Teacher credentialing: programs of professional preparation: California State University and community college partnerships.

The entire amendment to Section 44227 of the Education Code was deleted. That provision had addressed how the Commission on Teacher Credentialing approves regionally accredited institutions to recommend credentials, electronic submission of credential applications, and credit for out-of-state coursework. Its removal means the bill no longer touches existing credential approval or out-of-state credit processes.

The bill now specifically names the 'Chancellor of the California State University' rather than just 'the California State University,' making individual accountability clearer. References to 'community colleges' were changed to 'community college districts' throughout, shifting the unit of partnership from individual colleges to district-level entities.

A deadline of July 1, 2027 was added as the date by which the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges and the Chancellor of the CSU must develop and implement the partnership plan.

Subsection (1) now specifies that online programs of professional preparation must be 'offered by the California State University in partnership with community college districts,' clarifying that CSU is the lead provider and community college districts are partners, rather than leaving it open to other arrangements.

Subsection (2) was reworded from 'allowing dual enrollment between community colleges and the California State University for students pursuing a teaching credential' to 'the expansion of educator preparation pathways between community college districts and the California State University to include opportunities for concurrent enrollment at the California State University in teacher preparation coursework for community college students pursuing a teaching credential.' This broadens the concept from simple dual enrollment to expanding overall preparation pathways, while specifying that concurrent enrollment is in CSU teacher preparation coursework.

The appropriation contingency was narrowed from applying to 'this section' broadly to applying specifically to 'the plan developed pursuant to subdivision (a),' making it clear that the funding condition attaches to the plan itself rather than the entire statutory provision.

Header changed from amendment history (Amended in Senate June 15, 2026; Amended in Assembly April 13, 2026; Amended in Assembly March 19, 2026) to final passage dates: Passed the Assembly August 24, 2026 and Passed the Senate August 20, 2026.

Added a Governor's receipt and approval block with blank fields for date, time, and signature, standard for enrolled bills sent to the Governor.

Removed line-number annotations (line 1 through line 17) that were present in the amended version's statutory text.

Removed the summary line indicating Vote: majority, Appropriation: no, Fiscal committee: yes, State-mandated local program: no.

The obligation changed from 'develop and implement a plan' to simply 'develop a plan,' removing the requirement that the CSU and California Community Colleges actually carry out the partnership plan. Implementation remains contingent on appropriation, but the bill no longer mandates it.

Subsection (2) was changed from 'Allowing dual enrollment' to 'The expansion of educator preparation pathways,' broadening the scope beyond a specific dual-enrollment mechanism to a more general requirement to expand pathways between community colleges and CSU for concurrent enrollment in teacher preparation coursework.

Assembly Member Hadwick was added as a co-author alongside Assembly Member Muratsuchi.

New Section 44320.1 requires the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges and the CSU to develop and implement a plan to increase partnerships between CSU campuses and community colleges, addressing at minimum: (1) expansion of online programs of professional preparation to increase access for students pursuing teaching careers in rural communities, and (2) allowing dual enrollment between community colleges and CSU for students pursuing a teaching credential.

Implementation of the new partnership plan is contingent upon an appropriation being made in the annual Budget Act or another statute. The fiscal committee designation changed from 'no' to 'yes,' reflecting that the bill now has a state funding component.

The new Section 44320.1 includes a sunset provision, expiring and being repealed on January 1, 2033.

The bill's scope expanded from a nonsubstantive correction to Section 44227 (fixing 'any a regionally accredited' to 'a regionally accredited') to also include the new partnership mandate between CSU and community colleges. The original minor fix to Section 44227 remains in the bill.