The following definitions apply to this chapter.

(1) "Acceptable evidence" means relevant official transcripts, university recommendation, certificates of completion, and other documentation as required by the Board of Public Education or the Superintendent of Public Instruction.

(2) "Accredited educator preparation program" means:

(a) an educator preparation program accredited by the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) or the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP); or

(b) an educator preparation program at a regionally accredited college or university approved or accredited by a state board of education or a state agency. The Superintendent of Public Instruction has discretion to deny licensure consistent with these rules if the standards are not substantially equivalent to or greater than the standards required in Montana, subject to approval by the Board of Public Education upon appeal of the denial.

(3) "Accredited specialist program" means:

(a) for school psychologists, a program accredited by the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP); and

(b) for school counselors, a program for the preparation of specialists approved or accredited by:

(i) the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Education Programs (CACREP); or

(ii) a state board of public education or a state agency. The Superintendent of Public Instruction has discretion to deny licensure consistent with these rules if the standards are not substantially equivalent to or greater than the standards required in Montana, subject to approval by the Board of Public Education upon appeal of the denial.

(4) "Appropriate grade level(s)" means early childhood, elementary, middle, secondary, or other levels as defined by the Board of Public Education.

(5) "Appropriate official" means the Superintendent of Public Instruction, the dean of the school of education or another official designated by them.

(6) "Certification" means licensure of an educator/specialist, as issued by the state of Montana, based on completion of a teacher, administrator, or specialist program of an accredited college or university. Certification includes grade level(s), endorsement(s), and classification.

(7) "College credit" means credit received for completion of a course from a regionally accredited college or university.

(8) "Endorsement" means an official indication on a license of the grade level(s), subject area(s), or specialist program area(s) as listed in Subchapter 4 for which the licensee is authorized to practice in Montana accredited schools. Grade levels are:

(a) age 3 - grade 3 (early childhood);

(b) K-8 (elementary);

(c) 4-8 (middle grades);

(d) 5-12 (secondary, content-specific);

(e) K-12 (content-specific); and

(f) P-12 (special education and school psychologist).

(9) "Lapsed license" means:

(a) the licensee has not earned the required number of renewal units during the term of the license; or

(b) the licensee has earned the required number of renewal units during the term of the license but has not renewed the license by June 30 following the year of expiration.

(10) "License" or "licensure" means a certificate issued or applied for under 20-4-101, et seq., MCA.

(11) "Regionally accredited" means a college or university accredited by one of the following:

(a) Middle States Association of Schools and Colleges;

(b) New England Association of Schools and Colleges;

(c) North Central Association of Schools and Colleges;

(d) Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities;

(e) Southern Association of Schools and Colleges; or

(f) Western Association of Schools and Colleges.

(12) "Supervised teaching experience" means teaching experience while under the supervision of an accredited professional educator preparation program and is identified on a college or university transcript as field experience, internship, practicum, or student teaching.

(13) "Year of administrative experience" means employment at any level within a state accredited K-12 school system, or in an educational institution specified in 20-9-707, MCA, as a licensed administrator of at least .5 full-time employee (FTE) for at least 1080 hours or 180 school days or a 1.0 FTE for at least 540 hours or 90 school days. Experience gained prior to eligibility for initial licensure is not considered. Experience as a County Superintendent may be considered as "administrative" experience with evidence of the following:

(a) possession of a Class 3 license for the time period requested to be considered as administrative experience; and

(b) the school(s) they are claiming to hold or have held supervisory responsibilities over have provided notice that the county superintendent served in an administrative role.

(14) "Year of teaching experience" means employment at any level within a state accredited K-12 school system, or in an educational institution specified in 20-9-707, MCA, as licensed instructional staff of at least .5 FTE during a school fiscal year for at least 1080 hours or 180 school days or a 1.0 FTE for at least 540 hours or 90 school days. Experience gained prior to eligibility for initial licensure is not considered.