Teachers: credentialing.

Existing law requires the Commission on Teacher Credentialing to issue a 5-year preliminary teaching credential, including a preliminary 5-year "professional clear teaching credential," to an out-of-state prepared teacher who meets specified requirements. Existing law requires the commission to issue a professional clear teaching credential to an out-of-state prepared applicant who satisfies specified requirements, provides verification of 2 or more years of teaching experience, and documents the fulfillment of other specified requirements. If the applicant does not meet the experience requirement, the applicant is required to be issued credentials upon verification of other requirements, including that the commission has issued the applicant a preliminary 5-year teaching credential. This bill would remove reference to a "professional clear teaching credential" and instead simply refer to a "clear teaching credential." The bill would require that an out-of-state prepared applicant in both special education and general education, who has earned a clear California education specialist credential, be granted a clear multiple subject or clear single subject teaching credential without first holding a preliminary multiple subject or single subject teaching credential, unless the commission determines that the applicant does not meet other specified requirements. Existing law establishes the California Beginning Teacher Support and Assessment System that shall, among other things, ensure that programs meet the Standards of Quality and Effectiveness for Beginning Teacher Support and Assessment Programs adopted by the commission in 1997, and establish an effective, coherent system of performance assessments based upon the California Standards for the Teaching Profession adopted by the commission in 1997, which the Superintendent of Public Instruction and the commission are also required to disseminate, as specified. This bill would remove reference to the year in which these standards were adopted by the commission. Existing law provides that any credential candidate who is eligible for a preliminary credential shall be eligible for a classroom teaching position with beginning teacher support and assessment; however, requirements relating to beginning teacher support and assessment may be waived by the commission for individuals who are pursuing alternative entry programs, as specified, including the successful completion of at least 2 years of classroom instruction under a district intern certificate. This bill would also permit the commission to waive requirements relating to beginning teacher support and assessment for an individual who has completed a clear credential program after completion of a baccalaureate degree at a regionally accredited institution. Existing law states the intent of the Legislature that beginning teachers who have been issued a preliminary credential receive support and assistance, as specified, and that the commission establish procedures to assess the teaching performance of beginning teachers, as specified. This bill would repeal these provisions. Existing law requires the commission to adopt and implement an accreditation framework, which sets forth the policies of the commission regarding the accreditation of educator preparation in California, and to modify the framework in accordance to specified provisions. Existing law requires the system for accreditation of educator preparation to replace the prior system of program approval established in 1970. Existing law also requires the commission, with the Committee on Accreditation, to select an external evaluator to conduct an evaluation of accreditation policies. This bill would delete provisions relating to replacement of the prior system of program approval, provisions relating to the modification of the framework, and provisions requiring selection of an external evaluator. Existing law requires the commission to issue a clear credential to the holder of a preliminary teaching or services credential who attains certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. Existing law requires the clear credential issued pursuant to these provisions to authorize the credentialholder to teach or provide services in the area that the commission determines is equivalent to the certificate field in which the teacher or services provider received certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. This bill would require the commission to issue an authorization for an additional subject or for a new teaching credential type to the holder of a valid multiple subject or single subject teaching credential, or eligible applicant, who has earned certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards in the additional single subject content area or the new multiple subject or single subject teaching credential type. The bill, notwithstanding these provisions, would authorize the commission to require the applicant to pass a commission-approved subject matter examination before the issuance of the credential or authorization request when there is no direct equivalence between the national certification and the state subject or credential type.