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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. Richard Grucela |
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Grucela bill would eliminate excessive testing for teachers in PA
HARRISBURG, April 2 – State Rep. Richard Grucela, D-Northampton, introduced a bill (H.B. 2427) today that would eliminate burdensome teacher certification requirements in Pennsylvania and direct more attention to their performance at the chalk board.
"Pennsylvania is already known for being one of the toughest states to receive teaching certification, so why force talented and passionate teachers out of the classroom when they have already proven themselves effective," said Grucela, who taught at Easton Area High School for 31 years and serves on the House Education Committee. "I believe too much weight is put into standardized tests and not enough on ability to get through to students. Some people may do very well on paper, but fail horribly in the classroom."
The bill would grant Pennsylvania teaching certification to individuals certified to teach in other states without requiring that they complete any additional teacher testing; remove the five-year expiration date on tests that may require a person to re-take the tests he or she has already passed; and exempt anyone who maintains a grade point average of 3.25 or above in their major content field from any and all teacher tests required by the Department of Education.
Grucela said several excellent teachers in Pennsylvania are being forced out of their profession by the Praxis Series tests.
"There is no single standardized test in the world that will determine the excellence of a classroom teacher," Grucela said. "These teachers have already undergone rigorous training that complies with state teaching standards. Why make them jump through additional hoops to remain certified when it is redundant and a drain on our resources?"
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