Teacher and Substitute Shortage Workgroup: small school districts.

Existing law requires the Commission on Teacher Credentialing to establish standards for the issuance and renewal of credentials, certificates, and permits. Existing law authorizes the commission to issue or renew emergency teaching or specialist permits in accordance with specified regulations adopted by the commission. Existing regulations authorize the commission to issue a permit authorizing the holder to serve as a substitute teacher, and prohibit the holder of a substitute teaching permit from serving as a substitute teacher for more than 30 days for any one teacher in a general education classroom, or 20 days for any one teacher in a special education classroom, during a school year. This bill would require the commission to establish a Teacher and Substitute Shortage Workgroup to identify steps that can be taken to improve both the substitute pool and the qualified teacher workforce in small school districts, defined as a school district with fewer than 2,501 units of average daily attendance. The bill would require the workgroup to examine, at a minimum, current laws and regulations governing the issuance of substitute permits and recommend changes to those laws and regulations.