The following words and terms, when used in this
chapter, have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates
otherwise:
Act-The Public School Code of 1949
(24
P.S. §§ 1-101-27-2702).
Alternative program provider-A
provider of accelerated post-baccalaureate preparation program, other than an
institution of higher education, that has been approved by the Department in
accordance with section 1207.1(a) of the act (24 P.S. §
12-1207.1(a)).
Approved educator preparation
program-A sequence of courses and experiences, offered by a preparing
institution or alternative program provider, that is reviewed and approved by
the Department.
Articulation agreement-A formal
agreement between two higher educational institutions, stating specific
policies relating to transfer and recognition of academic achievement to
facilitate the successful transfer of students without duplication of course
work.
Assessment of basic skills-A
measurement of a candidate's ability to communicate orally and in writing and
to demonstrate proficiency in fundamental computational skills.
Assessment of general knowledge-A
measurement of a candidate's knowledge in the fields of literature,
mathematics, the sciences and social studies.
Assessment of professional knowledge and
practice-A measurement of a candidate's knowledge of educational
theory, principles of human growth and development, educational psychology and
other subjects directly related to educational practice and their
application/demonstration in school settings.
Assessment of subject matter-A
measurement of a candidate's knowledge of an academic field or discipline to be
taught in the public schools of this Commonwealth.
Baccalaureate degree-A conferred
bachelor's degree from an approved 4-year college or university.
Candidate-A person seeking
certification in any of the areas outlined in this chapter.
Certificate-A document prepared and
issued by the Department indicating that the holder has completed an approved
professional preparation program and is qualified to perform specific
professional duties.
Certified personnel-Professional
employees, excluding school secretaries, as defined in section 1101 of the act
(24 P.S. §
11-1101) or educators, or both,
holding a comparable certificate from another state.
Chief school administrator-The
superintendent, intermediate unit executive director, or equivalent private
school administrator.
Collegiate studies-Studies pursued at
institutions which are entitled to apply to themselves the designation of
college or university as defined by 24 Pa.C.S. Chapter 65 (relating to private
colleges, universities and seminaries).
Commissioned officer-District
superintendents and assistant district superintendents under section 1078 of
the act (10-1078) regarding commissions and objections to election.
Community provider-A not-for-profit or
for-profit organization that operates prekindergarten programs.
Continuing professional education-The
formal acquisition of collegiate or in-service credits designed to improve and
expand the expertise of professional personnel.
Core academic subject-Includes
reading, language arts, mathematics, science, foreign languages, social studies
and the arts.
Cultural awareness-Understanding,
consideration, and integration of individuals' culture, language, heritage, and
experiences.
Culturally relevant and sustaining education
(CR-SE)- Education that ensures equity for all students and seeks to
eliminate systemic institutional racial and cultural barriers that inhibit the
success of all students in this Commonwealth-particularly those who have been
historically underrepresented. Culturally relevant and sustaining education
encompasses skills for educators including, but not limited to, approaches to
mental wellness, trauma-informed approaches to instruction, technological and
virtual engagement, cultural awareness and emerging factors that inhibit
equitable access for all students in this Commonwealth.
Day-to-day substitute permit-A permit
issued for no longer than 20 consecutive days to fill a position due to the
absence of professional certified personnel.
Degree-granting institution-A public
college or technical institute which provides a 2 year, postsecondary
college-parallel, terminal-general, terminal-technical, out-of-school youth or
adult education program or a combination of these and which is established and
operated under the act.
Diverse learner-A student who because
of limited English language proficiency or disabilities may have academic needs
that require varied instructional strategies to help the student learn.
Educational specialist-Professional
certified personnel whose primary responsibility is to render professional
service other than classroom teaching, such as dental hygienist, home and
school visitor, instructional technology specialist, social restoration
specialist, nutrition service specialist, elementary counselor, secondary
counselor, school nurse and school psychologist.
Educator Discipline Act-24 P.S. §§
2070.1a-2070.18a.
Emergency permit-A permit issued to
fill a vacancy resulting from resignation, termination, retirement, death or
the creation of a new position.
Exceptional case permit-A permit
issued to fill a vacancy due to exceptional conditions.
Historically underrepresented
groups-Groups that are documented to have been represented across time
in the educator population in proportions below their representation in the
general population. These include, but are not limited to, people of color and
the economically disadvantaged.
Inclusive setting-The placement of a
diverse learner in a regular classroom setting
Induction-A process by which a variety
of professional support services are provided to newly employed teachers and
educational specialists under the guidance of professional personnel to
facilitate entry into the education profession.
Induction plan-A description of the
induction process developed and submitted by the school entity to the
Department for approval which describes how a teacher or educational specialist
will be introduced to the teaching profession under this chapter.
Intern certificate-A professional
certificate that entitles the holder to fill a full-time professional teaching
position.
Invalid certificate-A certificate
which no longer enables its holder to perform specific professional
duties.
Long-term substitute permit-A permit
issued for an indeterminate period to fill a position due to the absence of
professional certified personnel.
Occupational competency credential-A
document issued by the Occupational Competency Testing Examiners which
signifies that the holder possesses knowledge and skill in a technical field at
a journeyman level. When the document is presented to a preparing institution
or to the Department, it may be registered by the Department on the holder's
vocational intern, vocational instructional or instructional certificate, and
it enables the holder to teach that occupational specialty.
PSPC-Professional Standards and Practices
Commission-A body composed of educators from the fields of basic and
higher education, members of the general public and an ex officio member of the
Board established by the Educator Discipline Act.
Permit-A document prepared and issued
by the Department indicating that the holder is allowed to serve in lieu of a
certified professional for a specified period of time.
Prekindergarten-A program operated by
an early intervention agency as defined in 14.101 (relating to definitions),
school district or under contract from a school district that is open to
children who are 3 years of age and who have completed the program prior to the
school district's entry age for kindergarten.
Preparing institution-A college or
university that offers a program approved by the Department to prepare
professional personnel for employment in the public schools.
Professional duties-A duty the
performance of which is restricted to personnel by the scope of their
certificate.
Professional ethics-The standards of
behavior, values, and principles that inform and guide professional
decision-making. These standards of behavior, values and principles include
those detailed in the Pennsylvania Model Code of Ethics for Educators, as
adopted by the Professional Standards and Practices Commission.
Satisfactory achievement-An acceptable
level of performance as determined by the Secretary in consultation with the
Board on the Department-prescribed assessments required in this chapter.
School entity-Public schools, school
districts, intermediate units, area career and technical schools, charter
schools, cyber schools and independent schools.
Structured literacy-Systematic,
explicit instruction that provides a strong core of foundational skills in the
language systems of English, integrates listening, speaking, reading, spelling,
and writing and emphasizes the structure of language across the speech sound
system (phonology), the writing system (orthography), the structure of
sentences (syntax), the meaningful parts of words (morphology), the
relationships among words (semantics), and the organization of spoken and
written discourse.
Subject Area-Specific areas of
instructional content.
Term of validity-A period of time as
specified in §§
49.33,
49.34,
49.82,
49.92,
49.102,
49.142 and
49.152 in which the holder of a
certificate is entitled to perform the professional duties for which the
certificate was issued.
Trauma-informed approaches to
instruction-Pedagogy that recognizes the signs and symptoms of trauma
and integrates knowledge about trauma for the purpose of promoting resiliency
among students.
