THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

SENATE BILL

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

SENATOR CORMAN, APPROPRIATIONS, RE-REPORTED AS AMENDED, MAY 4, 2010

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) intern certificate, (10) 

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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repealed hereby, or [(9)] (10) (11) such other kinds of

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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 Sections 1203 and 1206 of the act is 

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are amended to read:

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

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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.

(b)  All persons receiving any of such certificates shall

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have qualifications not less than graduation from a State

Teachers' College of this Commonwealth, or equivalent training.

Residency certificate program training Postbaccalaureate

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certification programs, including residency, intern and

administrative certification programs, completed under section

1207.1 shall be considered are equivalent training for purposes

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of this act.

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

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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

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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 accredited

college or university.

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

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.

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

Section 1207.1.  Residency Certificates.--(a)  The Secretary

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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: Postbaccalaureate

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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 postbaccalaureate

instructional certification programs, which shall include:

(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 the instructional needs of

English language learners.

(ii)  Requirements for candidate oversight and mentoring that

include field placement, student teaching, classroom

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:

(1) (i)  Satisfies the requirements specified under section

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1209.

(2) (ii)  Meets one of the following:

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

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or university in the subject area of shortage.

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

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

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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) (iii)  Is continuously enrolled in an approved residency

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program.

(4) (iv)  Presents evidence of satisfactory achievement on

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the appropriate subject area content test.

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

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years of teaching in the public schools of this Commonwealth in

the area for which it applies.

(c) (3)  The secretary shall have all of the following powers

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and duties related to the issuance of residency certificates:

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

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Statewide or regional shortage of qualified teachers.

(2) (ii)  Develop guidelines for the residency program which

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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. in accordance with

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subsection (a).

(4) (iii)  Issue residency certificates to qualified

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applicants.

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

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the number of residency certificates issued under this section.

(d) (4)  A residency certificate may be converted to an

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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.

(c)  (1)  Postbaccalaureate instructional intern

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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)  Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no person

shall be granted an administrative certificate by the Department

of Education unless:

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

regionally accredited college or university.

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

professional experience.

(3)  The candidate satisfies the requirements of section

1209.

(4)  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

satisfactory evidence that the candidate has successfully

completed a leadership development program that meets the

Pennsylvania school leadership standards under section 1217.

(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 § 354.23

(relating to academic preparation) related to mathematics and

English credit requirements.

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