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of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

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    Educators

    ​Educator Preparation: Professional Education and Teacher Quality

    The Division of Professional Education and Teacher Quality (PETQ) is a division within the Bureau of School Leadership and Teacher Quality. PETQ provides information and support to new educators, approved PA Educator Certification Preparation Program Providers (EPPs), deans, chairs, certification officers, and faculty. PETQ liaises with EPPs, manages reviews of certification programs, and apprises EPPs of applicable changes in policy, regulation, or statute. PETQ also provides information and support to public school educators and school entities on appropriate certifications for staffing and for educators moving from an instructional Level I to Level II.

    New Educators

    There are currently 100+ colleges, universities, and providers that offer education preparation programs approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE). To learn about the certification pathways that are available to you in Pennsylvania, explore your options at New Educators. To learn more about the education programs that are available to you in Pennsylvania, explore your options at Approved Certification Programs.

    Program Framework Guidelines and Rubrics

    The program approval process is based upon general and subject-specific guidelines, rather than a minimum number of credits, set by the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) and implemented by the preparing institution.

    Program Framework Guidelines and Rubrics established by PDE.

    Institutional Program Approval

    Designed to provide resources for approved program providers, the links below offer instructions, training videos, manuals, and other helpful materials.

    Program Review Materials

    Field Directors and Certifying Officers

    Graduates of in-state educator preparation programs (EPPs) may choose to delay applying for certification. Due to the potential for ongoing regulatory and statutory changes this may create issues for the applicant when they choose to apply. Specifically, an applicant will need a recommendation for certification from an EPP for a program that may have gone through changes that may require the applicant to complete additional coursework to receive a recommendation. The Bureau of School Leadership and Teacher Quality (BSLTQ) has established a process to expedite the application process for these applicants. For any applicant who has delayed application for certification for 5 years or longer the Division of Professional Education and Teacher Quality (PETQ) will contact the EPP where the applicant has completed their program to ascertain if the applicant is going to receive a recommendation for certification or will need to complete additional coursework to procure that recommendation and complete the application process. The goal of this process is to assist the applicant in the application process and to avoid delays in receiving a recommendation or in taking the necessary steps to procure a recommendation should that be necessary. 

    The field supervisor may be trained by the educator preparation program as a field supervisor and the topics of the training can cover the requirements of student teaching in Pennsylvania, completing the PDE 430, and providing feedback to students. As 50% of a student teaching experience may be completed through a cyber or remote learning environment, in addition to the training received by all field supervisors, a field supervisor may also receive training by the educator preparation program on how to observe and evaluate a candidate in the remote environment. Additionally, for field supervisors who are supervising candidates in a long-distance placement, the field supervisor can be hired by an educator preparation program to provide on-site, face-to-face supervision. These individuals need to have knowledge and have applicable experience in the certification area they will supervise and may receive training delivered to all field supervisors. This training can be delivered by the education preparation program in a synchronous or asynchronous on-line training format. ​

    Contact Information

    For questions regarding education preparation programs and becoming certified in Pennsylvania email RA-EDPREPPROGRAMS@pa.gov