Oct. 23, 2017
HARRISBURG – Legislation that would change the manner in which Pennsylvania’s public school teachers are certified is expected to receive a vote on final passage next week in the House after being passed overwhelmingly by the House Education Committee on Monday.
House Bill 1386, authored by state Rep. Kristin Phillips-Hill (R-York Township), is supported by the Pennsylvania Association of School Administrators, Pennsylvania School Board Association and Pennsylvania State Education Associations.
“The language in House Bill 1386 simply reverts educational and instructional certification levels back to where they were before changes were unnecessarily made four years ago,” said Phillips-Hill. “Those changes have resulted in administrators having difficulty hiring educators to teach certain grades and restrictions being placed on teachers who attempt to change grade levels within a building.”
The changes made in 2013 included elimination of the kindergarten through sixth-grade certification. Additionally, the certification grade spans that were put in place do not parallel the way many school districts align their grades by building.
“The manner in which the teaching certificates were re-structured has left school administrators struggling to find educators to teach grades five and six,” Phillips-Hill added. “House Bill 1386 would return our system of certifying teachers to where it needs to be and give our school administrators the flexibility they need in filling teaching positions.”
Questions about this or any legislative issue should be directed to Phillips-Hill’s district office at (717)428-9889 or 1-877-207-2272.
Representative Kristin Phillips-Hill
93rd Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Scott Little
717.260.6137
slittle@pahousegop.com
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