Pennsylvania 2025-2026 Regular Session Status: In Committee 4 R cosponsors

SB 220 — 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, providing for instructional certificate grade spans and age levels; and making an editorial change.

Last action — Referred to Education

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  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed Senate
  4. 4
    Passed House
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill is in committee in the Senate. Introduced February 03, 2025. It must pass committee before a floor vote.

Next likely step: a committee vote, then a floor vote in the Senate.

Prognosis

Stalled 22% · moderate confidence

Where this bill stands today.

Odds of enactment

Low

How often bills like it became law.

  • In Committee

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 4 sponsors

    1 primary, 3 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Single-party support

    Sponsorship is currently within one party (4 R).

Prognosis reads this bill's own signals — stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes and cross-state momentum. Odds come from a model trained on which bills have become law.

In plain language

The bill updates instructional certificate grade spans and age levels for teachers in Pennsylvania.

This legislation amends existing education laws to establish new grade spans and age levels for instructional certificates effective after December 31, 2025. It also details opportunities for existing certificate holders to expand their certification scope.

Bill Text

How this bill changes current law

4 changes Share ↗

AI-generated reading aid from the bill's amendatory text — verify against the official bill.

The bill revises the headings and grade spans of instructional certificates for teachers in Pennsylvania's public school system while adding new provisions for age levels and duties.

  • Section 1202.1

    Instructional → Special Education

    This change updates the heading to better reflect the focus on special education.

  • Section 1202.2. Instructional Certificate Grade Spans and Age Levels.--(a) Notwithstanding 22 Pa. Code § 49.85 (relating to limitations), the grade spans and age levels for instructional certificates issued after December 31, 2025, shall be as follows: (1) Early childhood - prekindergarten, kindergarten, grades one through four or ages three (3) through nine (9). (2) Elementary - kindergarten, grades one through six or ages four (4) through eleven (11). (3) Middle - grades six through nine or ages eleven (11) through fifteen (15). (4) Secondary - grades seven through twelve or ages eleven (11) through twenty-one (21). (5) Specialized areas - prekindergarten through grade twelve or up to age twenty-one (21).

    This addition establishes new grade spans and age levels for instructional certificates issued after a specific date.

  • (b) Certificates issued in accordance with 22 Pa. Code § 49.85(a) and (b) shall remain valid for the term of the certificate.

    This provision clarifies the validity of certificates issued under existing regulations.

  • (c) An individual holding Elementary/Middle Certificates issued in accordance with 22 Pa. Code § 49.85(b)(2) shall have the opportunity to expand the scope of the individual's certificate to meet the grade levels covered under subsection (a)(2) and (3) by a process determined by the Department of Education, which shall include, but not be limited to, continuing education credits or the satisfactory outcome of a PRAXIS assessment for the specific certification level.

    This amendment provides a pathway for educators to expand their teaching certifications to include additional grade levels.

Action History

  1. Referred to Education

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 3 co-sponsors · 249 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (3)

Not signed on (249)

249 members have not signed on to this bill.

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"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Subjects

education
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors SB 220?
SB 220 is sponsored by Kristin Phillips-Hill (Republican), Rosemary M. Brown (Republican), Tracy Pennycuick (Republican), and Patrick J. Stefano (Republican).
What is the current status of SB 220?
This bill is in committee in the Senate. Introduced February 03, 2025. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
Where can I track SB 220?
Track SB 220 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

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Last checked for changes 3 months ago · updated continuously

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