(a) Upon a showing by an educator of exigent circumstances, the Department may, through rules and regulations promulgated and adopted pursuant to this chapter, issue a license extension for a period not to exceed 1 year.
(b) An educator may take an extended leave of absence for up to 3 years with no effect upon the validity or expiration of the educator's initial, continuing or advanced license.
(c) If an applicant is not employed by a public school district or charter school, the initial license shall be inactive until such time as the applicant is employed by a public school district or charter school. Once employed, the initial license shall be in effect for up to 4 years and all rules and regulations promulgated and adopted under this chapter shall apply.
(d) The expiration of an educator's license before the end of the school year shall be considered an exigent circumstance under subsection (a) of this section and the educator's license shall be extended until the end of that school year. Notwithstanding any extension, the effective date of any renewed license shall be the original expiration date.