2018 Maryland Code
Education
Division II - Elementary and Secondary Education
Title 6 - Teachers and Other Personnel
Subtitle 3 - Salaries
§ 6-306. County grants for national certification
(a) Definitions. --
(1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.
(2) "County grant for national certification" means an annual grant distributed to a teacher certified by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards established:
(i) Outside of the collective bargaining process; or
(ii) As part of a collective bargaining agreement with the local employee organization.
(3) "School-based employee" means a certificated employee who works directly with students or teachers at a public school.
(b) State budgetary funding. --
(1) For fiscal year 2000 and each subsequent fiscal year, the Governor shall include in each year's operating budget funding for the stipends and bonuses provided in this subsection.
(2) A classroom teacher or other nonadministrative school-based employee in a public school identified by the State Board as having comprehensive needs who holds a standard professional certificate or an advanced professional certificate who is employed by a county board and who holds a certificate issued by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards shall receive a stipend from the State in an amount equal to the county grant for national certification, up to a maximum of:
(i) For fiscal year 2018, $ 2,000 per qualified individual; and
(ii) For fiscal year 2019 and each fiscal year thereafter, $ 4,000 per qualified individual.
(3) A classroom teacher or other nonadministrative school-based employee in a school not identified by the State Board as having comprehensive needs who holds a standard professional certificate or an advanced professional certificate who is employed by a county board and who holds a certificate issued by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards shall receive a stipend from the State in an amount equal to the county grant for national certification, up to a maximum of $ 1,000 per qualified individual.
(4) To the maximum extent practicable, each public school shall utilize teachers who have obtained National Board Certification in leadership roles within the school.
(5) (i) 1. The State Board shall establish a program to support locally negotiated incentives, governed under Subtitles 4 and 5 of this title, for highly effective classroom teachers and principals to work in public schools that are:
A. In improvement, corrective action, or restructuring;
B. Categorized by the local school system as a Title I school; or
C. In the highest 25% of schools in the State based on a ranking of the percentage of students who receive free and reduced priced meals.
2. The program established under subsubparagraph 1 of this subparagraph may include financial incentives, leadership changes, or other incentives.
(ii)
1. The State Board shall adopt guidelines to implement this paragraph.
2. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to prohibit a local school system from employing more stringent standards than the guidelines adopted under this subparagraph.
(c) County grant for teaching in an economically disadvantaged school. --
(1) This subsection applies only in Anne Arundel County.
(2) In this subsection, "county grant for teaching in an economically disadvantaged school" means an annual grant distributed to a teacher who teaches in an economically disadvantaged school established:
(i) Outside of the collective bargaining process; or
(ii) As part of a collective bargaining agreement with the local employee representative.
(3) For fiscal years 2017 and 2018, the Governor shall include in the State operating budget funding for the stipends provided in this subsection.
(4) (i) Except as provided in subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph, a classroom teacher shall receive a stipend from the State in an amount equal to the county grant for teaching in an economically disadvantaged school, up to a maximum of $ 1,500 if the teacher:
1. Teaches in a public middle or high school in which at least 30% of the students as a percentage of full-time equivalent students as defined in ยง 5-202 of this article qualify for free and reduced price meals under the National School Lunch Program;
2. Holds a standard or advanced professional certificate; and
3. Is employed by the county board.
(ii) For fiscal year 2018, the maximum stipend a teacher may receive under subparagraph (i) of this paragraph is $ 750.
(d) Recipients not State employees. -- An individual who receives a stipend or bonus under subsection (b) or (c) of this section may not be deemed an employee of the State.
(e) Fringe benefits costs. -- The employer of an individual who receives a stipend or bonus under subsection (b) or (c) of this section shall pay the increase in fringe benefit costs associated with the stipend or bonus.
(f) Fiscal agent. -- The Department shall act as fiscal agent for funds disbursed under this section.
