Unconsolidated Pennsylvania Statutes

(Title 24) EDUCATION

MISCELLANEOUS SCHOOL LAWS

PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS AND REQUIREMENTS

§ 2070.1. Definitions.
§ 2070.2. Certification requirements.
§ 2070.3. Professional Standards and Practices Commission.
§ 2070.4. Membership and qualifications.
§ 2070.5. Power and duties.
§ 2070.6. Organization and meetings of the commission.
§ 2070.7. Expenses.
§ 2070.8. Commission Staff.
§ 2070.9. Complaints.
§ 2070.10. Confidentiality.
§ 2070.11. Proceedings before local school board.
§ 2070.12. Department action upon school board recommendations.
§ 2070.13. Hearing.
§ 2070.14. Decision by hearing officer.
§ 2070.15. Appeal.
§ 2070.16. Reinstatement.
§ 2070.17. Unauthorized release of information.
§ 2070.18. Commission proceedings and procedures.

[Note: For regulations concerning the Professional Standards and Practices Commission, see 22 Pa.Code § 233.1 et seq.]


§ 2070.1. Definitions.

When used in this act, the following words and phrases shall have the following meanings:

  1. "Teacher" shall mean any person who holds a valid Pennsylvania teaching certificate.
  2. "Teach" shall mean to engage in the practice of teaching in the public schools of the Commonwealth or to provide related educational specialist, administrative or supervisory services in such schools.
  3. "Commission" shall mean the Professional Standards and Practices Commission.
  4. "Educational specialist" shall mean a person employed by a public school as a certified guidance counselor, nurse, home and school visitor, psychologist, dental hygienist, instructional media specialist or nutrition specialist.
  5. "Administrator" shall mean any person who is a commissioned officer of holds a position requiring an administrative certificate.
  6. "Discipline" shall mean any one of the following actions:
    1. Issue a private reprimand.
    2. Issue a public reprimand.
    3. Direct the department to suspend the certificate of a professional educator for a period to be determined by the commission.
    4. Direct the department to revoke the certificate.
  7. "Professional educator" shall mean a person who is certificated as a teacher educational specialist or an administrator in the Commonwealth.
  8. "Department" shall mean the Department of Education.
  9. "School entity" shall mean a school district, intermediate unit or area vocational-technical school, Scotland School for Veterans' Children, Scranton State School for the Deaf and Thaddeus Stevens State School of Technology.
  10. "Secretary" shall mean the Secretary of Education.
  11. "State Board" shall mean the State Board of Education.

§ 2070.2. Certification requirements.

No person shall teach in a public school in the Commonwealth unless he has met the certification requirements as established by the State Board of Education which are applicable to the institution where he is employed.

§ 2070.3. Professional Standards and Practices Commission.

There is hereby created a Professional Standards and Practices Commission consisting of thirteen members appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of a majority of the members elected to the Senate. The term of office of members of the commission shall be three years except that the terms of office of members appointed in the calendar year 1990 shall expire on the third Tuesday of January 1993. Vacancies shall be filled for an unexpired term in the same manner as original appointments. No person shall serve for more than two consecutive terms as a member of the commission. The Governor may remove any member from the commission for misconduct or malfeasance in office, incapacity, or neglect of duty. All members of the commission shall be residents of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

[Note: The termination of the Professional Standards and Practices Commission was to be conducted pursuant to the Sunset Act, 71 P.S. § 1795.1 et seq., which has expired and which was declared unconstitutional by West Shore School District v. Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board, ____ Pa. ____, 626 A.2d 1131 (1993). The unconstitutionality also made void any limitation on continuance of a state agency pursuant to that act.Commonwealth ex.rel.Nicholas v. Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board, ____ Pa. ____, 628 A.2d 485 (1993).]

§ 2070.4. Membership and qualifications.

[to be inserted.]

§ 2070.5. Power and duties.

[to be inserted.]

§ 2070.6. Organization and meetings of the commission.

[to be inserted.]

§ 2070.7. Expenses.

[to be inserted.]

§ 2070.8. Commission Staff.

[to be inserted.]

§ 2070.9. Complaints.

[to be inserted.]

§ 2070.10. Confidentiality.

[to be inserted.]

§ 2070.11. Proceedings before local school board.

[to be inserted.]

§ 2070.12. Department action upon school board recommendations.

[to be inserted.]

§ 2070.13. Hearing.

[to be inserted.]

§ 2070.14. Decision by hearing officer.

[to be inserted.]

§ 2070.15. Appeal.

[to be inserted.]

§ 2070.16. Reinstatement.

[to be inserted.]

§ 2070.17. Unauthorized release of information.

[to be inserted.]

§ 2070.18. Commission proceedings and procedures.

[to be inserted.]

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Professional Standards And Requirements / Judiciary@aol.com / last revised May 1999