(1) Any teacher providing special education and related services to students with disabilities shall hold a current Montana teaching certificate with appropriate endorsements.

(a) A special education teacher must hold a current Montana teaching certificate with an endorsement in special education.

(b) A teacher of homebound or hospitalized students must hold a current Montana teaching certificate.

(c) A school psychologist must hold a current Montana Class 6 teaching certificate.

(d) Supervisors of special education teaching personnel must have a Class 3 administrator's certificate with a principal's endorsement or a supervisor's endorsement in special education.

(2) All special education and related services for students with disabilities shall be provided under the direction of qualified personnel.

(3) Each local educational agency must require that each administrator which provides or supervises the provision of special education and related services to students with disabilities, obtains specific skills which enable the administrator to deal effectively with students with disabilities. These skills may be obtained through formal training or in-service training.

(4) Each local educational agency must require that each teacher who implements education services to students with disabilities, obtains specific skills which enable the teacher to deal effectively with students with disabilities under the teacher's supervision. These skills may be obtained through formal training or in-service training or consultation.

(5) A professional person (i.e., occupational therapist, physical therapist, social worker, psychiatrist, nurse, audiologist, speech/language pathologist, recreational therapist, professional counselor or physician) providing special education and related services to students with disabilities under this section shall hold a license from the appropriate state authority and meet the appropriate professional requirements that are based on the highest entry level requirements in the state applicable to the profession or discipline.

(6) Paraprofessional personnel (e.g., teacher aide or instructional assistant) shall meet current Board of Public Education accreditation standards under ARM 10.55.715.