Teacher credentialing: Governor's Urgent State of Need: teacher shortages.

Existing law establishes a system of public elementary and secondary schools in this state and authorizes local educational agencies throughout the state to operate schools and provide instruction to pupils in kindergarten and grades 1 to 12, inclusive. Existing law generally requires an individual to hold a credential, certificate, or permit to provide instruction to pupils in elementary and secondary schools. Existing law requires the Commission on Teacher Credentialing to, among other things, establish standards for the issuance and renewal of credentials, certificates, and permits. This bill would authorize the Governor, upon the submission of evidence demonstrating a teacher shortage in a school district, to declare an "Urgent State of Need" in response to a teacher shortage in that school district for a shortage of teachers in specific subject areas or a shortage of teachers with an authorization to provide bilingual instruction to limited-English-proficient pupils. The bill would authorize a school district subject to an "Urgent State of Need" declaration to employ as a teacher a person without a valid credential, certificate, or permit otherwise necessary to provide instruction to pupils, as provided. The bill would require a person employed under an "Urgent State of Need" declaration to enroll in a commission-accredited teacher credentialing program within 2 years of his or her start of employment. The bill would require school districts employing teachers under an "Urgent State of Need" to provide support and supervision annually at no cost to the teachers.