This chapter establishes the criteria for the selection of public school teachers and non-classroom teachers who are eligible to receive financial aid, subject to annual appropriation by the Maryland General Assembly, to pursue initial certification or maintenance of certification by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. In this chapter, the following terms have the meanings indicated. Terms Defined. “Completion of the National Board certification process” means the candidate submits the requisite number of scoreable components, as defined by National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS), for initial certification or maintenance of certification within the time frame allowed by the NBPTS. “National Board certificate” means a credential issued by the NBPTS which attests that a candidate has been judged by peers as one who is accomplished, makes sound professional judgments about student learning, and acts effectively on those judgments. “National Board certification fee” means the component fee charged by the NBPTS. “National Board certification process for initial certification” means the process designed to collect standards-based evidence of accomplished practice that requires the candidate to complete four components, including an assessment and portfolio-based activities. “National Board maintenance of certification” means the process that requires the National Board certified candidate to complete two components that contain evidence of connections between the candidate's continued professional growth and student learning to extend their certification. “National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS)” means a private, nonprofit organization whose primary purpose is to advance the teaching profession and to improve student learning. “Non-classroom teacher” means a position in a school for which, if the individual earns National Board Certification, the individual is eligible to join the career ladder, including: Administrators; Assistant principals; Instructional specialists; and Principals. “Retake” means the process offered by the NBPTS, which allows candidates, during their initial attempt, to resubmit any combination of portfolio entries, assessment center exercises, or both, for which they did not achieve a passing score. “Teacher” means a licensed public school employee who is primarily responsible and accountable for teaching the students in the class and, unless otherwise provided, does not include: Curriculum specialists; Instructional aides; Attendance personnel; Psychologists; Social workers; Clerical personnel; An individual with a Resident Teacher Certificate; or An individual with a certification for career professionals. To be eligible to receive financial aid to pursue initial NBPTS certification, a candidate shall: Have completed 3 years of successful teaching as defined by the NBPTS; Hold a valid Maryland professional license; Affirm voluntary participation in the NBPTS certification process; Have access to a class of students of the age and in the content area of the National Board certificate being pursued; Comply with the deadlines as specified by the Department and NBPTS; and ) If completing a World Language certificate, provide a qualifying score on the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) speaking and writing proficiency assessments, as determined by the NBPTS. To be eligible to receive financial aid to pursue maintenance of certification of the NBPTS certificate, a candidate shall: Hold a valid Maryland professional license; and Comply with the deadlines as specified by the Department and NBPTS. Except as provided in §D of this regulation, to be eligible to receive financial aid to pursue a retake of a component, a candidate shall: Hold a valid Maryland professional license; and Comply with deadlines as specified by the Department and the NBPTS. A candidate may only receive payment for one retake of each component on the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. Each participating local school system shall: Publicize the written criteria identified in Regulation .03 of this chapter for the selection of candidates; and Forward names of candidates for the financial incentive program to the Department in accordance with the timelines established by the Department, with the following information: Name; NBPTS candidate code; Race, ethnicity, and gender; Contact information; Subject assignment or assignments; School assignment or assignments; Local education agency identification number; Signed memorandum of understanding that specifies the candidate's financial responsibility if the candidate does not complete the process; and Confirmation of verification of eligibility as identified in Regulation .03 of this chapter. Funding for the National Board Incentive Program is contingent upon appropriations by the General Assembly, and individual participation is not guaranteed. A candidate who receives a National Board certificate shall earn six continuing professional development credits toward the renewal of the Maryland professional certificate. A candidate who completes the National Board certification process, but who does not receive a National Board certificate, shall earn three continuing professional development credits toward the renewal of the Maryland professional certificate. Costs for the fee charged by NBPTS shall be shared in the following manner: The State Board of Education shall pay 2/3 of the National Board certification fee, and the local school system shall pay 1/3 of the National Board certification fee for an initial or maintenance of certification candidate; and Subject to the annual appropriation by the Maryland General Assembly, the State Board of Education shall pay 2/3 of the National Board certification fee, and the local school system shall pay 1/3 of the National Board certification fee, for a candidate to pursue one retake of each component of the National Board certification process. Reimbursement. A candidate who does not complete all four components of the initial National Board certification process within the first 3 years of their candidacy shall reimburse the State Board of Education the full amount of the aid, and the State Board of Education shall reimburse the local school system its share. A candidate who completes the certification process but does not achieve National Board Certification, is not required to reimburse the amount of the aid. Education Article, §§6-1001, 6-1012 and 6-1013, Annotated Code of Maryland Effective date: June 1, 1998 (25:11 Md. R. 821) Regulation .01 amended effective September 22, 2008 (35:19 Md. R. 1717); March 3, 2025 (52:4 Md. R. 219) Regulation .02B amended effective September 22, 2008 (35:19 Md. R. 1717); April 9, 2018 (45:7 Md. R. 346); March 3, 2025 (52:4 Md. R. 219) Regulation .03 amended effective September 22, 2008 (35:19 Md. R. 1717); March 3, 2025 (52:4 Md. R. 219) Regulation .03C amended effective April 9, 2018 (45:7 Md. R. 346) Regulation .04 amended effective January 20, 2003 (30:1 Md. R. 26); September 22, 2008 (35:19 Md. R. 1717); April 9, 2018 (45:7 Md. R. 346); March 3, 2025 (52:4 Md. R. 219) Regulation .05 amended effective September 22, 2008 (35:19 Md. R. 1717); March 3, 2025 (52:4 Md. R. 219); March 3, 2025 (52:4 Md. R. 219) Regulation .06 amended effective September 22, 2008 (35:19 Md. R. 1717); April 9, 2018 (45:7 Md. R. 346); March 3, 2025 (52:4 Md. R. 219) Regulation .07 amended effective September 22, 2008 (35:19 Md. R. 1717) Regulation .07 repealed effective March 3, 2025 (52:4 Md. R. 219) Regulation .08 adopted effective January 20, 2003 (30:1 Md. R. 26); September 22, 2008 (35:19 Md. R. 1717) Regulation .08 repealed effective March 3, 2025 (52:4 Md. R. 219)