Teachers: California Teaching Fellowship.

Existing law establishes various programs to recruit and encourage individuals to complete the required education and training to serve as elementary and public school teachers. Existing law requires individuals teaching in public schools to hold an appropriate credential, permit, certificate, or other document issued by the Commission on Teacher Credentialing. This bill would establish the California Teaching Fellowship, to be administered by the State Department of Education, for the purpose of encouraging graduates of postsecondary institutions and professionals with backgrounds in mathematics and science to teach in the fields of mathematics and science. The bill would require each applicant accepted into the program to teach at a public school for a 2-year period, during which time the applicant would be authorized to receive a stipend from the department, as determined by the program budget. The bill, notwithstanding the requirement that an individual teaching in the public schools hold an appropriate credential, permit, certificate, or other document issued by the Commission on Teacher Credentialing, would authorize individuals accepted into the program to teach without a credential, permit, certificate, or other document issued by the commission. The bill would require that each applicant, among other things, not have been previously certified to teach, and not have previously withdrawn from the program after the commencement of training. The bill would require each applicant to pass the California Basic Educational Skills Test, and to successfully undergo a background check administered by the department. The bill would require that the program be funded by revenue growth, as identified by the Director of Finance, that is generated by increased economic activity from the California Alternative Energy and Advanced Transportation Financing Authority, as well as by private grants.