PRINTER'S NO. 1315
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
1039
Session of
2015
INTRODUCED BY O'NEILL, COX, EVERETT, GABLER, J. HARRIS,
LAWRENCE, McNEILL, MURT, PETRI, RADER, RAPP, REESE, SACCONE,
SAYLOR, TALLMAN, TOOHIL AND TRUITT, APRIL 20, 2015
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, APRIL 20, 2015
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.
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 June 30, 2011 (P.L.112, No.24), is amended to read:
Section 1201. Certificates Qualifying Persons to Teach.--
[Only] (a) Except as provided under subsection (b), 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)
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residency certificate, (9) intern certificate, (10) 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repealed hereby, or (11) such other kinds of certificates as are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.
(b) An individual who does not hold a certificate under
subsection (a) shall be eligible to teach as a substitute in a
school entity provided that:
(1) The uncertified individual shall meet all of the
following requirements:
(i) Possess a baccalaureate degree from a college or
university accredited by a regional accrediting agency
recognized by the United States Department of Education.
(ii) Satisfy the requirements set forth in sections 111,
111.1 and 1109(a) and 23 Pa.C.S. Ch. 63 Subch. C (relating to
powers and duties of department).
(2) The school entity shall make a bona fide effort to
employ a certified individual before employing an uncertified
individual.
(3) The uncertified individual shall serve as a substitute
for a single professional employe or temporary professional
employe for no more than fourteen (14) consecutive days in a
school year, provided that the uncertified individual may serve
as a substitute for multiple professional employes or temporary
professional employes.
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(4) The individual shall receive a salary fixed by the
governing board of the school entity.
(5) The individual shall not have the right to elect
membership in the Public School Employees' Retirement System
established under the Public School Employees' Retirement Code,
24 Pa.C.S. Chs. 81 (relating to preliminary provisions) and 91
(relating to miscellaneous provisions), nor shall service as a
substitute under this subsection be eligible for credit in the
Public School Employees' Retirement System.
(c) As used in this section:
"Professional employe" shall have the meaning set forth in
section 1101(1).
"School entity" shall mean an area vocational-technical
school, a school district or an intermediate unit.
"Substitute" shall have the meaning set forth in section
1101(2).
"Temporary professional employe" shall have the meaning set
forth in section 1101(3).
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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