Teacher credentialing: integrated programs of professional preparation.

(1) Existing law establishes minimum requirements for the issuance of a preliminary multiple or single subject teaching credential by the Commission on Teacher Credentialing. Among other requirements, existing law requires satisfactory completion of a program of professional preparation accredited by the Committee on Accreditation, but specifies that the program shall not include more than 2 years of full-time study, except for certain programs, including for integrated programs of subject matter and professional preparation. Existing law requires an integrated program of professional preparation to enable candidates for teaching credentials to engage in professional preparation, concurrently with subject matter preparation, while completing baccalaureate degrees at regionally accredited postsecondary institutions, and to provide opportunities for candidates to complete intensive field experiences in public elementary and secondary schools early in the undergraduate sequence. This bill would require those intensive field experiences to include student teaching. This bill would authorize a postsecondary institution to offer a 4- or 5-year integrated program of professional preparation that allows a student to earn a baccalaureate degree and a preliminary multiple or single subject teaching credential, or an education specialist instruction credential authorizing the holder to teach special education, including student teaching requirements, concurrently and within 4 or 5 years of study. This bill would require the commission, as part of its accreditation process, to collect specified information about integrated programs of professional preparation. This bill would, contingent upon appropriation of funds in the annual Budget Act or another statute, require the commission to develop and implement a program to award 40 grants of $250,000 each to postsecondary institutions for the development of transition plans to guide the creation of 4-year integrated programs of professional preparation, as provided. (2) Existing law requires that an integrated program of professional preparation offered by the California State University be designed to concurrently lead to a preliminary multiple subject or single subject teaching credential and a baccalaureate degree. This bill would instead require that an integrated program of professional preparation offered by the California State University be designed to concurrently lead to a preliminary multiple subject or single subject teaching credential, or an education specialist instruction credential authorizing the holder to teach special education, and a baccalaureate degree. (3) This bill would make findings and declarations relating to teachers and teacher credentialing.