RESOLUTION 1
Title: Elimination of the Faculty Matrix
Author: Pennsylvania Association of Colleges and Teacher Educators
To:
Whereas: The Pennsylvania Department of Education has created a matrix to evaluate the qualifications of the professional education faculty; and
Whereas: The Pennsylvania Department of Education has established a requirement that within two years from the date of initial program approval all faculty teaching professional education courses will meet an established score; and
Whereas: The authority to determine the quality of faculty has been clearly defined as the responsibility of the teacher preparation institution in Chapter 354.41(a) which states: "the preparing institution shall establish a procedure to confirm that the professional education faculty are education scholars who are qualified for their assignments and actively engaged in the professional education community"; and therefore be it
Resolved: That the Pennsylvania Department of Education eliminate the faculty matrix requirement from the program approval process.
RESOLUTION 2
Title: Elimination of the Credit Requirements for New Certificate Programs
Author: Pennsylvania Association of Colleges and Teacher Educators
To:
Whereas: The Pennsylvania Department of Education has established new guidelines for a PK-4, grades 4-8 and special education PK-8 and grades 7-12 certificate programs; and
Whereas: The Pennsylvania Department of Education has required a minimum of 60 credits exclusive of student teaching to meet these guidelines; and
Whereas: Chapter 354.25(1) states: "the preparation program design shall be consistent with the preparing institution's mission and reflect knowledge derived from research and sound professional practice"; and
Whereas: Chapter 354.25(2) states: "the preparing institution shall ensure that the preparation program curriculum does not include unnecessary duplication of coursework and strives to create efficient professional educator preparation"; and
Whereas: Chapter 354.25(4) states: "for initial programs culminating in a bachelor's degree, the professional educator program shall cooperate with the liberal arts and other academic disciplines of the college or university create preparation programs that allow candidates to complete the degree and the initial preparation program within four years from the time of initial enrollment at the college or university"; and
Whereas: The credit requirement is in conflict with the intent of Chapter 354.25(1) and 354.25(2); and therefore, be it
Resolved: That all credit requirements be eliminated from the program approval guidelines for the PK-4, grades 4-8 and special education PK-8 and grades 7-12 certificates and that competencies be the basis of determining the quality of teacher preparation programs in Pennsylvania.
RESOLUTION 3
Title: Elimination of the Credit Requirements for Articulation Agreements in the Program Approval Process
Author: Pennsylvania Association of Colleges and Teacher Educators
To:
Whereas: The Pennsylvania Department of Education has established a mandate for program approval review that requires an institution to enter into an articulation agreement with community colleges; and
Whereas: Chapter 49.14(5) states: "institutions may enter into articulation agreements with community colleges that permit students to earn credits toward meeting the requirements of this chapter"; and
Whereas: Chapter 354 does not make specific reference to, define or require articulation agreements; and
Whereas: The requirement of such agreements limits the autonomy of the institutions with respect to admission requirements, course content and faculty qualifications; and therefore, be it
Resolved: That the requirement for an institution to have articulation agreements in place for program approval be eliminated.