Source: https://www.education.pa.gov/Educators/Certification/Staffing%20Guidelines/Pages/CSPG61.aspx
Timestamp: 2020-08-07 13:16:34
Document Index: 567538131

Matched Legal Cases: ['§49', '§49', '§4', '§4', '§4', '§49', '§49']

​CSPG 61 - Special Education PK-8 and Special Education 7-12
Pennsylvania Department of Education > Educators > Certification > Staffing Guidelines (CSPGs) > ​CSPG 61 - Special Education PK-8 and Special Education 7-12
Modified: December 1, 2018
The PK-8 and 7-12 Special Education certificates provide candidates with the skills, knowledge, and competencies necessary to meet the needs of students with disabilities in multiple settings.
Grade-Level Scope of Certificate(s)
A person holding a valid Pennsylvania certificate for Special Education PK-8 (age 3-14) is qualified to teach all special education students from PreK through grade 8. The holder must possess a valid Grades PK-4, Grades 4-8, Early Childhood N-3, Elementary K-6, Reading Specialist PK-12, or another content-specific PK-12 Instructional certificate.
A person holding a valid Pennsylvania certificate for Special Education 7-12 (ages 11-21) is qualified to teach special education students from grades 7 through 12. The holder must possess a valid a secondary (7-12) subject area, Reading Specialist PK-12, or another content-specific PK-12 Instructional certificate.
NOTE: Special Education PK-12 certificates are not content-specific certificates.
An educator holding a Special Education certificate is qualified to render diagnostic, prescriptive, and education services designed within an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) to serve students having one or more disabilities; assist in writing the IEP for the identified students; provide appropriate modification to curriculum; and provide instructional support as outlined in the IEP.
Special Education certified teachers are qualified to offer pre-vocational diagnostic and assessment services; provide basic occupational career awareness activities (such as job shadowing); provide diverse occupational training; provide opportunities for paid/unpaid work experiences in a community-based operation; coordinate job training agreements; and make provision for the appropriate placement of these students in a work or community transition setting related to their career objectives.
An educator certified in Special Education may:
serve in the role of mentor/advisor; and
An local education agency (LEA) may make a written request to the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) for a staffing exception to the grade and age level limitations between Early Childhood, Elementary/Middle, Special Education PK-8, and Special Education 7-12 for individual teachers on a case-by-case basis. (22 Pa. Code §49.85- Limitations) The LEA shall submit a written request to the Bureau of School Leadership and Teacher Quality that provides justification for the exception. The Bureau will issue a letter of response that will contain a set time period for the exception to remain valid.
Other certification titles that remain valid are:
​Certificate Title
​Grade Scope
​Valid to Teach
​Special Education N-12 ​N-12 ​Nursery level (age 3) through grade 12
​Mental and/or Physically Handicapped K-12 ​K-12 ​Kindergarten through grade 12
​Mentally Retarded ​K-12 ​Kindergarten through grade 12
​Physically Handicapped ​K-12 ​Kindergarten through grade 12
​Socially and Emotionally Disturbed ​K-12 ​Kindergarten through grade 12
​Emotionally Disturbed ​K-12 ​Kindergarten through grade 12
Note: All K-12 certificates may teach PreK-12 effective 9/22/07 per §49.85.
A Special Education 7-12 certificate may not be used at the sixth grade level (see Special Considerations).
Program Specific Guidelines for Special Education PK-8 and Special Education 7-12
22 PA Code: Chapter 4: §4.21, §4.22, §4.23
This revision supersedes all earlier CSPGs carrying this number and/or addressing this subject. Previous printing dates on this subject: 1973, 3/75, 3/78, 2/82, 1/87, 7/04, 5/05, 3/14
​Major Changes to CSPG #61
​10/2018 ​The restriction for Special Education 7-12 to teach sixth grade was
Special Education N-12 certificate no longer issued effective 8/31/2013.
Special Education PK-8 and Special Education 7-12 certificates created effective 6/1/2010.
The Bridge program expired 7/1/2008 (for programs initiated 7/1/2005) and 7/1/2009 (for programs initiated 7/1/06). The Bridge program was extended until 8/10/2011.
Chapter §49.85 required Special Education PK-8 and Special Education 7-12 certificates and certificate programs implemented effective 6/1/2010.
Chapter §49.85 regulations for Special Education PreK-8 and Special Education 7-12 certificates, adopted 12/2007.
​5/9/2005 ​CSPG #61 – Co-teaching addressed for content area teaching
combined with Special Education (page 1).
​CSPG #61 – title change/number change: Special Education-Cognitive, Behavior, and Physical/Health Disabilities (CB/PHD) (Nursery-12).
Hearing Impaired, Visually Impaired, Speech Language Impaired certificate information stated in separated CSPGs.
Special Education certificate may be used for transition programs for students with IEP’s; formerly a Cooperative Education certificate was also required.
​4/1/1992
​CSPG #50 – Special Education Certification and Assignment Scope K-12.
Information on Hearing Impaired certificates and older titles.
Information on Visually Impaired and older titles.
Information on Mentally Retarded and older titles.
Information on Speech and Language Impaired.
Information on Letters of Authorization.
Information about the Curriculum & Instruction Supervisor; Pupil Personnel Services Supervisor; School Psychologist as related to special education.
​CSPG #50 – Certification in Special Education
Effective 7/1/1969 certificates no longer issued:
Speech Correctionist and Speech and Hearing Disorders.
New certificate – Speech Correction.
New certificate – Hearing Impaired.
New certificate -Visually Impaired.
Mentally Retarded, Physically Handicapped, Socially and Emotionally Maladjusted.
New certificate – Emotionally Disturbed.
New certificate – Physically and Mentally Handicapped.
Elementary certification will no longer qualify the holder to teach exceptional students classified as “learning disabled;” grandfathering for employment from 1975-76 and continuing.
Gifted programs may be taught by a teacher in the area of scheduled instruction.
Social Restoration certificate may be used for remedial instruction except for exceptional students with learning disabilities.
​Instructional Area Codes:
Special Education Pre-K-8 - 9226
Special Education 7-12 - 9227