Pennsylvania Act 2006-5 — PUBLIC SCHOOL CODE OF 1949 - CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Act text

Session of 2006

No. 2006-5

HB 894

AN ACT

Amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), entitled "An act relating to the public school system, including certain provisions applicable as well to private and parochial schools; amending, revising, consolidating and changing the laws relating thereto," further providing for program of continuing professional development.

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1. Section 1205.2(f) of the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, added November 23, 1999 (P.L.529, No.48), is amended and the section is amended by adding a subsection to read:

Section 1205.2. Program of Continuing Professional Education.--* * *

(f) The department shall annually provide a minimum of forty (40) hours of continuing professional education courses, programs, activities or learning experiences at no charge to professional educators [employed by a school entity]. In providing these courses, the department shall seek to use the most efficient and cost-effective means possible, including the use of advanced technology such as CD-ROM, the Internet and distance communication.

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(k.1) (1) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections (a) and (k), the certificate of a professional educator who is an annuitant as defined in 24 Pa.C.S. § 8102 (relating to definitions) or 71 Pa.C.S. § 5102 (relating to definitions) shall be considered active for so long as the professional educator is an annuitant, except as otherwise provided in this subsection.

(2) For a professional educator annuitant who terminates the annuity or whose annuity ceases under the provisions of 24 Pa.C.S. § 8346(a) (relating to termination of annuities) or returns to school service under the provisions of 24 Pa.C.S. § 8346(b), the requirements of subsection (a) shall not apply for the first 180 days for which the professional educator annuitant returns to school service.

(3) A professional educator annuitant who has returned to school service and who continues in school service for more than one hundred eighty (180) days shall fulfill the requirements of subsection (a) beginning with the one hundred eighty-first day for which the professional educator has returned to school service. Such professional educator shall have the same number of hours of continuing professional education and the same amount of time to complete those hours as existed for the professional educator at the time the professional educator became an annuitant: Provided, That any collegiate studies, continuing professional education courses, or other programs, activities or learning experiences completed by a professional educator annuitant during the one hundred eighty (180) days for which the requirements of subsection (a) are not applicable under paragraph (2) shall be added to the number of hours of continuing professional education the professional educator had at the time the professional educator became an annuitant.

(4) The department shall promulgate a standard pursuant to the act of June 25, 1982 (P.L.633, No.181), known as the "Regulatory Review Act," requiring school entities to report to the department the employment of professional educator annuitants subject to 24 Pa.C.S. § 8346(b) and this subsection.

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Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.

APPROVED--The 2nd day of February, A. D. 2006.

EDWARD G. RENDELL