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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2023 - 2024
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | June 1, 2023 10:13 AM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Robert E. Merski |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Act 48 Teacher Continuing Education One-Year Extension |
| Pennsylvania is experiencing a statewide teacher shortage that continues to get worse. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, the Commonwealth has seen a 64% decline in the number of Instructional I certificates issued to in-state graduates between 2010 and 2021. In addition, a recent report from the Penn State University College of Education states that Pennsylvania issued the lowest number ever of new teaching certificates during the 2021-2022 school year and that there are now more Pennsylvania teachers on emergency permits than newly certified teachers from the state’s teacher preparation programs. To help address the teacher shortage in the Commonwealth, I will be introducing two pieces of legislation to extend the timeframe for our teachers to complete their Act 48 continuing education requirements. Act 48 of 1999 requires all Pennsylvania educators with a Pennsylvania public school certification to participate in ongoing professional education. This legislation will allow teachers, and those with teaching certification interested in returning to the profession, to have ample time to come into compliance with their required Act 48 credit hours. The first bill will provide all teachers with a one-year extension to complete their Act 48 requirements. This language was developed during the covid pandemic and has previously been included in the School Code. The second bill aims to encourage those who have left teaching to reenter the profession by providing them with a new five-year window to complete their required Act 48 continuing education credits. I hope that you will join me in supporting this important legislation. |
Introduced as HB1396