You asked whether (1) the Sound School in New Haven received a special waiver from the State Department of Education (SDE) to employ a noncertified teacher to teach boat building and (2) what credentials are required for a replacement boat building instructor to be hired when the current teacher retires at the end of this year.

According to Katherine Nicoletti, SDE does not grant certification waivers for occupational positions such as instructors in boat building. Instead, department regulations require such teachers to hold the Trade and Industrial Occupations Certificate for a Comprehensive High School (#098). That certificate requires the following minimum qualifications:

• High school diploma

• Written request to SDE by the employing agent

• Three years of related work experience or one year of related work experience and two years of specialized schooling

• Six credits in professional education

• A 36-clock-hour course in special education (Regs. of Ct. State Agencies, §10-145d-497)

JL: ts