Senate enacts Sen. Rafferty bill to streamline the process for qualified educators to rejoin teacher workforce

AUGUSTA – Today, the Maine Senate enacted a bill from Sen. Joe Rafferty, D-Kennebunk. The bill, LD 753, “An Act to Allow Retired Teachers and Educational Technicians to Be Recertified,” aims to reduce Maine’s teacher shortage by streamlining the process for retired teachers and education technicians to be recertified.

“As a retired educator myself, I am incredibly pleased to see this bill enacted. It recognizes the invaluable experience and qualifications of retired teachers and ed techs. Given the urgent need to address the teacher shortage, we must utilize every available resource,” said Sen. Rafferty. “This legislation streamlines the certification renewal process, allowing retired educators to regain their previous certifications. By doing so, we are tapping into a pool of experienced professionals eager to continue making a positive impact in our education system.” 

LD 753 will make it easier for former teachers and educational technicians who have retired to get their teaching or assistant teaching certification renewed under certain conditions. As passed, this bill would allow teachers that have worked for at least 10 years in a public school and had an active teaching certification before they retired, and have been retired no more than 5 years, to get their old certification back with the same grades and subject areas they had before. It will last for the same amount of time and need to be renewed under the same standards as before. 

The bill now goes to the desk of Gov. Janet Mills, who has 10 days to sign the bill into law, veto it, or allow it to become law without her signature.

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