Pennsylvania schools could receive grants to support teacher certification

The Pennsylvania Department of Education would award competitive grants and ensure awards reach different parts of the state. Districts, charter schools, career and technical schools, and intermediate units could apply alone or together. The department would identify high-need schools based on low teacher retention, economic disadvantage, or low state test proficiency. Schools would need to increase their number of National Board certified teachers each year to stay eligible. Awards would depend on available account money and application approval. Priority would go to applicants with existing teacher supports, matching money, plans for lasting support, or groups of small or rural districts. Grants would last five years. The bill would take effect 60 days after enactment.

Grant recipients would pay initial National Board certification fees and run support programs for teachers seeking certification. The grants would support teachers registered with the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards to pursue its certification. Support programs could pay for mentors, coordination, and materials. Only money left after required spending could cover certification renewal, extra pay for certified teachers who stay in high-need schools, recruitment, or outside support partners. Those optional uses together could receive no more than 10% of a grant. These spending rules would apply during each five-year grant.

The Pennsylvania Department of Education would use a dedicated state account to fund grants and evaluate the program. The account would sit within Pennsylvania's General Fund. The evaluation would recommend whether to continue, expand, or revise the program. Money in the account would be set aside for grants on a continuing basis, but the bill specifies no deposit amount or funding source. The department could use account money for administration, limited to the smaller of 5% or its actual costs. The department would collect school data on certification participation and completion, student achievement, and teacher retention and vacancies. The department would submit its evaluation within 180 days after the program ends. The bill does not state when the overall program would end.