{"data":{"id":"us-md/md.-code-education-6-1006","jurisdiction":"us-md","citation":"Md. Code, Education § 6–1006","heading":"","body":"(a) (1) There is an administrator track on level four of the career ladder.\n(2) The primary purpose of the administrator track is to develop teachers into principals.\n(3) A teacher on the administrator track is responsible for managing administrative functions in the school.\n(b) (1) The first tier of the administrator track is a licensed principal.\n(2) (i) The State Board, in consultation with the Professional Standards and Teacher Education Board, shall establish the criteria that a teacher shall meet to achieve the licensed principal tier.\n(ii) The criteria under subparagraph (i) of this paragraph:\n1. Except as provided in subparagraph (iii) of this paragraph and beginning on July 1, 2029, shall include a requirement that a teacher be an NBC teacher before the teacher may be a licensed principal; and\n2. May include a requirement that a teacher shall complete an induction or training program for new principals.\n(iii) The State Board, in consultation with the Professional Standards and Teacher Education Board, shall establish a process through which an individual may receive a waiver to serve as a licensed principal if the individual:\n1. Is not an NBC teacher; but\n2. Meets other qualifying criteria, as determined by the State Board, in consultation with the Professional Standards and Education Board.\n(3) Beginning with teachers listed under § 6–1002(h)(3) of this subtitle as specified by the State Board, a licensed principal is encouraged to teach in the classroom for at least 10% of the principal’s working hours.\n(4) (i) When a licensed principal position becomes available in the county, a licensed principal shall be selected in accordance with this paragraph.\n(ii) Throughout the process of selecting a licensed principal under this paragraph, priority shall be given to teachers who have experience teaching in schools that:\n1. Reflect the racial and ethnic diversity of the State; or\n2. Have received a grant under § 5–223 of this article.\n(iii) Teacher leaders, other licensed principals, and distinguished principals in the county shall provide a list of qualified candidates to the local superintendent.\n(iv) The local superintendent shall appoint a candidate from the list provided under subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph.\n(c) (1) The second tier of the administrator track is distinguished principal.\n(2) To be a distinguished principal, a teacher shall demonstrate the ability to:\n(i) Effectively identify, attract, lead, and retain highly professional teachers;\n(ii) Organize and manage a school in a way that incentivizes and supports teachers to do their best work;\n(iii) Set high standards for faculty and students and achieve the standards set by others;\n(iv) Work with stakeholders on the teacher’s vision;\n(v) Identify and help cultivate a teacher’s potential for growth;\n(vi) Help students, parents, and teachers embrace the goal for all students to achieve internationally competitive standards;\n(vii) Mentor and support other principals; and\n(viii) Help other principals achieve higher levels of performance.\n(3) Beginning with teachers listed under § 6–1002(h)(3) of this subtitle as specified by the State Board, a distinguished principal is encouraged to teach in a classroom for at least 10% of the principal’s working hours.\n(4) (i) When a distinguished principal position becomes available in the county, a distinguished principal shall be selected in accordance with this paragraph.\n(ii) Throughout the process of selecting a distinguished principal under this paragraph, priority shall be given to licensed principals who have experience teaching and serving as principals in schools that:\n1. Reflect the racial and ethnic diversity of the State; or\n2. Have received a grant under § 5–223 of this article.\n(iii) Teacher leaders and other distinguished principals in the county shall provide a list of qualified candidates to the local superintendent.\n(iv) The local superintendent shall appoint a candidate from the list provided under subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph.\n(d) All licensed and distinguished principals shall:\n(1) Be trained in and demonstrate capability with racial awareness and cultural competence, including:\n(i) Teaching students and managing teaching faculty from different racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds; and\n(ii) Implementing restorative practices;\n(2) Cultivate a school environment in which teachers:\n(i) Develop cultural competence;\n(ii) Enhance empathy and respect for students;\n(iii) Work to eliminate biases and stereotypes; and\n(iv) Provide instruction in a manner that assumes that all students regardless of their race, ethnicity, gender, or other characteristics are capable of the highest levels of academic achievement; and\n(3) Be evaluated on their success in fostering the school environment in item (2) of this subsection.\n(e) A county board may add a tier to the administrator track for district office directors.","path":["Article - Education"],"source_url":"https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Laws/StatuteText?article=ged\u0026section=6-1006","current_through":"2026-01-01","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-14T19:57:38Z","sha256":"42a855360a36c17ca1c9b5070c845c7862aa047b8e54e5cbde1b1691f862fc7e","source_id":"us-md","stale":false,"prev":"us-md/md.-code-education-6-1005","next":"us-md/md.-code-education-6-1007"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}