Pennsylvania HB 2354: An Act amending Title 71 (State Government) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, providing for payments by the Commonwealth; and establishing Do-Not-Pay Initiative.

Bill Text

PRINTER'S NO. 3123
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 2354
Session of
2026
INTRODUCED BY ORTITAY, M. MACKENZIE, PICKETT, M. JONES, RIVERA
AND K. HARRIS, MARCH 31, 2026
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, MARCH 31, 2026
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 evaluation of applications for certification.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 1216 of the act of March 10, 1949
(P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, is
amended by adding a subsection to read:
Section 1216. Evaluation of Applications for
Certification.--* * *
(e) The following shall apply:
(1) No later than December 31, 2025, the Department of
Education shall establish and implement a policy to provide a
one-time fee waiver for an eligible applicant to retake an
assessment required under 22 Pa. Code § 49.18.
(2) The Department of Education shall have the following
duties:
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(i) Publish the policy under paragraph (1) on its publicly
accessible Internet website.
(ii) Distribute the policy under paragraph (1) to all
advanced preparation programs, alternative program providers and
preparing institutions.
(3) For the purposes of this subsection:
(i) "Advanced preparation program" shall have the meaning
given in 22 Pa. Code § 354.1 (relating to definitions).
(ii) "Alternative program provider" shall have the meaning
given in 22 Pa. Code § 49.1.
(iii) "Assessment" shall include the assessment of basic
skills, professional knowledge and practice or subject matter
knowledge as defined in 22 Pa. Code § 49.1.
(iv) "Eligible applicant" shall mean an individual who meets
all of the following criteria:
(A) Has taken an assessment under 22 Pa. Code § 49.18 and
failed to achieve a passing score by a margin of three or fewer
scaled score points.
(B) Has taken the assessment no more than once prior to
requesting the fee waiver under this subsection.
(C) Registers to retake the same assessment within one year
of the date the initial assessment score was released.
(v) "Preparing institution" shall have the meaning given in
22 Pa. Code § 354.1.
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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