Pennsylvania Code › Title 22 - EDUCATION › Part I - State Board of Education › Subpart C - Higher Education › Chapter 49 - CERTIFICATION OF PROFESSIONAL PERSONNEL › Subchapter B - CERTIFICATION OF GRADUATES FROM COMMONWEALTH INSTITUTIONS › EDUCATIONAL SPECIALIST CERTIFICATES › Section 49.101 - General

Current through Register Vol. 54, No. 28, July 13, 2024
The Department will issue Educational Specialist
						  Certificates to persons whose primary responsibility is to render professional
						  service other than classroom teaching. The service shall be directly related to
						  the personal welfare of the learner and may include service for the needs of
						  other professional personnel working with learners. Candidates for Educational
						  Specialist Certificates shall be able to help students achieve under Chapter 4
						  (relating to academic standards and assessment). Educational specialist
						  certificates will be issued to candidates who meet the following
						  standards:
(1) The educational
						specialist understands the central concepts, structures and delivery styles of
						the professional area in which the educational specialist practices and can
						foster learning experiences for all students.
(2) The educational specialist understands
						how all children learn and develop, and can contribute to the provision of
						learning opportunities that support their intellectual, social, career and
						personal development.
(3) The
						educational specialist understands how students differ in their ability and
						approaches to learning and creates opportunities that are adapted to diverse
						learners.
(4) The educational
						specialist understands and uses a variety of professional strategies to
						encourage students' development of critical thinking, problem solving and
						performance skills.
(5) The
						educational specialist uses an understanding of individual and group motivation
						and behavior to create a learning environment that encourages positive social
						interaction, active engagement in learning and self-motivation.
(6) The educational specialist uses knowledge
						of effective verbal, nonverbal, and media communication techniques supported by
						appropriate technology to foster active inquiry, collaboration, and supportive
						interaction in and out of the classroom.
(7) The educational specialist plans
						professional services based upon knowledge of the professional field, students,
						the community and curriculum goals.
(8) The educational specialist understands
						and uses formal and informal assessment strategies to evaluate and ensure the
						continuous intellectual, social and physical development of the
						learner.
(9) The educational
						specialist thinks systematically about practice, learns from experience, seeks
						the advice of others, draws upon educational research and scholarship and
						actively seeks out opportunities to grow professionally.
(10) The educational specialist contributes
						to school effectiveness by collaborating with other educators and parents, by
						using community resources, and by working as an advocate for change to improve
						opportunities for student learning.
This section cited in 22 Pa. Code §
														19.3 (relating to nonteaching
							 professional employee effectiveness rating
							 tool).