Sec. 80-2.4. Certificates valid for administrative and supervisory service (school district administrator, and school administrator and supervisor and school business administrator)

A candidate may obtain a certificate for administrative and supervisory service upon evidence that the requirements of this section have been met.

(a) School district administrator (superintendent of schools, district superintendent, deputy superintendent, associate superintendent, assistant superintendent and any other person having responsibilities involving general district-wide administration excepting those responsibilities defined in subdivision [c] of this section, shall hold this certificate).

(1) Preparation. The candidate shall hold a baccalaureate degree, based upon a four-year program of collegiate preparation, from a regionally accredited higher institution or from an institution approved or registered by the department, and shall have completed in addition 60 semester hours of graduate study and an approved administrative/supervisory internship under the supervision of a practicing school administrator and of a representative of the sponsoring institution of higher education. Within the total program of preparation, the candidate shall have been awarded a master's degree. These 60 semester hours shall include 24 semester hours of graduate study in the field of school administration and supervision. An internship experience carrying graduate credit may be included within the 60-semester-hour program. One year of satisfactory full-time experience in a school administrative or supervisory position may be substituted for the internship.

(2) Experience. Three years of teaching and/or administrative and/or supervisory and/or pupil personnel service experience in the schools (N-12).

(3) Exception to stated preparation. The Commissioner of Education, at the request of a board of education or board of cooperative educational services, may provide for the issuance of a certificate as school district administrator (superintendent of schools) to exceptionally qualified persons who do not meet all of the graduate course or school teaching requirements in paragraphs (1) and (2) of this subdivision, but whose exceptional training and experience are the substantial equivalent of such requirements and qualify such persons for the duties of a superintendent of schools. Prior to the appointment of any such individual, the board must obtain the approval of the commissioner. In its formal request to the department the board must submit its resolution noting approval of the request, the job description, its rationale for requesting such certification of the individual, a statement identifying the exceptional qualifications of the candidate, the individual's completed application for certification, vitae and official transcripts of collegiate study. The certificate, if issued, will be valid only for service in the district making the request. The commissioner will refer the materials submitted by the board to a screening panel consisting of representatives of the department and appropriate educational organizations for review and advice.

(4) The permanent certificate as a school district administrator shall qualify the holder to serve as a school district administrator, school administrator and supervisor, and school business administrator.

(b) School administrator and supervisor (principal, housemaster, supervisor, department chairman, assistant principal, coordinator, unit head and any other person serving more than 25 percent—10 periods per week—of his assignment in any administrative and/or supervisory position, excepting those defined in subdivision (a) of this section, shall hold this certificate).

(1) Provisional certificate. The candidate shall hold a baccalaureate degree, based upon a four-year program of collegiate preparation from a regionally accredited higher institution or from an institution approved or registered by the department, and shall have completed in addition 30 semester hours of graduate study and an approved administrative/supervisory internship under the supervision of a practicing school administrator and of a representative of the sponsoring institution of higher education. These 30 semester hours shall include 18 semester hours of graduate study in the field of school administration and supervision.

(i) Substitution. One year of satisfactory full-time experience in a school (N-12) administrative or supervisory position may be substituted for the internship.

(ii) Experience. Three years of approved teaching and/or administrative and/or supervisory and/or pupil personnel services within grades N-12.

(iii) Time validity. The certificate will be valid for five years from date of issuance.

(2) Permanent certificate. The candidate shall have completed, in addition to the requirements for the provisional certificate, two years of school experience in an administrative/supervisory position. Within the total program of preparation, the candidate shall have been awarded a master's degree.

(c) School business administrator (deputy superintendent of schools for business, associate superintendent of schools for business, assistant superintendent of schools for business and any other person having professional responsibility for the business operation of the school district shall hold this certificate).

(1) Permanent certificate. The candidate shall hold a baccalaureate degree, based upon a four year program of preparation, from a regionally accredited higher education institution or from an institution approved or registered by the department, and shall have completed 60 semester hours of graduate study and an approved administrative/supervisory internship under the supervision of a practicing school administrator and a representative of the sponsoring institution of higher education. Within the total program of preparation, the candidate shall have been awarded a master's degree. These 60 semester hours shall include 24 semester hours of graduate study in the field of school administration and supervision. An internship experience carrying graduate credit may be included within the 60-semester-hour program. One year of satisfactory full-time experience as the chief business official of a school district may be substituted for the internship.