Bill to change Pennsylvania teacher certification system passes House Education Committee

PENNSYLVANIA — A big deterrent keeping out-of-state teachers from applying for Pennsylvania certification, according to Senator Camera Bartolotta, is the process.

Right now, in order to be certified in Pennsylvania, an out-of-state teacher

has to spend a lot of time and money. That includes the cost of transfer certificates, and testing for the same skills they’re already qualified for in another state. Bartolotta says, ”I liken it to having the requirement to having people take their driver’s training and testing over again in Pennsylvania.”

It’s a process that can cost up to $1,000. Bartolotta wants to change that with Senate Bill 224, which passed through the House Education Committee Monday morning.

The bill would allow certification to any candidate who has completed any state-approved educator preparation program.

It would also require the Pennsylvania Department of Education to recognize and accept an out-of-state candidate’s qualifying scores. The bill would also grant certification to any candidate who holds a valid certificate from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards.

Nina Esposito-Visgitis, president of the Pittsburgh Teachers Federation, supports the proposal, saying, “I applaud efforts to streamline the process so that colleagues from other states can become certified to teach here more quickly and painlessly, so that we can get them into our classrooms and helping our students learn. It makes good sense.”

Senate Bill 224 now moves to the House of Representatives for consideration, and Bartolotta says she hopes it gets on the calendar in the House in the next few days.

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