Sec. 80-5.26. Temporary Hurricane Maria certificate for teachers displaced from Puerto Rico and/or another U.S. territory as a result of Hurricane Maria to teach in New York

(a) Temporary Hurricane Maria hardship certificate to teach in New York. The commissioner may issue a temporary certificate in the classroom teaching service for teachers who held a certificate or authorization to practice from Puerto Rico or another United States territory prior to Hurricane Maria and who as a result of the hurricane were forced to relocate to New York. The requirements for such certificate are as follows:

(1)

(i) the candidate shall hold a valid certificate or equivalent authorization to practice from Puerto Rico or another U.S. territory impacted by Hurricane Maria that is equivalent to the title and type of the certificate sought;

(ii) if the candidate is unable to provide the department with a copy of such certificate and/or authorization to practice, the candidate shall either:

(a) submit verification of such certificate from the Department of Education of such U.S. territory or the equivalent thereof, in a form and format prescribed by the commissioner; or

(b) submit a signed and notarized attestation stating that the candidate holds a valid certificate or the equivalent authorization in Puerto Rico or another U.S. territory that was impacted by Hurricane Maria and as a result of such hurricane he/she is unable to produce written evidence of such certificate.

(2) The candidate shall provide evidence of satisfactory employment in a public school (K-12) in Puerto Rico or another U.S. territory (such as pay-stubs or W-2 forms) impacted by Hurricane Maria in a position that is equivalent to the title and type of the certificate sought. Such experience must be within one year of the stated effective date of this section.

(3) The candidate shall meet the general requirements for certificates prescribed in Subpart 80-1 of this Part, including but not limited to the requirements of section 80-1.3 of this Part relating to citizenship, section 80-1.4 of this Part relating to study in child abuse identification and reporting, and school violence prevention and intervention; section 80-1.13 of this Part relating to coursework or training in harassment, bullying and discrimination prevention and intervention; and section 80-1.1 of this Part relating to a criminal history check.

(4) The candidate shall submit satisfactory evidence of having a commitment of employment from a school district or BOCES for one year or employment as a teacher in the area of the certificate sought, which shall include a plan from the school district for mentoring and appropriate instructional support.

(b) Upon meeting the requirements in subdivision (a) of this section, the commissioner may issue a nonrenewable temporary hardship certificate that is valid until June 30, 2018.