State Rep. Jason Ortitay | Pennsylvania 46th Legislative District
State Rep. Jason Ortitay | Pennsylvania 46th Legislative District
Rep. Jason Ortitay is set to introduce a legislative package aimed at reforming the teacher certification process in Pennsylvania. The six-bill initiative seeks to address recruitment and retention challenges within the state's education system.
"Last month, the House Education Committee held a hearing on teacher certification," Ortitay stated. "Testifiers spoke about how the current system creates unnecessary barriers that discourage talented individuals from entering the teaching profession, making it harder for schools to fill vacancies."
The proposed legislation includes waiving retest fees for candidates narrowly missing passing scores on their first attempt of the Praxis exam. It also prioritizes stipends for those committing to teach in rural or low-income districts and high-demand STEM fields.
Additional measures involve streamlining pathways for military veterans with teaching experience, automatically waiving testing requirements for out-of-state applicants who have passed recognized licensure exams, expanding certification options for industry professionals in Career and Technical Education courses, and allowing industry-certified professionals to teach STEM subjects while completing educational coursework.
"Many of these proposals are based on successful initiatives in other states that have strengthened teacher recruitment and retention," Ortitay added. "By adopting these reforms, Pennsylvania can build a stronger educator workforce."
The bills are expected to be referred to the House Education Committee upon introduction.
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