HARRISBURG – This week in the state House of Representatives two measures were passed to improve aspects of the state’s education system, said Rep. Clint Owlett (R-Tioga/Bradford/Potter), who supported each of the bills.

Senate Bill 1095 would give Pennsylvania students additional options for fulfilling high school graduation requirements beyond the Keystone Exams.

“I think most of us recognize that you cannot judge a student’s academic knowledge by one set of tests, which is what the Keystone Exams set out to do,” Owlett said. “That’s why I was happy to support Senate Bill 1095, which recognizes a variety of ways to allow students to demonstrate their readiness for the job market or higher education. Pennsylvania needs to update the way in which we judge success based on the knowledge that not all students are adept at standardized testing.”

Under Senate Bill 1095, students who do not score proficient on the Keystone Exams would be able to demonstrate their graduation readiness through alternative means. This would include a student’s successful completion of work-based learning programs, a service learning project or an offer of full-time employment as evidence of post-secondary readiness.

As part of the bill, the Keystone Exam graduation requirement would also be put on hold until the 2021-22 academic year. The alternate graduation options in Senate Bill 1095 would take effect when that delay expires.

Senate Bill 1095 now goes back to the state Senate for concurrence.

House Bill 1386 was also approved by the House this week. It would change the way current and future special education instructors are certified.

Current law certifies special education instructors to teach either Pre-K through eight or grades seven through 12. It also requires additional certification in an area of specialization.

House Bill 1386 would allow anyone who obtains a special education teaching certificate after Dec. 31, 2021, to teach Pre-K through grade 12 or up to 21 years of age. It also would remove the need for additional certification.

Accommodations would be made to allow current special education instructors to teach Pre-K through 12 or up to 21 years of age using their existing certificate through continuing education or assessment testing.

“We need more teachers to dedicate themselves to working with students with special needs and this legislation aims to make certification for that specialty more accessible,” Owlett said. “Streamlining these types of processes is essential to attracting good candidates to the field.”

The bill is currently waiting to be signed into law by the governor.