Any teacher who improves his or her academic or professional qualifications which will place him or her in a higher classification, during any part of the year, shall be paid according to those improved qualifications. Such increases in salary shall become effective at the beginning of the term following fulfilment of the requirements raising him or her to the next class. That is, a teacher completing a university year at summer school shall be paid for the newly completed year from the opening of school in September of that year provided that said teacher files, with the Secretary of the Division, satisfactory evidence of his or her improved qualifications before November 30th, or by February 28th if the change is to be effective January 1st. Satisfactory evidence is defined as a written statement from the teacher subject to a statement of confirmation from the Professional Certification Section of the Administration and Professional Certification Branch of the Department.