In April 2022, the final form amendments to Chapter 49 (relating to Certification of Professional Personnel) of Title 22 of the Pennsylvania Code became effective upon publication in the Pennsylvania Bulletin. The provision in 22 Pa. Code 49.14(4)(i) required the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) to identify competencies and develop associated standards for educator training in Culturally Relevant and Sustaining Education. The amendments to Chapter 49 required instruction in Culturally Relevant and Sustaining Education to be integrated in education preparation, induction, and continuing professional development programs as follows: 

  • Continuing professional development programs must integrate the Culturally Relevant and Sustaining Education competencies no later than the 2023-24 academic year. 
  • Educator preparation and induction programs must integrate Culturally Relevant and Sustaining Education competencies no later than the 2024-2025 academic year. 

Pending further updates and revisions to the Culturally Relevant and Sustaining Education Competencies/Guidelines, the Department of Education will not review continuing professional development and educator preparation and induction plans for the inclusion of the Culturally Relevant and Sustaining Education Competencies/Guidelines as currently drafted.

Guidelines for Use of Student Teachers (per 22 PA Code 354.25(f)) as Substitutes

The integrity of the student teaching experience must be protected. A candidate should have a supervised experience which allows them to concentrate on applying the skills and knowledge they have acquired in their respective program. The following guidelines are to ensure the experience meets statutory requirements while also providing flexibility for the field.

  • Substitute teaching does not replace the minimum 12-week supervised student teaching experience as required under 22 Pa. Code §354.25(f).
  • Post-Baccalaureate students who are working on an internship certificate or as a type 01 long-term substitute in the subject area of their certificate may have the supervised student teaching experience incorporated into the internship or long-term substitute service as long as the student teaching experience satisfies the criteria established in Chapter 354.
  • The student teacher may not be the teacher of record unless they are a post-Baccalaureate candidate serving in a Type 01 long-term substitute capacity or on an internship certificate as identified above.
  • Per 24 P.S. § 12-1219 each teacher preparation program approved by the department shall have a policy regarding allowing an individual undertaking a student teacher program under 22 Pa. Code § 354.25(f) (relating to preparation program curriculum) and satisfying the requirements of section 1201.1(1) to teach as a substitute in exchange for financial compensation, if the individual has received at least one satisfactory observation related to the individual's student teacher program. A teacher preparation program policy may not prohibit substitute teaching by individuals who have received at least one satisfactory observation related to their student teacher program.
  • Student teachers (students engaged in student teaching) per 22 Pa. Code §354.25(f) may not substitute for longer than 10 days in their assigned classroom or classrooms or for other teachers within the building or buildings where they have been placed as a student teacher and must possess at least one satisfactory observation related to their student teacher program [24 P.S. § 12-1201.1 & 12-1219]. The LEA (cooperating) teacher and IHE (supervisor) should work together to maintain the integrity of the student teaching experience.
  • Student teachers operating in accordance with the policy required under section 1219 may be compensated as determined by the LEA where they are working.
  • Up to 50% of the student teaching experience may be completed through a teaching experience in a cyber or remote learning environment.

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. ​