THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

SENATE BILL

INTRODUCED BY DINNIMAN, FOLMER, M. WHITE, BOSCOLA, FONTANA, GREENLEAF, HUGHES, RAFFERTY, STOUT, WARD, WASHINGTON, WILLIAMS AND COSTA, JULY 10, 2009

REFERRED TO EDUCATION, JULY 10, 2009  

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 residency certificates.

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) 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309), as amended, which is repealed hereby, or [(9)] (10) such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.  Section 1203 of the act is amended to read:

Section 1203.  Kinds of State Certificates.--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.

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. Residency

certificate program training completed under section 1207.1

shall be considered equivalent training for purposes of this

act.

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

Section 1207.1.  Residency Certificates.--(a)  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:

(1)  Satisfies the requirements specified under section 1209.

(2)  Meets one of the following:

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

university in the subject area of shortage.

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

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

years of work experience in the subject area or related field.

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

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

five years of work experience in the subject area or related

field.

(3)  Is continuously enrolled in an approved residency

program.

(4)  Presents evidence of satisfactory achievement on the

appropriate subject area content test.

(b)  A residency certificate shall be valid for three years

of teaching in the public schools of this Commonwealth in the

area for which it applies.

(c)  The secretary shall have all of the following powers and

duties related to the issuance of residency certificates:

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

Statewide or regional shortage of qualified teachers.

(2)  Develop guidelines for the residency program which shall

include:

(i)  Preplacement instruction and training.

(ii)  Instruction and training in the following:

(A)  Educational strategies for the designated subject area

for which the residency certificate is issued.

(B)  Child development specifically related to the level of

the certificate sought.

(C)  Emotional support.

(D)  Pennsylvania academic standards.

(E)  Assessment knowledge and skills.

(F)  Pennsylvania standards and aligned system knowledge.

(iii)  Requirements for oversight and mentoring that include

induction, classroom observations and professional development

for the certificate holder during the three years of service in

the public schools of this Commonwealth.

(3)  Approve all residency programs.

(4)  Issue residency certificates to qualified applicants.

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

number of residency certificates issued under this section.

(d)  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 years of satisfactory teaching in

the public schools of this Commonwealth.

Section 4.  This act shall take effect in 60 days.