PRINTER'S NO. 3471
No. 2505 Session of 2000
INTRODUCED BY DALLY, M. COHEN, McGILL AND GRUCELA, MAY 3, 2000
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, MAY 3, 2000
AN ACT
1 Amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), entitled "An
2 act relating to the public school system, including certain
3 provisions applicable as well to private and parochial
4 schools; amending, revising, consolidating and changing the
5 laws relating thereto," providing for interim permits for
6 substitute teachers.
7 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
8 hereby enacts as follows:
9 Section 1. The act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known
10 as the Public School Code of 1949, is amended by adding a
11 section to read:
12 Section 1204.2. Locally Issued Interim Permits for
13 Substitute Teachers.--(a) A person who does not hold a
14 provisional or permanent college certificate issued under the
15 regulations of the State Board of Education and who can present
16 evidence of the completion of a minimum of sixty semester-hour
17 credits at a preparing institution, at least fifteen of which
18 shall be in an approved teacher certification program, may be
19 issued an interim permit by the district superintendent for day-
20 to-day substitute teaching in the district which grants the
1 permit. Under no conditions may this interim permit be issued or
2 used during a work stoppage.
3 (b)(1) Each district superintendent shall submit to the
4 Secretary of Education for review and approval each applicant's
5 official transcripts, oath of allegiance and credentials on a
6 form and in a manner specified by the secretary.
7 (2) At a minimum, each applicant shall:
8 (i) Satisfy the requirements as set forth in section 1109.
9 (ii) Be required to submit a report of criminal history
10 record information as provided for in section 111, prior to the
11 commencement of employment.
12 (iii) Be required to submit an official clearance statement
13 regarding child injury or abuse from the Department of Public
14 Welfare as provided by 23 Pa.C.S. Ch. 63, Subch. C.2 (relating
15 to background checks for employment in schools).
16 (c)(1) Each interim permit shall be issued for a three-year
17 period, but the holder may serve for not more than twenty
18 consecutive days in the same position in one school district
19 during the school year. Such interim permits shall be granted
20 only when the superintendent of the requesting district
21 certifies that the supply of properly certificated teachers is
22 not adequate to staff the school.
23 (2) Such permit holders shall not be entitled to any accrued
24 benefits, such as seniority, service credits for retirement
25 purposes and tenure, to which a regularly employed and properly
26 certificated teacher is entitled.
27 (d) For specific vocational-technical skills, an interim
28 substitute permit may be issued to an applicant on the basis of
29 equivalent work experience in lieu of sixty semester-hour
30 college credits. Such work experience shall be approved by the
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1 secretary and substantiated by a notarized statement of previous
2 employment. Nothing in this section should be deemed as a waiver
3 of the requirements of subsection (b)(2).
4 (e) In addition to the requirements of subsection (b), all
5 applicants for an interim substitute permit shall submit the
6 appropriate fee in accordance with procedures specified by the
7 secretary.
8 (f) The following words and phrases when used in this
9 section shall have the meanings given to them in this subsection
10 unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
11 "Approved Teacher Certification Program." A sequence of
12 courses and experiences offered by a preparing institution which
13 is reviewed and approved by the Department of Education.
14 "Preparing institution." A college or university that offers
15 a program approved by the Department of Education to prepare
16 professional personnel for employment in the public schools.
17 Section 2. This act shall take effect in 90 days.
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