CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20192020 REGULAR SESSION Assembly Bill No. 2710Introduced by Assembly Member KalraFebruary 20, 2020 An act relating to teacher credentialing. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTAB 2710, as introduced, Kalra. Teacher credentialing: special education.Existing law requires the Commission on Teacher Credentialing to, among other duties, establish standards for the issuance and renewal of credentials, certificates, and permits. Existing law requires the commission to issue a credential to teach special education to an applicant who has a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution, completes a program of professional preparation, and satisfies any other standards established by the commission.This bill would declare the intent of the Legislature that the commission and the State Department of Education implement pathways for credentialed general education teachers to obtain an authorization to teach special education pupils with mild or moderate disabilities. Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: NO Local Program: NO Bill TextThe people of the State of California do enact as follows:SECTION 1. (a) The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:(1) California is experiencing a teacher shortage in high-need areas such as special education. Vacancies in special education teacher positions go unfilled for prolonged periods.(2) In some circumstances, teachers with clear credentials and experience in general education classes would be interested in teaching special education, but time and financial cost are barriers to obtaining a second credential.(3) It is essential to promote paths for an experienced credentialed teacher to obtain an authorization to teach special education and to ensure these teachers possess the capacity to address the educational needs of pupils with exceptional needs, work in diverse settings, and promote inclusive practices.(b) It is the intent of the Legislature that the Commission on Teacher Credentialing and the State Department of Education implement pathways for teachers who hold clear multiple subject or single subject credentials to obtain an authorization to teach special education pupils with mild or moderate disabilities. It is further the intent of the Legislature that these pathways be designed to enable local educational agencies that choose to do so to collaborate with teacher credentialing programs to tailor programs to current teachers in their schools so they can satisfy the requirements for an authorization to teach special education while employed by the local educational agency.
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20192020 REGULAR SESSION Assembly Bill No. 2710Introduced by Assembly Member KalraFebruary 20, 2020 An act relating to teacher credentialing. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTAB 2710, as introduced, Kalra. Teacher credentialing: special education.Existing law requires the Commission on Teacher Credentialing to, among other duties, establish standards for the issuance and renewal of credentials, certificates, and permits. Existing law requires the commission to issue a credential to teach special education to an applicant who has a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution, completes a program of professional preparation, and satisfies any other standards established by the commission.This bill would declare the intent of the Legislature that the commission and the State Department of Education implement pathways for credentialed general education teachers to obtain an authorization to teach special education pupils with mild or moderate disabilities. Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: NO Local Program: NO
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20192020 REGULAR SESSION
Assembly Bill
No. 2710
Introduced by Assembly Member KalraFebruary 20, 2020
Introduced by Assembly Member Kalra
February 20, 2020
An act relating to teacher credentialing.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
## LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 2710, as introduced, Kalra. Teacher credentialing: special education.
Existing law requires the Commission on Teacher Credentialing to, among other duties, establish standards for the issuance and renewal of credentials, certificates, and permits. Existing law requires the commission to issue a credential to teach special education to an applicant who has a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution, completes a program of professional preparation, and satisfies any other standards established by the commission.This bill would declare the intent of the Legislature that the commission and the State Department of Education implement pathways for credentialed general education teachers to obtain an authorization to teach special education pupils with mild or moderate disabilities.
Existing law requires the Commission on Teacher Credentialing to, among other duties, establish standards for the issuance and renewal of credentials, certificates, and permits. Existing law requires the commission to issue a credential to teach special education to an applicant who has a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution, completes a program of professional preparation, and satisfies any other standards established by the commission.
This bill would declare the intent of the Legislature that the commission and the State Department of Education implement pathways for credentialed general education teachers to obtain an authorization to teach special education pupils with mild or moderate disabilities.
## Digest Key
## Bill Text
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:SECTION 1. (a) The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:(1) California is experiencing a teacher shortage in high-need areas such as special education. Vacancies in special education teacher positions go unfilled for prolonged periods.(2) In some circumstances, teachers with clear credentials and experience in general education classes would be interested in teaching special education, but time and financial cost are barriers to obtaining a second credential.(3) It is essential to promote paths for an experienced credentialed teacher to obtain an authorization to teach special education and to ensure these teachers possess the capacity to address the educational needs of pupils with exceptional needs, work in diverse settings, and promote inclusive practices.(b) It is the intent of the Legislature that the Commission on Teacher Credentialing and the State Department of Education implement pathways for teachers who hold clear multiple subject or single subject credentials to obtain an authorization to teach special education pupils with mild or moderate disabilities. It is further the intent of the Legislature that these pathways be designed to enable local educational agencies that choose to do so to collaborate with teacher credentialing programs to tailor programs to current teachers in their schools so they can satisfy the requirements for an authorization to teach special education while employed by the local educational agency.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
## The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1. (a) The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:(1) California is experiencing a teacher shortage in high-need areas such as special education. Vacancies in special education teacher positions go unfilled for prolonged periods.(2) In some circumstances, teachers with clear credentials and experience in general education classes would be interested in teaching special education, but time and financial cost are barriers to obtaining a second credential.(3) It is essential to promote paths for an experienced credentialed teacher to obtain an authorization to teach special education and to ensure these teachers possess the capacity to address the educational needs of pupils with exceptional needs, work in diverse settings, and promote inclusive practices.(b) It is the intent of the Legislature that the Commission on Teacher Credentialing and the State Department of Education implement pathways for teachers who hold clear multiple subject or single subject credentials to obtain an authorization to teach special education pupils with mild or moderate disabilities. It is further the intent of the Legislature that these pathways be designed to enable local educational agencies that choose to do so to collaborate with teacher credentialing programs to tailor programs to current teachers in their schools so they can satisfy the requirements for an authorization to teach special education while employed by the local educational agency.
SECTION 1. (a) The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:(1) California is experiencing a teacher shortage in high-need areas such as special education. Vacancies in special education teacher positions go unfilled for prolonged periods.(2) In some circumstances, teachers with clear credentials and experience in general education classes would be interested in teaching special education, but time and financial cost are barriers to obtaining a second credential.(3) It is essential to promote paths for an experienced credentialed teacher to obtain an authorization to teach special education and to ensure these teachers possess the capacity to address the educational needs of pupils with exceptional needs, work in diverse settings, and promote inclusive practices.(b) It is the intent of the Legislature that the Commission on Teacher Credentialing and the State Department of Education implement pathways for teachers who hold clear multiple subject or single subject credentials to obtain an authorization to teach special education pupils with mild or moderate disabilities. It is further the intent of the Legislature that these pathways be designed to enable local educational agencies that choose to do so to collaborate with teacher credentialing programs to tailor programs to current teachers in their schools so they can satisfy the requirements for an authorization to teach special education while employed by the local educational agency.
SECTION 1. (a) The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:
### SECTION 1.
(1) California is experiencing a teacher shortage in high-need areas such as special education. Vacancies in special education teacher positions go unfilled for prolonged periods.
(2) In some circumstances, teachers with clear credentials and experience in general education classes would be interested in teaching special education, but time and financial cost are barriers to obtaining a second credential.
(3) It is essential to promote paths for an experienced credentialed teacher to obtain an authorization to teach special education and to ensure these teachers possess the capacity to address the educational needs of pupils with exceptional needs, work in diverse settings, and promote inclusive practices.
(b) It is the intent of the Legislature that the Commission on Teacher Credentialing and the State Department of Education implement pathways for teachers who hold clear multiple subject or single subject credentials to obtain an authorization to teach special education pupils with mild or moderate disabilities. It is further the intent of the Legislature that these pathways be designed to enable local educational agencies that choose to do so to collaborate with teacher credentialing programs to tailor programs to current teachers in their schools so they can satisfy the requirements for an authorization to teach special education while employed by the local educational agency.