By: Allison Butler

Professor William Krause ED 519: Issues, Laws, and Trends in Education

According to the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education, to find a good Teacher Preparation Program, the following answers should all be “YES”…

Does the institution offer a firm foundation in the liberal arts and teaching discipline?

Are programs designed using subject matter-specific standards developed by specialized professional associations?

Does the institution have the resources necessary to support each of the programs it offers?

Does the institution prepare candidates to integrate technology into instruction? How well is technology integrated into the coursework at the institution?

Does the institution provide many opportunities for candidates to learn how to teach under the supervision of a variety of veteran teachers? At what point does the candidate gain experience in P–12 schools?

Does the institution prepare candidates to work with the growing diversity of America’s school population?

Do teacher candidates acquire knowledge of the most effective teaching strategies? How are teacher candidates evaluated on their performance by the institution? By whom are the prospective teachers evaluated? How is it accomplished?

What percent of the graduates pass the state licensing exam?

How does the institution seek feedback from graduates, and how is it incorporated into the program? What has been the feedback from graduates?

What has been the feedback from principals, department chairs, etc., at schools hiring graduates?

To receive your teaching degree and certification, prospective teachers must:Have 3.0 overall cumulative Grade Point Average during undergradComplete an accredited and approved teacher preparation teacher

education programPass the Praxis series test for the subject area in which they seek

certification. Be of good moral characterAt least 18 years of ageBe a citizen of the United States Provide a physician’s certificate stating that the applicant, with or

without reasonable accommodation, is able to perform successfully the essential functions and duties of an educator.

Have criminal background and child abuse report clearance checks before teaching

To teach in public schools, prospective teachers must:Acquire a valid teaching certificate or licenseHold a Bachelor of the Arts or Bachelor of Science

degree Have 3.0 overall cumulative Grade Point Average during

undergradComplete an accredited and approved teacher

preparation teacher education program Pass the Praxis series test for the subject area in which

they seek certification. Be of good moral characterAt least 18 years of ageA citizen of the United States Prior to employment, the educator must provide a

physician’s certificate stating that the applicant, with or without reasonable accommodation, is able to perform successfully the essential functions and duties of an educator.

Have criminal background and child abuse report clearance checks before teaching

For practicing educators, it is important to be aware of the requirements for maintaining certification and converting it from a temporary to a permanent certificate.

The initial certificate issued to educators in Pennsylvania is considered a Level I Instructional certificate.

The second, and permanent certification, is called the Level II.

In order to become Level II Permanent status, educators must:

Complete a minimum of three years successful (satisfactory) teaching

Complete 24 post-baccalaureate creditsComplete a PDE approved induction programApply by completing the PDE 427 form

The law requires that all certified educators complete 180 continuing education hours every five years in order for their certificate to remain active.

The 180 hours of professional development must be related to an area of the professional educator’s assignment or certification, and must comply with their school entity’s plan.

The 180-hour requirement can be met with six college credits, six credits of continuing professional education courses, 180 clock hours of continuing professional education, or any combination of collegiate studies, continuing education courses or other programs, activities or learning experiences equivalent to 180 hours. For the purposes of calculating hours and credits, one credit of

collegiate study or continuing professional education course is equivalent to 30 hours of continuing professional education.

These hours are reported to PDE in a centralized location that maintains the number of hours earned for every certified employee.

Tenure is a senior academic's contractual right not to have their position terminated without just cause.

Legally, teacher tenure is a statutory right imposed upon a teacher’s contractual employment. It guarantees job security and fairness and serves these primary purposes:

1. Tenure exists to protect competent and productive teachers from unconstitutional, unlawful, arbitrary and capricious employment actions.

2. A tenured teacher can be dismissed from employment only for causes enumerated in state law, such as incompetency, immorality, conviction of a felony, insubordination, etc.

3. Dismissal of a tenured teacher can occur only in accordance with prescribed procedures – due process of law, including notice and an opportunity for a hearing.

In 1996, Act 16 changed the Tenure Law. Previously, a teacher only had to complete two years of successful teaching to gain tenured status. This law changed it to three years, and it also provided additional causes for termination. The causes for termination include:Unsatisfactory teaching performance, based on two

consecutive evaluations.Willful neglect of duties.Physical or mental disability that cannot be

reasonably accommodated.Failure to comply with school laws, including

individual’s school board policies.

Pennsylvania’s Definition of Highly Qualified Teacher Teacher must hold at least a bachelor’s degree Teacher must hold a valid Pennsylvania teaching certificate

( Instructional I, Instructional II or Intern certificate but not an emergency permit)

Teacher must demonstrate subject matter competency for the core content area they teach.

Generally, all Pennsylvania certified teachers may demonstrate subject matter competency through having passed a content area test in the subject area of their teaching assignment. Middle and Secondary level teachers may also demonstrate competency by having completed a content area major or a graduate degree in the subject area of assignment.

Additionally, experienced teachers (those with one or more years of teaching experience) may demonstrate subject matter competency through having attained National Board for Professional Teaching Standards Certification in the subject area of their teaching assignment.

Search the internet to find more information about your teaching career…here are a few websites where you may want to start… Teacher Preparation Programs

http://www.ncate.org/public/lookfor.asp?ch=2 Teacher Dismissal

http://www.pacode.com/secure/data/022/chapter351/s351.26.html Basic Rights of Teachers

http://www.departments.bucknell.edu/edu/ed370/teacher_due_process.html

Highly Qualified Teachers http://www.teaching.state.pa.us/teaching/cwp/view.asp?

a=15&Q=122062&teachingNav=|10445|&teachingNav=|1904|10445|

hqteacherchart.pdf http://www.teaching.state.pa.us/teaching/cwp/view.asp?

a=15&Q=122251&PM=1 Act 48 credits

http://www.teaching.state.pa.us/teaching/lib/teaching/Prof_Ed_Plan_Guidelines_Final_2-_3_07_073.pdf

Maintaining your teacher certification http://www.teaching.state.pa.us/teaching/lib/teaching/

Level_II_Book_%2811-07%29.doc Steps to teacher certification

http://www.messiah.edu/teacher/certification/app_procedure.html

Teacher freedoms and rights. (n.d). Retrieved July 28, 2009 fromhttp://www.enotes.com/everyday-law-encyclopedia/teachers-rights#teacher-freedoms-rights.

  A teacher’s termination. (n.d). Retrieved July 28,

2009 fromhttp://www.articlesbase.com/education-articles/a-teachers-termination-370738.html

Teacher preparation program. (n.d). Retrieved July 29, 2009 from http://www.ncate.org/public/lookfor.asp?ch=2

Highly qualified teachers. (n.d). Retrieved July 29, 2009 from http://www.teaching.state.pa.us/teaching/cwp/view.asp?a=15&Q=122062&teachingNav=|10445|&teachingNav=|1904|10445|

Teaching requirements. (n.d). Retrieved July 29, 2009 from http://ce6.wilkes.edu/webct/urw/lc5116001.tp0/cobaltMainFrame.dowebct.