PRINTER'S NO. 194
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No.
224
Session of
2021
INTRODUCED BY BARTOLOTTA, LANGERHOLC, ARGALL, STEFANO, J. WARD,
PHILLIPS-HILL, MASTRIANO, TARTAGLIONE, PITTMAN, BAKER AND
DUSH, FEBRUARY 11, 2021
REFERRED TO EDUCATION, FEBRUARY 11, 2021
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,
repealing certificates issued by other states and providing
for out-of-state applicants for certifications.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 1206 of the act of March 10, 1949
(P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, is
repealed:
[Section 1206. Certificates Issued by Other States.--(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 an accredited college or
university.
(2) Has at least two (2) years of successful classroom
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experience.
(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
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 2. The act is amended by adding a section to read:
Section 1206.1. Out-of-State Applicants for Certification.--
(a) Candidates from other states seeking Pennsylvania
certification must satisfy one of the following:
(1) The candidate must hold a valid and current
instructional certificate issued by another state and satisfy
the following:
(i) Completion of a college or university educator
preparation program approved by the certifying state,
satisfaction of testing requirements demonstrating subject
matter competency in the applicable area of Pennsylvania
certification, including passage of equivalent content tests
required by the certifying state and field experience.
(ii) For a candidate who has taught on the out-of-state
certificate, presentation to the department evidence of
satisfactory professional educator experience for the
candidate's two most recent years of classroom teaching.
(2) The candidate must hold a valid certificate issued by
the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. A
candidate with a certificate shall be granted the highest-level
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Pennsylvania certification available in the candidate's area of
certification.
(b) An out-of-state candidate who satisfies the requirements
of subsection (a) must also satisfy this Commonwealth's
requirements under sections 1202 and 1209.
(c) An out-of-state candidate who is seeking Pennsylvania
certification in a subject identified by the department as a
shortage area and meets the requirements of subsections (a) and
(b) shall be issued the appropriate certificate on an expedited
basis in accordance with this section.
Section 3. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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