A. A level three-A license is a nine-year license granted to a teacher who meets the qualifications for that level and who annually demonstrates instructional leader competencies. If a level three-A teacher does not demonstrate essential competency in a given school year, the school district shall provide the teacher with additional professional development and peer intervention during the following school year. If by the end of that school year the teacher fails to demonstrate essential competency, a school district may choose not to contract with the teacher to teach in the classroom.

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B. The department shall grant a level three-A license to an applicant who has been a level two teacher for at least three years and holds a post-baccalaureate degree or national board for professional teaching standards certification; demonstrates instructional leader competence as required by the department and verified by the local superintendent through the highly objective uniform statewide standard of evaluation; and meets other qualifications for the license.

C. The department shall grant a level three-A license to an applicant seeking a level three-A vocational education license who does not meet the requirements of Subsection B of this section, but who otherwise is eligible for a level three-A license, provided that the applicant:

(1)     has been a level two teacher for at least three years;

(2)     provides documentation from an accredited higher education institution of the applicant’s eligibility to teach dual-credit courses at the post-secondary level in the field in which the applicant is teaching; or

(3)     completes a department-approved career-technical education training certificate course of study that is a minimum of sixteen hours at an accredited higher education institution.

D. The minimum salary for a level three-A teacher, except teachers licensed pursuant to Subsection C of this section, is seventy thousand dollars ($70,000) for a standard nine and one-half month contract; provided that teachers in an extended learning time program or K-5 plus program shall receive additional salary at the same rate as their base salary for that teaching time.

E. The minimum salary for a counselor who holds a level three or three-A license as provided in the School Personnel Act and rules promulgated by the department shall be the same as provided for level three-A teachers pursuant to Subsection D of this section.