N.Y. Education Law § 3003: Qualifications of superintendents

§ 3003. Qualifications of superintendents. 1. No person except one in

possession of a valid superintendent's certificate prior to July first,

nineteen hundred seventy-one shall hereafter be eligible to the position

of superintendent of schools, deputy superintendent of schools,

associate superintendent of schools, assistant superintendent of schools

or other superintendent of schools or member of a board of examiners in

a city school district or as a superintendent of schools in a union free

or central school district having a population of more than forty-five

hundred, or eligible to appointment to the office of district

superintendent of schools in this state, who is not eligible for a

superintendent's certificate issued by the commissioner in accordance

with the following requirements:

a. He shall be a graduate of a college or university approved by the

commissioner and in addition shall have completed sixty semester hours

in graduate courses approved by the commissioner; and

b. At the time of his appointment each shall have completed three

years of teaching experience satisfactory to the commissioner in public

or non-public schools.

2. The commissioner of education shall issue a superintendent's

permanent certificate to any person who on March twenty-fifth, nineteen

hundred thirty-seven, held or was appointed to, a position of

superintendent of schools, deputy superintendent of schools, associate

superintendent of schools, assistant superintendent of schools or other

superintendent of schools or member of a board of examiners in a city or

as a superintendent of schools in a village having a population of more

than forty-five hundred, or district superintendent of schools.

3. The commissioner, at the request of a board of education or board

of cooperative educational services, may provide for the issuance of a

certificate as superintendent of schools to exceptionally qualified

persons who do not meet all of the graduate course or teaching

requirements of subdivision one of this section, 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.

4. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the commissioner shall

require that any person applying, on or after January first, nineteen

hundred ninety-one, for a superintendent's certificate shall, in

addition to all the other requirements, have completed two hours of

coursework or training regarding the identification and reporting of

child abuse and maltreatment. The coursework or training shall be

obtained from an institution or provider which has been approved by the

department to provide such coursework or training. The coursework or

training shall include information regarding the physical and behavioral

indicators of child abuse and maltreatment and the statutory reporting

requirements set out in sections four hundred thirteen through four

hundred twenty of the social services law, including but not limited to,

when and how a report must be made, what other actions the reporter is

mandated or authorized to take, the legal protections afforded

reporters, and the consequences for failing to report. Each applicant

shall provide the department with documentation showing that he or she

has completed the required training.

5. The commissioner may provide for the issuance of a certificate as

deputy, associate or assistant superintendent for business to any

qualified person who meets all of the requirements of subdivision one of

this section, except those contained in paragraph b of subdivision one

of this section.