HB 1407 — An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in certification of teachers, further providing for instructional certificate grade spans and age levels and duties of department and providing for instructional certificate grade spans and age levels; and abrogating a regulation .

PRIOR PRINTER'S NO.

1605 THEPRINTER'S GENERALNO. ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA HOUSE BILL Session of No.

2106 THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA HOUSE BILL Session of No.

NELSON, RIVERA, SCHLOSSBERG, HANBIDGE, GIRAL, PROBST, BOROWSKIBOROWSKI, ABNEY, FLEMING, RUSNOCK AND ABNEY,WEBSTER,HWEYER, MAY 5, 2025SON,2025 O'MARA,AS SCHWEYER,JULY REFERRED9, TO2025ECOND COMMITTEECONSIDERATION, ONHOUSE EDUCATION,OF MAYREPRESENTATIVES, 5, 2025 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 instructional certificate grade spans and age levels and duties of department and providing for instructional certificate grade spans and age levels.levels;

AND <-- ABROGATING A REGULATION.

(B) This subparagraph shall expire three years from the <-- effective date of this clause.clause JULY 1, 2027.

<-- * * * Section 2.

Code § 49.85 (relating to limitations), the grade spans and age levels for instructional certificates issued after June JULY 1, 2027, shall <-- be as follows:

(2) Secondary - grades six SEVEN through twelve or ages <-- eleven (11) TWELVE (12) through twenty-one (21).

<-- (3) Specialized areas - prekindergarten through grade twelve or ages three (3) through twenty-one (21).

Code § 49.85(a), (b) and (d) shall remain valid for the term of the 20250HB1407PN2106 - 2 - certificate.

20250HB1407PN1605 - 2 - (c) An individual holding:

<-- (1) An Early Childhood instructional certificate issued in accordance with 22 Pa.

(d)(C) NotwithstandingAN subsectionINDIVIDUAL (a),HOLDING anAN approvedELEMENTARY/MIDDLE educatorINSTRUCTIONAL preparation<-- programCERTIFICATE mayISSUED permitIN anACCORDANCE individualWITH enrolled in a program prior to December 31, 2025, and remaining continuously enrolled to complete the program for the grade level limitations provided under 22 Pa.PA.

CODE § 49.85(B)(2) OR (D)(2) SHALL HAVE TWO PATHWAYS DEVELOPED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO EXPAND THE SCOPE OF THE INDIVIDUAL'S CERTIFICATE TO MEET THE GRADE LEVELS COVERED UNDER SUBSECTION (A)(2), WHICH SHALL BE LIMITED TO EITHER COMPLETING CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDITS FOR A SPECIFIC CERTIFICATION LEVEL OR ATTAINING QUALIFYING SCORES ON THE ASSESSMENT MADE AVAILABLE BY THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.

(d) Notwithstanding subsection (a), an approved educator preparation program may permit an individual enrolled in a program prior to December 31, 2025 JULY 1, 2027, and remaining <-- 20250HB1407PN2106 - 3 - continuously enrolled to complete the program for the grade level limitations provided under 22 Pa.

The department may issue the appropriate Elementary/Middle <-- instructional certificates to an applicant who completes the program and meets all other certification requirements.

Beginning after December 31, 2025, an educator preparation <-- program approved by the department shall no longer accept new candidates seeking a certificate under 22 Pa.

Code § 49.85(d)(2).49.85(d) (2).

NO LATER THAN JULY 1, 2027, THE DEPARTMENT SHALL RESTRICT <-- AN EDUCATOR PREPARATION PROGRAM APPROVED BY THE DEPARTMENT FROM ACCEPTING NEW CANDIDATES SEEKING A CERTIFICATE UNDER PA.

CODE § 49.85(D).

(E) (1) NOTWITHSTANDING 22 PA.

CODE § 49.85, AN EDUCATOR HOLDING AN EARLY CHILDHOOD CERTIFICATE ISSUED UNDER 22 PA.

CODE § 49.85(B)(1) OR (D)(1) MAY TEACH FIFTH AND SIXTH GRADE.

AN EDUCATOR HOLDING A SECONDARY SCHOOL CERTIFICATE MAY TEACH SIXTH GRADE IN THE SUBJECT AREA FOR WHICH THE SECONDARY CERTIFICATE IS ENDORSED.

(2) THE SECRETARY OF EDUCATION MAY ADOPT STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES AS NECESSARY TO IMPLEMENT THIS SUBSECTION.

(F) THE SECRETARY OF EDUCATION MAY GRANT EXCEPTIONS TO THE GRADE AND AGE LEVEL LIMITATIONS SPECIFIED IN THIS SECTION OR FOR THOSE ISSUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH 22 PA.

CODE § 49.85.

THE SECRETARY SHALL ISSUE STANDARDS OR GUIDELINES THAT OUTLINE THE CIRCUMSTANCES UNDER WHICH EXCEPTIONS SHALL BE GRANTED.

(G) AN APPROVED EDUCATOR PREPARATION PROGRAM SHALL:

(1) REQUIRE INDIVIDUALS ENROLLED IN A PROGRAM WHO ARE PURSUING AN INSTRUCTIONAL CERTIFICATE UNDER SUBSECTION (A)(1) TO COMPLETE A MINIMUM OF THIRTY (30) CREDIT HOURS OF EARLY CHILDHOOD COURSEWORK.

COURSEWORK SHALL INCLUDE, BUT NOT BE 20250HB1407PN2106 - 4 - LIMITED TO, THE FOLLOWING TOPICS FOCUSED ON EARLY CHILDHOOD:

(I) DEVELOPMENT STAGES;

(II) LEARNING THEORIES;

(III) CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT;

(IV) INSTRUCTIONAL STRATEGIES;

(V) CONTENT KNOWLEDGE;

(VI) LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS;

(VII) OBSERVATION AND ASSESSMENT METHODS;