Section 12-1207.1 - Postbaccalaureate certification(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, the Secretary of Education shall have all of the following powers and duties with regard to postbaccalaureate certification programs: (1) Evaluate and approve, in accordance with this section, all postbaccalaureate certification programs, including accelerated programs, leading to the certification of professional personnel including intern certification programs, residency certification programs and administrative certification programs.(2) Evaluate and approve qualified providers of postbaccalaureate certification programs, which may include providers other than institutions of higher education, and ensure that the approval process designed for program providers which are not institutions of higher education enables high-quality, nontraditional program providers to seek and gain approval.(3) Develop guidelines for the approval of flexible postbaccalaureate instructional certification programs. Such program guidelines shall address: (i) Instruction and training in the following:(A) Educational strategies for the designated subject area.(B) Child development specifically related to the level of the certificate sought.(C) Professional ethics and responsibilities.(D) Pennsylvania academic standards.(E) Assessment knowledge and skills.(F) Accommodations and adaptations for students with disabilities in an inclusive setting.(G) Strategies for meeting instructional needs of English language learners.(H) Trauma-informed approaches. (ii) Requirements for candidate oversight and mentoring that may include field placement, student teaching, classroom observations and ongoing support for novice educators in partnership with local education agencies during their induction period, including observation, consultation and assessment that includes close supervision by a professional employe.(4) Issue certificates in accordance with this section to qualified candidates.(5) Adopt standards and guidelines as necessary to implement this section.(b)(1) The Secretary of Education may make a one-time issuance of a residency certificate for service in a specific shortage area of instruction in public schools of this Commonwealth to an applicant who meets all of the following: (i) Satisfies the requirements specified under section 1209. (ii) Meets one of the following:(A) Holds a doctoral degree or master's degree from an accredited college or university in the subject area of shortage.(B) Holds a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in the subject area of shortage and has at least three (3) years of work experience in the subject area or related field.(iii) Is continuously enrolled in an approved residency program.(iv) Presents evidence of satisfactory achievement on the appropriate subject area content test.(2) A residency certificate shall be valid for three (3) years of teaching in the public schools of this Commonwealth in the area for which it applies.(3) The Secretary of Education shall have all of the following powers and duties related to the issuance of residency certificates: (i) Identify areas of certification in which there is a Statewide or regional shortage of qualified teachers.(ii) Develop guidelines for the residency program in accordance with subsection (a).(iii) Issue residency certificates to qualified applicants.(iv) Report annually to the State Board of Education on the number of residency certificates issued under this section.(4) A residency certificate may be converted to an Instructional I Certificate upon the completion of all residency program requirements under Department of Education guidelines and the completion of three (3) years of satisfactory teaching in the public schools of this Commonwealth.(c)(1) Postbaccalaureate instructional intern certification programs shall provide flexible and accelerated pedagogical training to teachers who have demonstrated subject matter competency in a subject area related to their certification.(2) The Secretary of Education may make a one-time issuance of a postbaccalaureate instructional intern certificate for service in a specific area of instruction to candidates who, in addition to meeting the requirements of section 1209, present evidence of satisfactory achievement on the department-prescribed subject matter assessments related to the area of certification and hold a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university. This certificate shall require continuing enrollment in an approved postbaccalaureate instructional intern certification program.(3) A postbaccalaureate instructional intern certificate shall be valid for three (3) years of teaching in the public schools of this Commonwealth and may not be renewed.(4) A candidate shall be issued an Instructional I Certificate upon successful completion of the approved postbaccalaureate instructional intern program provided that the candidate has satisfied the requirements of section 1209.(d)(1) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no person shall be granted an administrative certificate or a career and technical director certificate by the Department of Education unless: (i) The candidate holds a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university. (ii) The candidate has had three (3) years of relevant professional experience. (iii) The candidate satisfies the requirements of section 1209. (iv) Notwithstanding the provisions of sections 1205.1(f) , 1205.2(n.1) and 1205.5(h), the candidate has completed in a college or university a graduate program in education approved by the Department of Education or has provided to the Secretary of Education, within two (2) years of employment in the school or system leadership position for which the candidate was certified, satisfactory evidence that the candidate has successfully completed a leadership development program that meets the Pennsylvania school leadership standards under section 1217 and has demonstrated knowledge of basic school laws and regulations. (2) The Secretary of Education may adopt standards and guidelines as necessary to implement this section.(e) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no candidate for certification or admission into a certification preparation program who holds a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college or university shall be required to complete the academic preparation requirements of 22 Pa. Code Ch. 354 (relating to preparation of professional educators).(f) Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit the State Board of Education from authorizing certification programs in accordance with State law, nor shall this section be construed to impact any programs that have been authorized by the State Board of Education prior to the effective date of this section.Amended by P.L. TBD 2019 No. 76, § 18, eff. 12/30/2019.Amended by P.L. TBD 2019 No. 18, § 6, eff. 8/27/2019.1949, March 10, P.L. 30, No. 14, art. XII, § 1207.1, added 2011, June 30, P.L. 112, No. 24, § 17, imd. effective.