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<section article="ged" article_name="Education" number="7-1406" title_number="7" title_name="Public Schools" subtitle_number="14" subtitle_name="Virtual Schools">
  <level label="a">
    <level label="1">
      <text>A teacher assigned to a virtual school shall have a teacher’s certificate issued by the State Superintendent under Title 6 of this article or any other relevant professional certification authorized under COMAR 13A.12.01.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Teachers or education support personnel assigned to work in a virtual school shall:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>Be an employee of the county, or a collaborating county, that established the virtual school;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Subject to subsection (b) of this section, be subject to the collective bargaining agreement of that jurisdiction; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>Have access to professional development.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <text>A collective bargaining agreement may include provisions specific to employees who work in a virtual school in consideration of the conditions and requirements relevant to that work environment.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <text>An employee assigned to a virtual school may not be required to provide virtual and in–person instruction or support to students simultaneously.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <level label="1">
      <text>Subject to paragraph (2) of this subsection, the county board shall determine the appropriate student–teacher ratio for the size of a class in a virtual school based on multiple factors, including grade level, subject matter, and teacher workload.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The student–teacher ratio of a class in a virtual school shall be consistent with the median in–person class size by course and grade level.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="e">
    <text>A virtual school shall provide to a teacher and any other employee assigned to teach or provide direct instruction in a virtual school:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>The technology and equipment required to perform the functions of the job; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>If necessary, a physical space to conduct teaching or provide direct instruction in the virtual school.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="f">
    <text>A virtual school shall have a planned staffing model, including provisions for staff recruitment, training, evaluation, and professional development.</text>
  </level>
</section>
