THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

SENATE BILL

INTRODUCED BY PICCOLA, DINNIMAN, ROBBINS, RAFFERTY, WAUGH, VANCE, BAKER, ALLOWAY, VOGEL AND EARLL, MAY 1, 2009

REFERRED TO EDUCATION, MAY 1, 2009  

AN ACT

Amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), entitled "An

act relating to the public school system, including certain

provisions applicable as well to private and parochial

schools; amending, revising, consolidating and changing the

laws relating thereto," providing for standards for programs

leading to teacher certification.

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1.  The act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known

as the Public School Code of 1949, is amended by adding a

section to read:

Section 1203.1.  Standards for Programs Leading to Teacher

Certification.--(a)  The Department of Education shall evaluate

and approve teacher education programs leading to the

certification and permitting of professional personnel. The

evaluation by the department shall provide assurance that, on or

before January 1, 2011, teacher education programs require at

least nine credits or two hundred seventy (270) hours, or an

equivalent combination thereof, regarding accommodations and

adaptations for students with disabilities in an inclusive

setting. Within the content of these nine credits or two hundred

seventy (270) hours, instruction in literacy skills development

and cognitive skill development for students with disabilities

must be included, as determined by the institution. At least

three credits or ninety (90) additional hours, or an equivalent

combination thereof, must address the instructional needs of

English language learners. For purposes of this requirement, one

credit equals thirty (30) hours of coursework. Applicable hours

are limited to a combination of seat hours of classroom

instruction, field observation experiences, major research

assignments and development and implementation of lesson plans

with accommodations and adaptations for diverse learners in an

inclusive setting.

(b)  Except as otherwise provided in subsection (a), the

Department of Education is prohibited from:

(1)  Requiring a specific number of credits for approval of a

teacher education program.

(2)  Incorporating any formula, scoring system or numerical

method in the approval of a teacher education program.

(3)  Expending funds or allowing any other action in

furtherance of the purposes of clause (1) or (2).

(c)  The following principles shall be considered in any

teacher education program review:

(1)  The preparation program design shall be consistent with

the preparing institution's mission and reflect knowledge

derived from research and sound professional practice.

(2)  The preparing institution shall ensure that the

preparation program curriculum does not include unnecessary

duplication of coursework and strives to create efficient

professional educator preparation.

(3)  The preparing institution shall ensure that candidates

complete a well-planned sequence of professional educator

courses and field experiences to develop an understanding of the

structure, skills, core concepts, facts, methods of inquiry and

application of technology related to each academic discipline

the candidates plan to teach or in the academic disciplines

related to the noninstructional certificate categories in which

they plan to serve.

(4)  For initial programs culminating in a bachelor's degree,

the professional educator program shall cooperate with the

liberal arts and other academic disciplines of the college or

university to create preparation programs that allow candidates

to complete the degree and the initial preparation program

within four years from the time of initial enrollment at the

college or university.

(5)  For initial programs culminating in an advanced degree,

the professional educator program shall cooperate with the

liberal arts and other academic disciplines of the college or

university to create preparation programs that allow candidates

to complete the advanced degree and the initial preparation

program within five years from the time of initial enrollment at

the college or university.

(d)  The Department of Education shall provide to the

Education Committee of the Senate and the Education Committee of

the House of Representatives any guidelines it issues that

relate to the evaluation and approval of teacher education

programs.

(e)  The Legislative Budget and Finance Committee shall

conduct a study of Pennsylvania’s system of teacher

certification examinations to assure their effectiveness and

shall report its findings and recommendations to the General

Assembly by December 31, 2009.

Section 2.  This act shall take effect in 60 days.