Section 49.14. Approval of institutions

To be authorized to conduct programs that lead to certificates for professional positions, institutions and any of their off-campus centers engaged in the preparation of teachers shall meet the following requirements:

(1) Be approved as a baccalaureate or graduate degree granting institution by the Department.

(2) Be evaluated and approved as a teacher-preparing institution to offer specific programs leading to certification in accordance with procedures established by the Department.

(3) Report to the Department, for approval, all planned changes in previously approved programs. This report shall be made 90 days prior to the implementation of the planned changes.

(4) Follow Department prescribed standards developed from the following principles:

(i) Institutions develop clear goals and purposes for each program, including attention to professional ethics and responsibilities.

(ii) Institutions are able to demonstate how instructional and clinical activities provide educator candidates with the capacity to enable the achievement of all students, including diverse learners in an inclusive setting.

(iii) Institutions are able to demonstrate that educator candidates have participated in instructional activities that enable the candidates to provide instruction to students to meet the provisions of Chapter 4 (relating to academic standards and assessment).

(iv) Institutions are able to demonstrate that educator candidates successfully participate in sequential clinical experiences fully integrated within the instructional program.

(v) Institutions have clearly expressed standards for admission to, retention in and graduation from approved programs and actively encourage the participation of students from historically underrepresented groups.

(vi) Institutions provide ongoing assessment of educator candidates’ knowledge, skills, dispositions and performance with which to identify needs for further study, certification assessment assistance or clinical experience or dismissal from the program.

(vii) Institutions can demonstrate how information from systematic evaluations of their programs, including students and educator evaluators, and achievement levels of candidates for certification in the Department-designed assessment program are used for continual program improvement.

(viii) Institutions, in partnership with local education agencies, provide a school-based experience integrating the teacher candidates’ knowledge, skills and dispositions in professional practice. This experience shall be fully supported by institutional faculty, including frequent observation, consultation with supervising teachers and opportunities for formative and summative evaluation.

(ix) Institutions provide ongoing support for novice educators in partnership with local education agencies during their induction period, including observation, consultation and assessment.

(x) Institutions provide evidence that an acceptable percentage of candidates applying for certification as determined by the Secretary and Board achieve at a satisfactory level on all assessments appropriate to initial certification in each program for which they are approved.

(5) Institutions may enter into articulation agreements with community colleges that permit students to earn credits toward meeting the requirements of this chapter.

The provisions of this § 49.14 amended September 24, 1999, effective September 25, 1999, 29 Pa.B. 4954; amended July 14, 2006, effective July 15, 2006, 36 Pa.B. 3655; amended September 21, 2007, effective September 22, 2007, 37 Pa.B. 5150. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (320355) to (320356).

Notation

Authority

The provisions of this § 49.14 amended under section 2603-B of the Public School Code of 1949 (24 P. S. § 26-2603-B).

Cross References

This section cited in 22 Pa. Code § 49.15 (relating to approval of experimental programs).