HB 2354 — 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 evaluation of applications for certification.

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
 1   Amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), entitled "An
 2      act relating to the public school system, including certain
 3      provisions applicable as well to private and parochial
 4      schools; amending, revising, consolidating and changing the
 5      laws relating thereto," in certification of teachers, further
 6      providing for evaluation of applications for certification.
 7      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
 8   hereby enacts as follows:
 9      Section 1.    Section 1216 of the act of March 10, 1949
10   (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, is
11   amended by adding a subsection to read:
12      Section 1216.    Evaluation of Applications for
13   Certification.--* * *
14      (e)    The following shall apply:
15      (1)    No later than December 31, 2025, the Department of
16   Education shall establish and implement a policy to provide a
17   one-time fee waiver for an eligible applicant to retake an
18   assessment required under 22 Pa. Code § 49.18.
19      (2)    The Department of Education shall have the following
20   duties:
 1      (i)    Publish the policy under paragraph (1) on its publicly
 2   accessible Internet website.
 3      (ii)    Distribute the policy under paragraph (1) to all
 4   advanced preparation programs, alternative program providers and
 5   preparing institutions.
 6      (3)    For the purposes of this subsection:
 7      (i)    "Advanced preparation program" shall have the meaning
 8   given in 22 Pa. Code § 354.1 (relating to definitions).
 9      (ii)    "Alternative program provider" shall have the meaning
10   given in 22 Pa. Code § 49.1.
11      (iii)    "Assessment" shall include the assessment of basic
12   skills, professional knowledge and practice or subject matter
13   knowledge as defined in 22 Pa. Code § 49.1.
14      (iv)    "Eligible applicant" shall mean an individual who meets
15   all of the following criteria:
16      (A)    Has taken an assessment under 22 Pa. Code § 49.18 and
17   failed to achieve a passing score by a margin of three or fewer
18   scaled score points.
19      (B)    Has taken the assessment no more than once prior to
20   requesting the fee waiver under this subsection.
21      (C)    Registers to retake the same assessment within one year
22   of the date the initial assessment score was released.
23      (v)    "Preparing institution" shall have the meaning given in
24   22 Pa. Code § 354.1.
25      Section 2.    This act shall take effect in 60 days.




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