Teacher credentialing: teacher induction programs: Beginning Teacher Retention and Support Grant.

Existing law requires the Commission on Teacher Credentialing to, among other duties, establish standards for the issuance and renewal of credentials, certificates, and permits. Existing law prescribes the minimum requirements for a clear multiple or single subject teaching credential, including, among other things, the completion of a program of beginning teacher induction. This bill would, subject to an appropriation in the annual Budget Act or another statute for its purposes, establish the Beginning Teacher Retention and Support Grant Program under the administration of the Commission on Teacher Credentialing. The bill would require the commission to allocate grants to beginning teacher induction programs, not to exceed $3,500 per participating teacher, as provided. The bill would require a beginning teacher induction program receiving a grant to use those funds on behalf of a participating teacher for mentor training, stipends for mentor teachers, other beginning teacher induction costs following initial preparation, or for the examination or assessment fee for one administration of the reading instruction competence assessment or a teaching performance assessment. Notwithstanding those uses, the bill would require an institution of higher education to first use the grant funds to waive tuition fees for the candidate. The bill would prohibit a participating school district, county office of education, charter school, or institution of higher education from charging a fee to a beginning teacher to participate in a beginning teacher induction program.