California Senate Bill SB512 Introduced / Bill

 BILL NUMBER: SB 512INTRODUCED BILL TEXT INTRODUCED BY Committee on Education (Senators Romero (Chair), Alquist, Hancock, Huff, Liu, Maldonado, Padilla, Simitian, and Wyland) FEBRUARY 26, 2009 An act to amend Sections 44225.6, 44251, and 44259 of the Education Code, relating to teacher credentialing. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST SB 512, as introduced, Committee on Education. Teacher credentialing. Existing law requires the Commission on Teacher Credentialing to annually report to the Legislature and the Governor on the availability of teachers in California, and requires the report to include specified information. This bill would make technical, nonsubstantive changes to those provisions by conforming references to specified authorizations issued by the commission in that report. It would also clarify provisions relating to multiple or single subject teaching credentials by deleting obsolete references to 5th year of study and professional clear credentials. Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no. State-mandated local program: no. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. Section 44225.6 of the Education Code is amended to read: 44225.6. (a) By April 15 of each year, the commission shall report to the Legislature and the Governor on the availability of teachers in California. This report shall include the following information: (1) The number of individuals recommended for credentials by institutions of higher education and  the   each  type of credential  or   ,  certificate, or  both,   authorization  for which they were recommended, including  certificates   authorizations  issued pursuant to Sections 44253.3 and 44253.4. (2) The number of individuals recommended by school districts operating district internship programs and  the   each type of credential  or   ,  certificate, or  both,   authorizations  for which they were recommended, including  certificates   authorization  issued pursuant to Sections 44253.3 and 44253.4. (3) The number of individuals receiving an initial credential based on a program completed outside of California and the   each  type of credential  or   ,  certificate, or  both,   authorization  for which they were recommended, including  certificates   authorizations  issued pursuant to Sections 44253.3 and 44253.4. (4) The number of individuals receiving an emergency permit, credential waiver, or other authorization that does not meet the definition of a highly qualified teacher under the federal No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (20 U.S.C. Sec. 6301 et seq.). (5) The number of individuals receiving the certificate of completion of staff development in methods of specially designed content instruction delivered in English pursuant to subdivision (d) of Section 44253.10 and, separately, pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (e) of Section 44253.11. (6) Statewide, by county, and by school district, the number of individuals serving in the following capacities and as a percentage of the total number of individuals serving as teachers statewide, in the county, and in the school district: (A) University internship. (B) District internship. (C) Preinternship. (D) Emergency permit. (E) Credential waiver. (F) Preliminary or  professional  clear credential. (G) An authorization, other than those listed in this paragraph, that does not meet the definition of a highly qualified teacher under the federal No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (20 U.S.C. Sec. 6301 et seq.) by category of authorization. (H)  Certificate   Authorization  issued pursuant to Section 44253.3. (I) Certificates  or authorizations  issued pursuant to Section 44253.3, 44253.4, 44253.10, or 44253.11, if available. (J) The number of individuals serving English learner pupils in settings calling for English language development, in settings calling for specially designed academic instruction in English, or in primary language instruction, without the appropriate authorization under Section 44253.3, 44253.4, 44253.10, or 44253.11, or under another statute, if available. The Commission on Teacher Credentialing may utilize data from the department's Annual Language Census Survey to report the data required pursuant to this paragraph. (7) The specific subjects and teaching areas in which there are a sufficient number of new holders of credentials to fill the positions currently held by individuals with emergency permits. (b) The commission shall make this report available to school districts and county offices of education to assist them in the recruitment of credentialed teachers and shall make the report and supporting data publicly available on the commission's Web site. (c) A common measure of whether teacher preparation programs are meeting the challenge of preparing increasing numbers of new teachers is the number of teaching credentials awarded. The number of teaching credentials recommended by these programs and awarded by the commission are indicators of the productivity of teacher preparation programs. The commission shall include in the report prepared for the Legislature and Governor pursuant to subdivision (a) the total number of teaching credentials recommended by all accredited teacher preparation programs authorized by the commission and the number recommended by each of the following: (1) The University of California system. (2) The California State University system. (3) Independent colleges and universities that offer teacher preparation programs approved by the commission. (4) Other institutions that offer teacher preparation programs approved by the commission. SEC. 2. Section 44251 of the Education Code is amended to read: 44251. (a) The period for which a credential, as authorized under Section 44250 issued prior to September 1, 1985, is valid shall be as follows: (1) For an internship credential: two years. (2) For a preliminary credential, pending completion of the  fifth year of study   clear credential program  : five years. (3) For a life credential: the life of the holder. (b) The period for which a credential issued on or after September 1, 1985, as authorized under Section 44250 is valid, shall be as follows: (1) For an internship credential: two years. (2) For a preliminary credential, pending completion of a beginning teacher induction program approved by the commission or the  fifth year of study   clear credential program  : five years. (3) For a clear  or professional clear  teaching credential: the life of the holder, if the holder submits an application and fee for renewal every five years and meets all professional fitness requirements under Sections 44339, 44340, and 44341. (4) For a clear  or professional clear  services credential: the life of the holder, if the holder submits an application and fee for renewal every five years and meets all professional fitness requirements under Sections 44339, 44340, and 44341. SEC. 3. Section 44259 of the Education Code is amended to read: 44259. (a) Except as provided in subparagraphs (A) and (C) of paragraph (3) of subdivision (b), each program of professional preparation for multiple or single subject teaching credentials shall not include more than one year of, or the equivalent of one-fifth of a five-year program in, professional preparation. (b) The minimum requirements for the preliminary multiple or single subject teaching credential are all of the following: (1) A baccalaureate degree or higher degree from a regionally accredited institution of postsecondary education. Except as provided in subdivision (c) of Section 44227, the baccalaureate degree shall not be in professional education. The commission shall encourage accredited institutions to offer undergraduate minors in education and special education to students who intend to become teachers. (2) Passage of the state basic skills examination that is developed and administered by the commission pursuant to Section 44252.5. (3) Satisfactory completion of a program of professional preparation that has been accredited by the committee on accreditation on the basis of standards of program quality and effectiveness that have been adopted by the commission. In accordance with the commission's assessment and performance standards, each program shall include a teaching performance assessment as set forth in Section 44320.2 which is aligned with the California Standards for the Teaching Profession. The commission shall ensure that each candidate recommended for a credential or certificate has demonstrated satisfactory ability to assist pupils to meet or exceed state content and performance standards for pupils adopted pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 60605. Programs that meet this requirement for professional preparation shall include any of the following: (A) Integrated programs of subject matter preparation and professional preparation pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 44259.1. (B) Postbaccalaureate programs of professional preparation, pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 44259.1. (C) Internship programs of professional preparation, pursuant to Section 44321, Article 7.5 (commencing with Section 44325), Article 11 (commencing with Section 44380), and Article 3 (commencing with Section 44450) of Chapter 3. (4) Study of alternative methods of developing English language skills, including the study of reading as described in subparagraphs (A) and (B), among all pupils, including those for whom English is a second language, in accordance with the commission's standards of program quality and effectiveness. The study of reading shall meet the following requirements: (A) Commencing January 1, 1997, satisfactory completion of comprehensive reading instruction that is research-based and includes all of the following: (i) The study of organized, systematic, explicit skills including phonemic awareness, direct, systematic, explicit phonics, and decoding skills. (ii) A strong literature, language, and comprehension component with a balance of oral and written language. (iii) Ongoing diagnostic techniques that inform teaching and assessment. (iv) Early intervention techniques. (v) Guided practice in a clinical setting. (B) For the purposes of this section, "direct, systematic, explicit phonics" means phonemic awareness, spelling patterns, the direct instruction of sound/symbol codes and practice in connected text and the relationship of direct, systematic, explicit phonics to the components set forth in clauses (i) to (v), inclusive. A program for the multiple subjects credential also shall include the study of integrated methods of teaching language arts. (5) Completion of a subject matter program that has been approved by the commission on the basis of standards of program quality and effectiveness pursuant to Article 6 (commencing with Section 44310) or passage of a subject matter examination pursuant to Article 5 (commencing with Section 44280). The commission shall ensure that subject matter standards and examinations are aligned with the state content and performance standards for pupils adopted pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 60605. (6) Demonstration of a knowledge of the principles and provisions of the Constitution of the United States pursuant to Section 44335. (7) Commencing January 1, 2000, demonstration, in accordance with the commission's standards of program quality and effectiveness, of basic competency in the use of computers in the classroom as determined by one of the following: (A) Successful completion of a commission-approved program or course. (B) Successful passage of an assessment that is developed, approved, and administered by the commission. (c) The minimum requirements for the  professional  clear multiple or single subject teaching credential shall include all of the following requirements: (1) Possession of a valid preliminary teaching credential, as prescribed in subdivision (b), possession of a valid equivalent credential or certificate, or completion of equivalent requirements as determined by the commission. (2) Subject to the availability of funds in the annual Budget Act to provide statewide access to eligible beginning teachers, as defined in subdivision (d) of Section 44279.1 and except as provided in paragraph (3), completion of a program of beginning teacher induction, including one of the following: (A) A program of beginning teacher support and assessment approved by the commission and the Superintendent pursuant to Section 44279.1, a provision of the Marian Bergeson Beginning Teacher Support and Assessment System. (B) An alternative program of beginning teacher induction that is provided by one or more local educational agencies and has been approved by the commission and the Superintendent on the basis of initial review and periodic evaluations of the program in relation to appropriate standards of credential program quality and effectiveness that have been adopted by the commission, the Superintendent, and the state board pursuant to this subdivision. The standards for alternative programs shall encourage innovation and experimentation in the continuous preparation and induction of beginning teachers. Any alternative program of beginning teacher induction that has met state standards pursuant to this subdivision may apply for state funding pursuant to Sections 44279.1 and 44279.2. (C) An alternative program of beginning teacher induction that is sponsored by a regionally accredited college or university, in cooperation with one or more local school districts, that addresses the individual professional needs of beginning teachers and meets the commission's standards of induction. The commission shall ensure that preparation and induction programs that qualify candidates for professional credentials extend and refine each beginning teacher's professional skills in relation to the California Standards for the Teaching Profession and the standards of pupil performance adopted pursuant to Section 60605. (3) (A) If a candidate satisfies the requirements of subdivision (b), including completion of an accredited internship program of professional preparation, and if that internship program fulfills induction standards and is approved as set forth in this subdivision, the commission shall determine that the candidate has fulfilled the requirements of paragraph (2). (B) If an approved induction program is verified as unavailable to a beginning teacher, or if the beginning teacher is required under the federal No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (20 U.S.C. Sec. 6301 et seq.) to complete subject matter coursework to be qualified for a teaching assignment, the commission shall accept completion of an approved  fifth-year   clear credential  program after completion of a baccalaureate degree at a regionally accredited institution as fulfilling the requirements of paragraph (2). The commission shall adopt regulations to implement this subparagraph. (4) Experience that includes the application of knowledge and skills previously acquired in a preliminary credential program, in accordance with commission standards, that addresses the following: (A) Health education, including study of nutrition, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and the physiological and sociological effects of abuse of alcohol, narcotics, and drugs and the use of tobacco. Training in cardiopulmonary resuscitation shall also meet the standards established by the American Heart Association or the American Red Cross. (B) Field experience in methods of delivering appropriate educational services to pupils with exceptional needs in regular education programs. (C) Advanced computer-based technology, including the uses of technology in educational settings. (d) The commission shall develop and implement standards of program quality and effectiveness that provide for the areas of application listed in subparagraphs (A) to (C), inclusive, of paragraph (4) of subdivision (c), starting in professional preparation and continuing through induction. (e) A credential that was issued prior to January 1, 1993, shall remain in force as long as it is valid under the laws and regulations that were in effect on the date it was issued. The commission may not, by regulation, invalidate an otherwise valid credential, unless it issues to the holder of the credential, in substitution, a new credential authorized by another provision in this chapter that is no more restrictive than the credential for which it was substituted with respect to the kind of service authorized and the grades, classes, or types of schools in which it authorizes service. (f) A credential program that is approved by the commission may not deny an individual access to that program solely on the grounds that the individual obtained a teaching credential through completion of an internship program when that internship program has been accredited by the commission. (g) Notwithstanding this section, persons who were performing teaching services as of January 1, 1999, pursuant to the language of this section that was in effect prior to that date, may continue to perform those services without complying with any requirements that may be added by the amendments adding this subdivision. (h) Subparagraphs (A) and (B) of paragraph (4) of subdivision (b) do not apply to any person who, as of January 1, 1997, holds a multiple or single subject teaching credential, or to any person enrolled in a program of professional preparation for a multiple or single subject teaching credential as of January 1, 1997, who subsequently completes that program. It is the intent of the Legislature that the requirements of subparagraphs (A) and (B) of paragraph (4) of subdivision (b) be applied only to persons who enter a program of professional preparation on or after January 1, 1997.