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IS YOUR LEVEL I CERTIFICATE ABOUT TO EXPIRE?

This is a reminder that all professional employees must maintain a valid certificate to be entitled to perform professional instructional duties, to perform educational specialist services to students, or to perform supervisory or administrative functions for which it was issued. If you are holding an Instructional I (Provisional/Level I) certificate or Educational Specialist I (Provisional/Level I) certificate you must convert your certificate to an Instructional II or Educational Specialist II (Permanent/Level II) certificate by the end of the validity period. If not converted the Level I certificate lapses. Don't let your certificate expire!!! Contact Human Resources

What is the validity period? — The validity period for Instructional I (Provisional/Level I) certificates and Educational Specialist I (Provisional/Level I) certificates is 6 years of service. This is 6 years for actual years of professional service as an educator, not calendar years. For example: A certificate issued in 1990 was used for a total of 3 years of professional service as an educator prior to 2004. This may include some long-term substitute assignments. As of 2004 there are 3 years of validity remaining.

Will PDE send me a notice announcing when my certificate will expire? — NO. NO. NO. It is the responsibility of each certificate holder to know when his or her certificate expires and to apply for a Level II certificate. Failure to convert the certificate before the end of the applicable service period will result in a lapsed certificate and the certificate holder will be ineligible for employment as a professional.

What service does not count against the validity period? — The years when the holder was not in education, unsatisfactory service, non-professional or paraprofessional service, Intern Certificate service, Emergency Certificate service, day-to-day substitute service, outside the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania service, or service when a person did hold an appropriate certificate does not count against the validity period.

What service counts against the validity period? — Satisfactory service performing professional duties for a minimum of one-half year of the employing school entity’s teaching day or week, satisfactory service (including long-term substitute service) for a minimum of 45 days in a 180 day school year in a single assignment in areas for which the Level I certificate was issued will be counted as one-half year against the validity period, and service performed within a private special education school approved by PDE will be counted as service against the certificate.

Who determines the validity of my certificate? — Only the Bureau of Teacher Certification and Preparation can determine the validity of a certificate. The Bureau will make an official determination of certificate validity upon written request of the school entity or educator.

What happens if my certificate is lapsed? — If your Level I certificate is not converted within the validity period, the Level I certificate lapses and becomes invalid. You cannot be employed in a Pennsylvania public school with a lapsed or invalid certificate and will be ineligible for employment as a professional.

Can my initial Level I certificate be renewed? — No. The Level I Instructional certificate and Educational Specialist I certificate is valid for a maximum of 6 services years in Pennsylvania.

Can I get an emergency permit? — No. An emergency permit will not be issued to a person with an invalid certificate.

CONVERTING YOUR LEVEL I (PROVISIONAL) CERTIFICATE TO A LEVEL II (PERMANENT) CERTIFICATE

What are the requirements to convert my Level I certificate? — You must complete a minimum of 3 years of satisfactory service and at least 6 semi-annual evaluations of satisfactory performance in Pennsylvania in any area for which the certificate was issued; You must also provide PDE evidence of 24 semester hours credit (graduate or undergraduate level) or 24 PDE-approved IU credits beyond your initial bachelor’s degree; and if your Instructional I certificate was issued after June 1, 1987 or your Educational Specialist I certificate was issued in accordance with September 1, 1999 regulations, you must present evidence of having successfully completed a PDE-approved induction program.

What are the educational requirements to convert my Level I certificate? — You must provide PDE evidence of 24-semester hours credit (graduate or undergraduate level) or 24 PDE-approved IU credits beyond your initial bachelor’s degree. Semester credits must be earned at a four-year degree granting college/university.

What credits are not accepted for educational requirements? — Community college credits and continuing education units (CEU’S) are not accepted. Credits in law, medicine, real estate and theology are also not acceptable unless you can demonstrate to PDE that they relate directly to the certificate.

What service will count towards the experience requirement? — Satisfactory service for a minimum of one-half year or more of the employing school entity’s teaching day or week and service performed within a private special education school approved by PDE will be counted as service towards a Level II certificate. Satisfactory service (including long-term substitute service) for a minimum of 45 days in a 180 day school year in a single assignment in areas for which the Level I certificate was issued will be counted as one-half year towards the service requirement.

What service may count towards the service requirement? — Satisfactory service in Pennsylvania charter schools, State Board of Private Academic Schools, PDE registered non-public non-licensed schools, schools accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, Pennsylvania Association of Private Academic Schools, United Private Academic School Association or National Association for the Education of Young Children may be credited toward Level II certification.

What service will not count towards the service requirement? — The years when the holder was not in education, unsatisfactory service, day-to-day substitute service, outside the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania service, Emergency Certificate service, non-professional or paraprofessional service, Intern Certificate service, or service when a person did hold an appropriate certificate will not count towards the service requirement.

Will experience outside my certificated area count towards Level II service? — No. Service outside your area of certification does not meet state requirements for Level II certification.

If I have more than one area of certification will I need 3 years of service in each area? — Not in all cases. All Instructional areas will be converted to Level II status simultaneously. However, Educational Specialist, Administrative, and Supervisory certificates issued under 1987 regulations require 3 years of satisfactory service in each area.

When will my Level I certificate be converted to a Level II certificate? — Level II certificates will be effective the first day of the month in which all required applicant materials are received by PDE. Under no circumstances will the effective date precede the month/year in which the Bureau received the completed application.

APPLYING FOR A LEVEL II CERTIFICATE

• The Applicant completes a PDE Form 338 G which may be downloaded from the PDE website or obtained from Human Resources.
• Notify Human Resources to send you a completed PDE Form 338 P to verify your satisfactory service and completion of a PDE approved Induction Program. If your 3 years of satisfactory service was completed in multiple districts/schools then each district/school verifying your 3 years of satisfactory service or completion of an approved Induction Program must complete a Form 338 P.
• Obtain a copy of your Pennsylvania Level I certificate
• Obtain official transcripts for all post baccalaureate college/university coursework completed in a college/university sealed envelope for your educational requirements. DO NOT OPEN THE ENVELOPE.
• Obtain official copies of PDE approved IU credits. Official letters have raised seals issued by the IU in-service coordinator.
• Obtain $40.00 Money Order payable to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. No credit cards, personal checks or cash will be accepted.
• Submit all application materials in one envelope with the $40.00 Money Order on top to:

Pennsylvania Department of Education
Bureau of Teacher Certification and Preparation
333 Market Street
Harrisburg , PA 17126-0333

• Incomplete applications will not be processed until all required materials are received.

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Any Pennsylvania public school professional with a lapsed or invalid certificate will be ineligible for employment. The Marple Newtown School District has a legal obligation to remove any person who does not have a valid certificate upon verification. If you have any questions about certification contact the Pennsylvania Department of Education, Bureau of Teacher Certification and Preparation. Contact them by email at ra-teachercert@state.pa.us . Or visit their website at www.pde.state.pa.us . You may also contact Human Resources at 610-359-4380.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT TENURE

What is tenure? — Under the Public School Code, tenure is a status enjoyed by professional employees that provides enhanced protection from termination of employment and layoffs. Temporary and professional employees attain tenure, and become professional employees, upon successful completion of a three-year probationary period. 24 P.S. § 11-1108.

Do teachers acquire tenure in all public school entities? — Yes, except with regard to charter school employment. Tenure rights extend to all professional employees working in school districts, intermediate units, and vocational-technical schools. 24 P.S. § 11-1121, 9-963(e), 18-1850.1(b)(9). Temporary professional employees on leave of absence from a school district to teach at a charter school can count that time toward tenure eligibility only at the discretion of the school district from which they are on leave. Tenured professional employees on such leave retain certain rights with respect to the school district from which they are on leave, but their tenure does not provide protection with respect to their employment by the charter school. 24 P.S. § 17-1724-A.

Once teachers earn tenure, is that status transferable if they decide to take employment in another school district? — Yes. Under the current law, a teacher needs to earn tenure only once in Pennsylvania, and thereafter holds that status in all Pennsylvania school districts in which they are hired. 24 P.S. § 11-1108.

 What is the length of the probationary period temporary professional employees must serve to earn tenure? — Teachers must now serve a probationary period of three years, and have received a satisfactory rating during the last four months of the final year. 24 P.S. § 11-1108(b)(2). Prior to 1996, the probationary period was only 2 years.

Must all of the required probationary period for tenure be served at the same school district? — Yes. 24 P.S. § 11-1108; Official Opinion of the Attorney General No. 73-1, 61 Pa. D.&C.2d 770 (Jan. 8, 1973).

Does a teacher have to be working during the entire probationary period to acquire tenure? — Yes. In Pookman v. Upper St. Clair Twp. School District, 483 A.2d 1371 (Pa. 1984), the Pennsylvania Supreme Court explained the probation period’s purpose is to ensure both school districts and non-tenured employees “have the benefit of having a full two year period in which to perform and in which to have that performance observed and critiqued.” The court’s reasoning applies with equal force to the present three-year probationary period.

Does service as a substitute teacher count towards the probationary period needed for tenure? — No. Kielbowick v. Ambridge Area School Board, 668A.2d 1128 ( Pa. Cmwlth. 1995).

Can a temporary professional employee obtain tenure by working only part time for the entire three-year probationary period? — Yes. Nothing precludes part time teachers from acquiring tenure, so long as they were employed as temporary professional employees and performed satisfactorily during the requisite probationary period. States v. Punxsutawney Area School District, Teacher Tenure Appeal No. 10-85, School Law Information Exchange, Vol. 23,No. 73 (1986).

If a temporary professional employee completes the requisite probationary periods, do they automatically acquire tenure? — Temporary professional employees automatically become tenured professional employees when their work has been certifies as satisfactory by the superintendent during the last four months of their probationary period with that school district. Notice of the attainment of this status shall be sent to the secretary of the school district, recorded in the records, and written notification sent to the employee. After attainment of this status, a temporary professional employee must be tendered a regular professional employee contract. 24 P.S. § 11-1108(b)(3).

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