As used in this chapter and chapters 502 and 502‑A, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings. [PL 2017, c. 235, §2 (NEW); PL 2017, c. 235, §41 (AFF).]
1. Administrator. "Administrator" means an individual who provides leadership services to assist in the operation of schools, including, but not limited to, in the following capacities: superintendent, assistant superintendent, building administrator and principal.
[PL 2017, c. 235, §2 (NEW); PL 2017, c. 235, §41 (AFF).]
2. Certificate. "Certificate" means the credential issued by the department to a qualified individual to serve as a teacher, educational specialist, educational technician or administrator.
[PL 2017, c. 235, §2 (NEW); PL 2017, c. 235, §41 (AFF).]
3. Clearance. "Clearance" means the credential issued by the department to a qualified individual who has cleared a criminal history record check under section 6103 to serve as an employee in a position for which certification is not required or as an employee of a contracted service provider.
[PL 2017, c. 235, §2 (NEW); PL 2017, c. 235, §41 (AFF).]
4. Conditional certificate. "Conditional certificate" means the credential issued to a teacher, educational specialist or administrator who has not met all of the requirements for a certificate or endorsement.
[PL 2017, c. 235, §2 (NEW); PL 2017, c. 235, §41 (AFF).]
5. Credential. "Credential" means a document issued by the department indicating that a person has met the criteria to be certified, conditionally certified or cleared under this chapter or chapter 502.
[PL 2017, c. 235, §2 (NEW); PL 2017, c. 235, §41 (AFF).]
6. Criminal history record check. "Criminal history record check" means the fingerprint-based criminal history record check conducted by an entity designated by the department under section 6103.
[PL 2017, c. 235, §2 (NEW); PL 2017, c. 235, §41 (AFF).]
7. Educational specialist. "Educational specialist" means an individual who provides professional services to a school, including, but not limited to, an athletic director, school counselor, library-media specialist, literacy specialist, school psychologist, school nurse or career and technical education evaluator.
[PL 2021, c. 228, §1 (AMD).]
8. Educational technician. "Educational technician" means an individual who provides supportive educational services in accordance with section 13019‑H.
[PL 2017, c. 235, §2 (NEW); PL 2017, c. 235, §41 (AFF).]
9. Educator preparation program. "Educator preparation program" means a public or private baccalaureate-level or postbaccalaureate-level program approved by the state board to recommend graduates for certification pursuant to chapter 502 as prekindergarten to grade 12 teachers, educational specialists or school administrators.
[PL 2017, c. 235, §2 (NEW); PL 2017, c. 235, §41 (AFF).]
10. Endorsement. "Endorsement" means a notation on a certificate that specifies the grades and subject area or work area for which the certificate is valid. A certificate may bear one or more endorsements.
[PL 2017, c. 235, §2 (NEW); PL 2017, c. 235, §41 (AFF).]
11. Program completer. "Program completer" means a person who, by successfully completing all of the requirements of an educator preparation program, has qualified for a recommendation for certification as a teacher or an educational specialist or an administrator.
[PL 2017, c. 235, §2 (NEW); PL 2017, c. 235, §41 (AFF).]
12. Semester hours. "Semester hours" means units of academic credit that each reasonably approximate one hour of classroom or direct faculty instruction and a minimum of 2 hours of out-of-class student work each week for approximately 15 weeks or an equivalent amount of academic work at an institution of higher education, including laboratory work, internships, practice studio work or other academic work leading toward the awarding of a credit hour of approved study.
[PL 2017, c. 235, §2 (NEW); PL 2017, c. 235, §41 (AFF).]
