Pennsylvania HB 1403: 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 program of continuing professional and paraprofessional education.

Bill Text

PRIOR PRINTER'S NO. 1602 PRINTER'S NO. 1685
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 1403
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY BOROWSKI, MERSKI, SANCHEZ, PROBST, HOWARD, PIELLI,
SCHLOSSBERG, PROKOPIAK, HILL-EVANS, GIRAL, RIVERA, DONAHUE,
ISAACSON, WARREN, NEILSON, CEPEDA-FREYTIZ, O'MARA, OTTEN,
TAKAC AND SCHWEYER, MAY 5, 2025
AS REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES, AS AMENDED, MAY 12, 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 program of continuing professional and
paraprofessional education.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 1205.2(k) introductory paragraph and (2)
of the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the
Public School Code of 1949, are amended and the subsection is
amended by adding paragraphs to read:
Section 1205.2. Program of Continuing Professional and
Paraprofessional Education.--* * *
(k) A professional educator who is not employed by a school
entity as a professional or temporary professional employe may
apply to the department for inactive certification[.], which
shall be granted by the department at no cost to the
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professional educator. Inactive certification shall:
* * *
(2) Except as provided under [paragraph] paragraphs (2.1)
and (2.2), be removed by the department upon the application of
the professional educator and evidence of the completion of
thirty (30) hours of continuing professional education within
the immediate preceding [twelve (12)] eighteen (18) months. The
department shall establish guidelines to approve courses that
will authorize the removal of inactive certification.
* * *
(2.2) Be removed by the department upon the application of
the professional educator and evidence that the professional
educator has received an offer of employment from a school
entity that has committed to provide AND ENSURE THAT the
professional educator with COMPLETES thirty (30) hours of in-
service continuing professional education within the
professional educator's first two school years of employment.
(2.3) Upon the removal of inactive certification under
paragraph (2.1) or (2.2), a professional educator shall have the
same number of hours of continuing professional education and
the same amount of time in which to complete the hours as
existed for the professional educator at the time inactive
certification was granted. In the case of a professional
educator whose certificate was placed on inactive status by the
department due to the expiration of the professional educator's
compliance period, the professional educator shall begin a new
five-year compliance period to satisfy the requirements of
subsection (a).
* * *
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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