Section 1221. Career and Technical Administrative Director Certification Flexibility.--(a) A school entity may employ an educator who has been issued a superintendent's letter of eligibility to fill a director of career and technical education administrator vacancy if the educator meets one of the following requirements:
(1) Has a minimum of three (3) years of relevant professional experience, including serving as a career and technical center superintendent of record, in a career and technical school or secondary school offering at least three (3) career and technical education programs approved by the Department of Education.
(2) Completed a postbaccalaureate program under section 1207.1 that is approved by the Department of Education and prepares the educator to direct, operate, supervise and administer career and technical education in a school entity.
(3) Agrees to complete a career and technical education leadership program approved by the Department of Education that meets the Pennsylvania school leadership standards under section 1217 within three (3) years of employment as a career and technical administrative director in accordance with this section.
(b) Notwithstanding section 1207.1(d) and 22 Pa. Code § 49.163 (relating to Career and Technical Administrative Director), the Department of Education shall issue a career and technical administrative director certificate to an educator who has fulfilled three (3) full and consecutive academic years of employment at the school entity as a career and technical administrative director in accordance with this section and meets one of the following requirements:
(1) Meets the eligibility requirements in accordance with subsection (a)(1) or (2).
(2) Provides the Secretary of Education with evidence of successfully completing the career and technical education leadership program in accordance with subsection (a)(3).
(c) The Department of Education may not impose a requirement based on the amount of time or percentage of the assignment related to supervising career and technical education programs.
(d) The period of employment as a career and technical education administrative director under a valid Pennsylvania career and technical emergency permit shall be counted by the Department of Education toward fulfilling the relevant professional experience requirement under subsection (a)(1).
(e) An educator employed as a career and technical administrative director in accordance with this section may not serve as a superintendent at the same time.
(f) As used in this section, the term "school entity" is defined as an area career and technical school or school district, charter school or intermediate unit offering at least three (3) career and technical education programs approved by the Department of Education.
(1221 added Nov. 12, 2025, P.L.244, No.47)
Compiler's Note: Section 70(1) of Act 47 of 2025 provided that any regulation inconsistent with the addition of section 1221 is abrogated to the extent of any inconsistency with the addition of section 1221.