Dean Bragonier, Founder & CEO NoticeAbilit
May/June 2019
Pennsylvania State Board of Education is holding a final public hearing on changes to Chapter 49 Certification of Professional Personnel.
CALL TO ACTION!
We are asking parents, school administrators, school board members and teachers to testify or provide written testimony to the State Board of Education asking for changes to Chapter 49 so that all teachers certified by Pennsylvania colleges and universities will have the skills needed to teach reading to ALL children.
DLN Recommends the Following Changes to Chapter 49
Pre-service teacher programs: Require 9 hours of course work that cannot be relaxed or combined into general competencies
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Two 3-credit hour courses: one focused on k-2 and the other focused on grades 3-4, that stand alone, in scientifically-researched and evidence-based reading instructional strategies that improve reading performance for all students, including in the use of explicit, systematic, and sequential approaches to reading instruction, developing phonemic awareness, and implementing multisensory/structured literacy intervention strategies.
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One, 3-credit courses in the assessment of reading skills in children K through grade 6 based on evidenced based screening and assessment procedures in the area of literacy to include: oral language development, phonemic awareness, phonics-word study, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension.
In-service teacher programs: Require 2 college credits or equivalent in-service hours
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Minimum of two college credits or the equivalent in-service hours in the use of explicit, systematic, and sequential approaches to reading instruction, developing phonemic awareness, and implementing multisensory intervention/structured literacy strategies is required for renewal of a professional certificate in any area of certification that includes reading instruction or intervention for any students in kindergarten through grade 6, including elementary, middle, special education, and ESL teachers, speech/language clinicians/pathologists, reading specialist and reading coach with a beginning validity date of July 1, 2020, or thereafter. Such training may be provided by teacher preparation programs or Act 48 approved providers as part of the professional development plan.
To testify on June 14, 2019 you must register by calling or emailing the State Board.
Email: ra-stateboardofed@pa.gov or phone: (717) 787-3787 Monday-Friday 8:30am- 4:00pm
Location:
Allegheny Intermediate Unit #3 Sullivan Room 475 E. Waterfront Drive, Homestead, PA 15120.
Registration deadline is June 11, 2019, by noon. You must submit via email your name, affiliation, phone number, email address, and the date and location of the hearing in which you would like to participate. Those registered to testify must provide 25 copies of their written testimony at the hearing.
Can’t make the hearing? Submit your written testimony directly to the Board on or before
June 14, 2019. Send to: State Board of Education, 333 Market Street, 1st Floor, Harrisburg, PA 17126. Or email to: ra-stateboardofed@pa.gov
Questions contact us: