PRINTER'S NO. 2355
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
1874
Session of
2023
INTRODUCED BY WATRO, MARCELL, GAYDOS, GUENST, BERNSTINE,
RYNCAVAGE, CABELL, TWARDZIK, KAUFER, GLEIM AND JOZWIAK,
DECEMBER 5, 2023
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, DECEMBER 5, 2023
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, further
providing for certificates qualifying persons to teach and
providing for special temporary certificate for veterans.
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, 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repealed hereby, (10.1) special temporary certificate for
veterans or (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. The act is amended by adding a section to read:
Section 1207.5. Special Temporary Certificate for
Veterans.-- (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law to
the contrary, the secretary, in conjunction with the State Board
of Education, shall develop a special temporary certificate for
veterans. The special temporary certificate program shall
provide an alternative pathway for an eligible veteran to earn
an Instructional I Certificate.
(b) The secretary shall:
(1) Evaluate and approve qualified providers for a special
temporary certificate for veterans.
(2) Adopt standards and guidelines as necessary to implement
a program for a special temporary certificate for veterans. The
program standards and guidelines shall address:
(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.
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(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
observations and ongoing support for novice educators in
partnership with school entities during their induction period,
including observation, consultation and assessment that includes
close supervision by a professional employe.
(3) Issue special temporary certificates for veterans in
accordance with this section.
(c) An individual who applies for a special temporary
certificate for veterans shall comply with all of the following:
(1) Satisfy the requirements specified under section 1209.
(2) Complete at least sixty (60) college credits with a
minimum grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 grade scale, as
provided by one or more accredited institutions of higher
education that the department has identified as having a quality
program resulting in a bachelor's degree or higher.
(3) Be continuously enrolled in an approved residency
program as developed by the department.
(4) Present evidence of satisfactory achievement on the
appropriate subject area content test.
(d) A certification program offered under this section shall
consist of flexible and accelerated pedagogical training to
candidates who have demonstrated subject matter competency in a
subject area related to their certification.
(e) The secretary may issue a special temporary certificate
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for veterans for service in a specific area of instruction to
candidates who satisfy the requirements under this section.
(f) A special temporary certificate for veterans shall be
valid for five (5) years of teaching in the public schools of
this Commonwealth in the area for which it applies.
(g) While teaching under a special temporary certificate for
veterans, the individual must be assigned a cooperating teacher
for a minimum of two (2) school years after commencing
employment.
(h) The program shall provide for the special temporary
certificate for veterans to be converted to an Instructional I
Certificate upon the completion of all program requirements as
developed by the department, in conjunction with the State Board
of Education, and the completion of two (2) years of
satisfactory teaching in school entities.
(i) At least one (1) year before a candidate's certificate
is set to expire, the department shall electronically notify the
candidate of the date on which the certificate will expire and
provide a list of each method by which the qualifications for an
Instructional I Certificate can be completed.
(j) The State Board of Education shall adopt rules to allow
the department to extend the validity period of a temporary
certificate for an additional two (2) years if the requirements
for the Instructional I Certificate cannot be completed due to
any of the following:
(1) A serious illness or injury of the candidate.
(2) Military service requirements of a veteran's spouse
serving in the United States Armed Forces, including a reserve
component or National Guard.
(3) Extraordinary extenuating circumstances. The department
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shall extend the special temporary certificate for veterans upon
approval by the secretary.
(k) A candidate shall be issued an Instructional I
Certificate upon successful completion of the approved
certification program provided that the candidate has satisfied
the requirements of section 1209.
(l) As used in this section, the following words and phrases
shall have the meanings given to them in this subsection:
"Candidate." A veteran who holds a special temporary
certificate and seeks an Instructional I Certificate.
"Cooperating teacher." An individual who satisfies all of
the following:
(1) Holds a certification under section 1201 in the subject
area in which the individual will provide guidance to a student
teacher.
(2) Has received at least three (3) years of satisfactory
ratings as a certified teacher.
(3) Has at least one (1) year of certificated teaching
experience in the school entity where the student teacher is
placed.
"Department." The Department of Education of the
Commonwealth.
"School entity." A public school, including a charter
school, cyber charter school or regional charter school, private
school, nonpublic school, intermediate unit or area career and
technical school operating within this Commonwealth.
"Secretary." The Secretary of Education of the Commonwealth.
"Veteran." An individual who served in the United States
Armed Forces, including a reserve component or National Guard,
who was discharged or released under conditions other than
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dishonorable.
Section 3. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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