National Board certification receive a $10,000 salary increase, and those working in designated low-performing schools receive an additional $7,000 ("a total of $17,000"), subject to maintaining the certification.
Kelly also described a new support program required under the blueprint that establishes a state coordinator and local NBC coordinators and facilitators to support candidates. "Our NBC coordinator started yesterday. Her name is Melissa Chandler," Kelly said, adding that the state coordinator will train and support local facilitators.
Board members sought specific definitions and implementation details. Members asked whether "pursuing" means enrollment in a candidacy or merely intent; Kelly said enrollment or a formal program application is the most plausible documentary standard but deferred to the AIB and the forthcoming regulations for final definitions. Several members also pressed for clarity about whether existing mentor teachers would be grandfathered if they do not already hold National Board certification; Kelly said that timelines and local flexibility would vary and recommended reading local LEA blueprints on the AIB website.
The group examined licensure language affecting principals. Kelly read statutory text that says beginning July 1, 2029 a teacher generally must be an NBCT (MBC) to be a licensed principal, though the state board may establish waivers and an induction/training pathway. "So it's not the assistant principal, it's the principal," Kelly said when summarizing the provision and noted that waivers and consultation with the state board will be part of the subsequent work.
Members raised implementation concerns: inconsistent local models during previous induction pilots, the use of substitutes rather than sustainable teaching positions, varying LEA technology systems for tracking PDPs, and the workload for administrators who will verify PDP categories. One member summarized outreach findings: many rank-and-file teachers are not yet aware of the changes and expect to rely on local HR or certification offices for guidance.
Kelly and attendees also reviewed recruitment work under Pillar 2: the Teach Maryland website and a recent Teach Maryland conference attended by 270 high school students from 15 districts, which organizers plan to repeat in the fall.
Practical next steps included directing board members to review LEA blueprint submissions on the AIB website, compiling members' questions into an FAQ or chart for public-facing guidance, and returning for further discussion at the board's August meeting and a longer session provisionally scheduled for Sept. 14.
A procedural vote at the start of the meeting canceled the July meeting. "I was just gonna move to, cancel the July PISTID meeting," a member said; the motion was seconded by Dr. Taylor and carried by voice vote.
The board adjourned at 11:53 a.m. with staff and members agreeing to circulate the collected questions and to follow up on data and reporting requirements as regulations move toward publication in the Maryland Register and subsequent local implementation.
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