(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) Assessments will be
based in the standards developed for each certificate.
(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:
(i) During the
candidate's preparation program.
(ii) Upon application for initial
certification.
(iii) Upon
application for Level II, supervisory or administrative
certification.
(3)
Assessments will be developed in consultation with teachers, administrators,
teacher educators and educational specialists with relevant
certification.
(4) Assessments will
employ, when appropriate, available assessment tools, instruments and
procedures.
(b) The
Secretary, in consultation with the Board, will establish a satisfactory
achievement level for any assessments in subsection (a).
(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).
(d) A periodic review of the assessments will
be made by the Board every 5 years.
(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.
Notes
The
provisions of this § 49.18 adopted January 25, 1985, effective
6/1/1987, 15 Pa.B. 245; readopted
May 29, 1992, effective 5/30/1992, 22 Pa. B. 2824; amended September
24, 1999, effective 9/25/1999,
29 Pa.B. 4954; amended July 14, 2006, effective 7/15/2006, 36 Pa.B. 3655; amended September 21,
2007, effective 9/22/2007, 37
Pa.B. 5150; amended April 22, 2022, effective 4/23/2022, 52 Pa.B.
2451.
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)).
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).
