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PRINTER'S NO. 557
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
499
Session of
2015
INTRODUCED BY EMRICK, FEBRUARY 17, 2015
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, FEBRUARY 17, 2015
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," in certification of teachers, further
providing for evaluation of applications for certification.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 1216 of the act of March 10, 1949
(P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, added
July 13, 2005 (P.L.226, No.46), is amended to read:
Section 1216. Evaluation of Applications for
Certification.--(a) All applications for certification shall be
evaluated in their entirety. The Department of Education shall
notify the applicant if the application is incomplete and
include a listing of all materials or information needed to
complete the application. The applicant's pending application
shall remain open for one year following the date of such
notification. No letter of denial of certification shall be
issued unless all deficiencies in the application are stated in
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the letter of denial.
(b) The grade point average used by the department in
evaluating the grade point average requirements for
certification pursuant to 22 Pa. Code § 354.24 (relating to
academic performance) shall be as follows:
(1) For applicants whose initial preparation culminated in a
bachelor's degree or higher prior to October 7, 2000, the grade
point average in effect on the date of application for
certification.
(2) For applicants whose initial preparation culminates in a
bachelor's degree or higher on or after October 7, 2000, the
grade point average in effect on the date of graduation.
(c) A teacher preparation program approved by the Department
of Education shall recommend applicants for certification who
meet the standards for grade point average set forth in 22 Pa.
Code § 354.33(5) and (6) (relating to professional competency).
(d) (1) A teacher preparation program approved by the
Department of Education shall not require a student to obtain a
passing score on an assessment administered pursuant to 22 Pa.
Code § 49.18 (relating to assessment) as a condition of
graduation or include the student's score on the assessment as a
component of a student's grade in any course, provided that the
observational assessment of professional knowledge and practice
may be included as a component of a student's student teaching
grade.
(2) For purposes of this paragraph:
(i) "Assessment" shall include the assessment of basic
skills, the assessment of general knowledge, the assessment of
professional knowledge and practice or the assessment of subject
matter as such terms are defined in 22 Pa. Code § 49.1 (relating
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to definitions).
(ii) "Assessment of professional knowledge and practice" as
defined in 22 Pa. Code § 49.1 (relating to definitions).
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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