Section 7-1406 - Teacher's certificate; collective bargaining(a)(1) A teacher assigned to a virtual school shall have a teacher's certificate issued by the State Superintendent under Title 6 of this article or any other relevant professional certification authorized under COMAR 13A.12.01.(2) Teachers or education support personnel assigned to work in a virtual school shall: (i) Be an employee of the county, or a collaborating county, that established the virtual school;(ii) Subject to subsection (b) of this section, be subject to the collective bargaining agreement of that jurisdiction; and(iii) Have access to professional development.(b) A collective bargaining agreement may include provisions specific to employees who work in a virtual school in consideration of the conditions and requirements relevant to that work environment.(c) An employee assigned to a virtual school may not be required to provide virtual and in-person instruction or support to students simultaneously.(d)(1) Subject to paragraph (2) of this subsection, the county board shall determine the appropriate student-teacher ratio for the size of a class in a virtual school based on multiple factors, including grade level, subject matter, and teacher workload.(2) The student-teacher ratio of a class in a virtual school shall be consistent with the median in-person class size by course and grade level.(e) A virtual school shall provide to a teacher and any other employee assigned to teach or provide direct instruction in a virtual school:(1) The technology and equipment required to perform the functions of the job; and(2) If necessary, a physical space to conduct teaching or provide direct instruction in the virtual school.(f) A virtual school shall have a planned staffing model, including provisions for staff recruitment, training, evaluation, and professional development.Renumbered from § - 7-1405 and amended by 2023 Md. Laws, Ch. 804, Sec. 1, eff. 7/1/2023.