(a) The Department of Education shall review and approve proposals for alternate route to certification programs for school administrators. In order to be approved, a proposal shall provide that the alternate route to certification program (1) be provided by a public or independent institution of higher education, a local or regional board of education, a regional educational service center or a private, nonprofit teacher or administrator training organization approved by the State Board of Education; (2) accept only those participants who (A) hold a bachelor’s degree from an institution of higher education accredited by the Board of Regents for Higher Education or Office of Higher Education or regionally accredited, (B) (i) have at least forty school months teaching experience, of which at least ten school months are in a position requiring certification at a public school, in this state or another state, or (ii) have less than ten months teaching experience in a public school in another state while holding professional certification, provided (I) such participant provides a statement of justification for participation in such alternate route to certification program and receives approval from the department for such participant’s participation in such alternate route to certification program, and (II) the number of such participants shall not be greater than ten per cent of the total number of participants in such alternate route to certification program for a school year, and (C) are recommended by the immediate supervisor or district administrator of such person on the basis of such person’s performance; (3) require each participant to (A) complete a one-year residency that requires such person to serve (i) in a position requiring an intermediate administrator or supervisor endorsement, and (ii) in a full-time position for ten school months at a local or regional board of education in the state under the supervision of (I) a certified administrator, and (II) a supervisor from an institution or organization described in subdivision (1) of this subsection, or (B) have ten school months experience in a full-time position as an administrator in a public or nonpublic school in another state that is approved by the appropriate state board of education in such other state; and (4) meet such other criteria as the department requires.

(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (d) of § 10-145b, on and after July 1, 2010, the State Board of Education, upon receipt of a proper application, shall issue an initial educator certificate in the certification endorsement area of administration and supervision, which shall be valid for three years, to any person who (1) successfully completed the alternate route to certification program for administrators and superintendents pursuant to this section, and (2) meets the requirements established in subsection (b) of § 10-145f.

(c) Notwithstanding any regulation adopted by the State Board of Education pursuant to § 10-145b, any person who successfully completed the alternate route to certification program for administrators pursuant to this section and was issued an initial educator certificate in the endorsement area of administration and supervision shall obtain a master’s degree not later than five years after such person was issued such initial educator certificate. If such person does not obtain a master’s degree in such time period, such person shall not be eligible for a professional educator certificate.

(d) Notwithstanding the provisions of subparagraph (B) of subdivision (2) of subsection (a) of this section, any entity described in subdivision (1) of subsection (a) of this section that administers an alternate route to certification program for school administrators, approved by the Department of Education under this section, shall permit any person who has provided service to a local or regional board of education in a supervisory or managerial role for at least forty school months and held a professional educator certificate for at least ten school months during such forty school months, to participate in such alternate route to certification program for school administrators, provided such person holds a bachelor’s degree from an institution of higher education accredited by the Board of Regents for Higher Education or Office of Higher Education or regionally accredited and is recommended by the immediate supervisor or district administrator of such person on the basis of such person’s performance.