Qualifications of superintendents

§ 3003. Qualifications of superintendents. 1. No person except one in possession of a valid superintendent's certificate prior to July first, nineteen hundred seventy-one shall hereafter be eligible to the position of superintendent of schools, deputy superintendent of schools, associate superintendent of schools, assistant superintendent of schools or other superintendent of schools or member of a board of examiners in a city school district or as a superintendent of schools in a union free or central school district having a population of more than forty-five hundred, or eligible to appointment to the office of district superintendent of schools in this state, who is not eligible for a superintendent's certificate issued by the commissioner in accordance with the following requirements:

a. He shall be a graduate of a college or university approved by the commissioner and in addition shall have completed sixty semester hours in graduate courses approved by the commissioner; and

b. At the time of his appointment each shall have completed three years of teaching experience satisfactory to the commissioner in public or non-public schools.

2. The commissioner of education shall issue a superintendent's permanent certificate to any person who on March twenty-fifth, nineteen hundred thirty-seven, held or was appointed to, a position of superintendent of schools, deputy superintendent of schools, associate superintendent of schools, assistant superintendent of schools or other superintendent of schools or member of a board of examiners in a city or as a superintendent of schools in a village having a population of more than forty-five hundred, or district superintendent of schools.

3. The commissioner, at the request of a board of education or board of cooperative educational services, may provide for the issuance of a certificate as superintendent of schools to exceptionally qualified persons who do not meet all of the graduate course or teaching requirements of subdivision one of this section, but whose exceptional training and experience are the substantial equivalent of such requirements and qualify such persons for the duties of a superintendent of schools.

4. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the commissioner shall require that any person applying, on or after January first, nineteen hundred ninety-one, for a superintendent's certificate shall, in addition to all the other requirements, have completed two hours of coursework or training regarding the identification and reporting of child abuse and maltreatment. The coursework or training shall be obtained from an institution or provider which has been approved by the department to provide such coursework or training. The coursework or training shall include information regarding the physical and behavioral indicators of child abuse and maltreatment and the statutory reporting requirements set out in sections four hundred thirteen through four hundred twenty of the social services law, including but not limited to, when and how a report must be made, what other actions the reporter is mandated or authorized to take, the legal protections afforded reporters, and the consequences for failing to report. Each applicant shall provide the department with documentation showing that he or she has completed the required training.

5. The commissioner may provide for the issuance of a certificate as deputy, associate or assistant superintendent for business to any qualified person who meets all of the requirements of subdivision one of this section, except those contained in paragraph b of subdivision one of this section.