THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

SENATE BILL

INTRODUCED BY DINNIMAN, EICHELBERGER, ERICKSON, GREENLEAF, TARTAGLIONE, WAUGH, M. WHITE, WILLIAMS, BROWNE AND BRUBAKER, JANUARY 20, 2011

SENATOR PICCOLA, EDUCATION, AS AMENDED, APRIL 5, 2011   

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," further providing for certificates

qualifying persons to teach and for kinds of State

certificates; and providing for postbaccalaureate

certification.

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1.  Section 1201 of the act of March 10, 1949

(P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949,

amended January 14, 1970 (1969 P.L.468, No.192), is amended to

read:

Section 1201.  Certificates Qualifying Persons to Teach.--

Only those persons holding one of the following certificates

shall be qualified to teach in the public schools of this

Commonwealth--(1) Permanent college certificate, (2) provisional

college certificate, (3) normal school diploma, (4) normal

school certificate, (5) special permanent certificate, (6)

special temporary certificate, (7) permanent State certificate,

(8) residency certificate, (9) intern certificate, (10) 

certificates which are permanent licenses to teach by virtue of

the provisions of section one thousand three hundred eight of

the act, approved the eighteenth day of May, one thousand nine

hundred eleven (Pamphlet Laws 309), as amended, which is

repealed hereby, or [(9)] (11) such other kinds of certificates

as are issued under the standards prescribed by the State Board

of Education. The State Board of Education shall also provide

for issuance of certificates by district superintendents to meet

such emergencies or shortage of teachers as may occur.

Section 2.  Sections 1203 and 1206 of the act are amended to

read:

Section 1203.  Kinds of State Certificates.--(a)  State

certificates hereafter granted shall include the following:

Provisional College Certificates,

Permanent College Certificates,

Certificates issued by other states and validated by the

Superintendent of Public Instruction,

Special Temporary Certificates,

Special Permanent Certificates[.],

Residency Certificates,

Intern Certificates.

(b)  All persons receiving any of such certificates shall

have qualifications not less than graduation from a State

Teachers' College of this Commonwealth, or equivalent training.

Postbaccalaureate certification programs, including residency,

intern and administrative certification programs completed under

section 1207.1, are equivalent training for purposes of this

act.

(c)  Every college certificate shall set forth the names of

the college or university from which its holder was graduated.

State certificates shall entitle their holders to teach in every

part of this Commonwealth for the terms herein specified.

Section 1206.  Certificates Issued by Other States.--[The

Superintendent of Public Instruction may validate in this

Commonwealth teachers' certificates issued by other states, or

by the State normal schools or colleges of other states, whose

requirements are equivalent to those of this Commonwealth. Such

validation of certificates may be revoked by the Superintendent

of Public Instruction at any time.] (a)  Candidates holding a

valid instructional certificate issued by another state may be

eligible for comparable Pennsylvania certification provided that

the candidate meets the following requirements:

(1)  Holds a bachelor's degree from a regionally an 

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accredited college or university.

(2)  Has at least three (3) two (2) years of successful

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professional classroom experience.

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(3)  Demonstrates subject matter competency in the applicable

area of Pennsylvania certification.

(4)  Satisfies the requirements of section 1209.

(b)  The Secretary of Education shall adopt standards and

guidelines as necessary to implement this section.

(c)  Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit

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the Secretary of Education from certifying out-of-State

applicants in accordance with regulations of the Department of

Education or the State Board of Education.

Section 3.  The act is amended by adding a section to read:

Section 1207.1.  Postbaccalaureate Certification.--(a)

Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, the

Secretary of Education shall have all of the following powers

and duties with regard to postbaccalaureate certification

programs:

(1)  Evaluate and approve, in accordance with this section,

all postbaccalaureate certification programs, including

accelerated programs, leading to the certification of

professional personnel including intern certification programs,

residency certification programs and administrative

certification programs.

(2)  Evaluate and approve qualified providers of

postbaccalaureate certification programs, which may include

providers other than institutions of higher education.

(3)  Develop guidelines for the approval of flexible

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postbaccalaureate instructional certification programs, which

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shall include. Such program guidelines shall address:

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(i)  Instruction and training in the following:

(A)  Educational strategies for the designated subject area.

(B)  Child development specifically related to the level of

the certificate sought.

(C)  Professional ethics and responsibilities.

(D)  Pennsylvania academic standards.

(E)  Assessment knowledge and skills.

(F)  Accommodations and adaptations for students with

disabilities in an inclusive setting.

(G)  Strategies for meeting instructional needs of English

language learners.

(ii)  Requirements for candidate oversight and mentoring that 

may include field placement, student teaching, classroom

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observations and ongoing support for novice educators in

partnership with local education agencies during their induction

period, including observation, consultation and assessment that

includes close supervision by a professional employe.

(4)  Issue certificates in accordance with this section to

qualified candidates.

(5)  Adopt standards and guidelines as necessary to implement

this section.

(b)  (1)  The Secretary of Education may make a one-time

issuance of a residency certificate for service in a specific

shortage area of instruction in public schools of this

Commonwealth to an applicant who meets all of the following:

(i)  Satisfies the requirements specified under section 1209.

(ii)  Meets one of the following:

(A)  Holds a doctoral degree from an accredited college or

university in the subject area of shortage.

(B)  Holds a master's degree from an accredited college or

university in the subject area of shortage and has at least two

(2) years of work experience in the subject area or related

field.

(C)  Holds a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or

university in the subject area of shortage and has at least five

(5) years of work experience in the subject area or related

field.

(iii)  Is continuously enrolled in an approved residency

program.

(iv)  Presents evidence of satisfactory achievement on the

appropriate subject area content test.

(2)  A residency certificate shall be valid for three (3)

years of teaching in the public schools of this Commonwealth in

the area for which it applies.

(3)  The Secretary of Education shall have all of the

following powers and duties related to the issuance of residency

certificates:

(i)  Identify areas of certification in which there is a

Statewide or regional shortage of qualified teachers.

(ii)  Develop guidelines for the residency program in

accordance with subsection (a).

(iii)  Issue residency certificates to qualified applicants.

(iv)  Report annually to the State Board of Education on the

number of residency certificates issued under this section.

(4)  A residency certificate may be converted to an

Instructional I Certificate upon the completion of all residency

program requirements under Department of Education guidelines

and the completion of three (3) years of satisfactory teaching

in the public schools of this Commonwealth.

(c)  (1)  Postbaccalaureate instructional intern

certification programs shall provide flexible and accelerated

pedagogical training to teachers who have demonstrated subject

matter competency in a subject area related to their

certification, provided that the first year of teaching includes

a minimum of one classroom observation each month by an approved

postbaccalaureate certification program provider.

(2)  The Secretary of Education may make a one-time issuance

of a postbaccalaureate instructional intern certificate for

service in a specific area of instruction to candidates who, in

addition to meeting the requirements of section 1209, present

evidence of satisfactory achievement on the department-

prescribed subject matter assessments related to the area of

certification and hold a bachelor's degree from an accredited

college or university. This certificate shall require continuing

enrollment in an approved postbaccalaureate instructional intern

certification program.

(3)  A postbaccalaureate instructional intern certificate

shall be valid for three (3) years of teaching in the public

schools of this Commonwealth and may not be renewed.

(4)  A candidate shall be issued an Instructional I

Certificate upon successful completion of the approved

postbaccalaureate instructional intern program provided that the

candidate has satisfied the requirements of section 1209.

(d)  (1)  Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no

person shall be granted an administrative certificate or a

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vocational director certificate by the Department of Education

unless:

(i)  The candidate holds a bachelor's degree from a 

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regionally an accredited college or university.

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(ii)  The candidate has had three (3) years of relevant

professional experience.

(iii)  The candidate satisfies the requirements of section

1209.

(iv)  The candidate has completed in a college or university

a graduate program in education approved by the Department of

Education or has provided to the Secretary of Education, within

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one year of receiving the certificate, satisfactory evidence

that the candidate has successfully completed a leadership

development program that meets the Pennsylvania school

leadership standards under section 1217 and has demonstrated

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knowledge of basic school laws and regulations.

(2)  The Secretary of Education may adopt standards and

guidelines as necessary to implement this section.

(e)  Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no candidate

for certification or admission into a certification preparation

program who holds a bachelor's degree from a regionally

accredited college or university shall be required to complete

the academic preparation requirements of 22 Pa. Code Ch. 354

(relating to preparation of professional educators).

Section 4.  This act shall take effect immediately.