1. (a) The Secretary will establish assessments for candidates for certification designed to assess their basic skills; professional knowledge and practice; and subject matter knowledge. Candidates for elementary, K—12 instructional, Special Education and Early Childhood Certificates shall also be assessed in the area of general knowledge. The following principles will guide the Secretary in the development of any assessment:

   1. (1) Assessments will be based in the standards developed for each certificate.

   2. (2) Assessments will measure the candidate’s abilities across the domains of basic skills knowledge, professional knowledge and practice, and subject matter knowledge employing a variety of measures at a minimum of three points:

      1. (i) During the candidate’s preparation program.
      2. (ii) Upon application for initial certification.
      3. (iii) Upon application for Level II, supervisory or administrative certification.
   3. (3) Assessments will be developed in consultation with teachers, administrators, teacher educators and educational specialists with relevant certification.
   4. (4) Assessments will employ, when appropriate, available assessment tools, instruments and procedures.
2. (b) The Secretary, in consultation with the Board, will establish a satisfactory achievement level for any assessments in subsection (a).
3. (c) The assessments in basic skills will be given, and satisfactory achievement levels shall be reached, prior to formal entry into a certification preparation program in accordance with section 1207.3 of the act (24 P.S. § 12-1207.3). The assessments in general knowledge; professional knowledge and practice; and subject matter knowledge will be given, and satisfactory achievement levels shall be obtained, prior to the issuance of a certificate. Candidates who will complete all certification requirements at the post-baccalaureate level are not required to take and pass assessments in basic skills (See 24 P.S. § 12-1207.3).
4. (d) A periodic review of the assessments will be made by the Board every 5 years.
5. (e) The Department may issue additional subject areas to holders of Instructional (see § § 49.82 and 49.83 (relating to Instructional I; and Instructional II)) or Intern (see § 49.91 (relating to criteria for eligibility)) certification in related subject areas and who pass the appropriate subject matter testing components. All Special Education areas are excluded. The Department may identify other certification areas to be excluded from eligibility based on criteria established by the Secretary in consultation with the Board.

Authority

The provisions of this § 49.18 issued under sections 202, 408.1, 1302 and 1317—1320 of The Administrative Code of 1929 (71 P.S. § § 62, 118.1 (Repealed), 352 and 367—370 (Repealed)).

Source

The provisions of this § 49.18 adopted January 25, 1985, effective June 1, 1987, 15 Pa.B. 245; readopted May 29, 1992, effective May 30, 1992, 22 Pa. B. 2824; amended September 24, 1999, effective September 25, 1999, 29 Pa.B. 4954; amended July 14, 2006, effective July 15, 2006, 36 Pa.B. 3655; amended September 21, 2007, effective September 22, 2007, 37 Pa.B. 5150; amended April 22, 2022, effective April 23, 2022, 52 Pa.B. 2451. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (382433) to (382434) and (329963).

Notes of Decisions

Application

The testing requirements implemented pursuant to this regulation are applicable to a teacher who filed the appropriate paperwork with a preparing institution 2 days prior to the effectiveness of these regulations because the Department of Education did not receive the approval from the preparing institution until several weeks after the effectiveness of the regulation. The date the preparing institution received the application cannot be deemed the date the Department received it. Logsdon v. Department of Education, 671 A.2d 302 (Pa. Cmwlth. 1996).

Knowledge

A provisionally certified teacher was charged with the knowledge of the statutes and regulations regarding professional certification, and the teacher cannot rely on the failure of an academic advisor to inform the teacher of the Department of Education’s applicable testing requirements for permanent certification as a means to avoid compliance with them. Logsdon v. Department of Education, 671 A.2d 302 (Pa. Cmwlth. 1996).

Cross References

This section cited in 22 Pa. Code § 49.13 (relating to policies); 22 Pa. Code § 49.42 (relating to letter of eligibility); 22 Pa. Code § 49.65 (relating to out-of-State and Nationally-certified applicants); 22 Pa. Code § 49.68 (relating to evaluation of prescribed requirements and standards); 22 Pa. Code § 49.82 (relating to Instructional I); 22 Pa. Code § 49.83 (relating to Instructional II); 22 Pa. Code § 49.86 (relating to accelerated program for Early Childhood and Elementary/Middle level Certificate holders); 22 Pa. Code § 49.102 (relating to Educational Specialist I); 22 Pa. Code § 49.111 (relating to Supervisory Certificate); 22 Pa. Code § 49.121 (relating to Administrative Certificate); 22 Pa. Code § 49.131 (relating to basic requirements for baccalaureate and nonbaccalaureate programs); 22 Pa. Code § 49.142 (relating to Career and Technical Instructional I); 22 Pa. Code § 49.143 (relating to Career and Technical Instructional II); 22 Pa. Code § 49.151 (relating to eligibility and criteria); and 22 Pa. Code § 49.163 (relating to Career and Technical Administrative Director).

PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS COMMITTEE

Source

The provisions of these § § 49.21—49.24 reserved September 12, 1980, effective September 13, 1980, 10 Pa.B. 3665. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (7382) and (24550).