BILL NUMBER: AB 341 CHAPTERED 10/14/01 CHAPTER 884 FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE OCTOBER 14, 2001 APPROVED BY GOVERNOR OCTOBER 13, 2001 PASSED THE ASSEMBLY AUGUST 30, 2001 PASSED THE SENATE AUGUST 27, 2001 AMENDED IN SENATE JULY 18, 2001 AMENDED IN SENATE JUNE 20, 2001 AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MAY 31, 2001 AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MAY 15, 2001 AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY APRIL 30, 2001 INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Strom-Martin FEBRUARY 16, 2001 An act to add Article 3.1 (commencing with Section 44470) to Chapter 3 of Part 25 of the Education Code, relating to teachers, and making an appropriation therefor. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 341, Strom-Martin. Teachers: professional development. Existing law establishes various programs of professional development for teachers, including among others the Beginner Teacher Support and Assessment System, a grant program for in-service training of teachers of mathematics who teach pupils enrolled in grades 4 to 12, inclusive, the Education Technology Staff Development program, the Teacher Reading Instruction Development programs, and the California Professional Development Institutes. This bill would require the State Department of Education to issue a request for proposals to contract for the development of standards for professional development for educators and instructional leaders. The standards would serve as guidelines for providers of professional development activities and could be used to facilitate the coordination among existing professional development programs. The bill would require the entity with which the department contracts to submit the standards to the Superintendent of Public Instruction for approval after which the superintendent would be required to submit the standards to the State Board of Education for approval. The bill would appropriate $140,000 from the General Fund to the Superintendent of Public Instruction for purposes of implementing these provisions. Appropriation: yes. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. The Legislature finds and declares as follows: (a) There is a great need for quality professional development for public school teachers. (b) Teachers need extensive training and professional development to master the academic content standards adopted by the State Board of Education pursuant to Section 60605 of the Education Code. (c) The Public Schools Accountability Act of 1999 and the high school exit examination place added pressure on teachers to raise pupil academic achievement and increase the need for quality professional development. (d) The Professional Development Task Force, convened by the Superintendent of Public Instruction, recommends the development of standards for professional development to provide uniformity among and ensure high quality in state funded professional development programs and to offer direction to school districts in planning their professional development activities. (e) The task force also recommends that school districts review their professional development plans in light of any professional development standards that are developed and adopted by the State Board of Education. SEC. 2. Article 3.1 (commencing with Section 44470) is added to Chapter 3 of Part 25 of the Education Code, to read: Article 3.1. Standards for Professional Development 44470. (a) (1) The State Department of Education shall issue a request for proposals to contract for the development of standards for professional development for educators and instructional leaders. (2) The standards shall present a vision of ongoing, high quality professional development, give special attention to high need schools and school districts, and build on existing work on quality professional development, including the Designs for Learning system. (3) The contractor shall also review and give consideration to other existing professional development programs. (4) The standards shall serve as guidelines for providers of professional development activities and may be used to facilitate the coordination among existing professional development programs. (b) By January 1, 2003, the entity with which the department contracts shall submit the standards to the Superintendent of Public Instruction for approval after which the superintendent shall submit the standards to the State Board of Education for approval. 44471. The entity with which the State Department of Education contracts shall convene a committee of experts in teacher development, professional development, and instructional leadership to develop the standards and disseminate them for field review. The Superintendent of Public Instruction shall determine the members of the committee of experts and shall include one representative from the University of California and one representative from the California State University. 44472. The standards developed pursuant to this article shall meet all of the following characteristics: (a) Describe core concepts of high quality professional development and differentiate, where necessary or appropriate, program qualities for high need schools. (b) Support respect for individual experience and adult learning theory. (c) Integrate the academic content standards adopted by the State Board of Education pursuant to Section 60605 and instructional guides. (d) Incorporate the California Standards for the Teaching Profession adopted by the Commission on Teacher Credentialing in January 1997. (e) Provide equitable and timely access to professional development for all educators. (f) Require program models and designs that include evidence based assessment of outcomes for participants. (g) Utilize the results of evaluation research based on models of organizational learning and increased pupil learning to improve programs. (h) Describe the core skills and competencies of coaches, mentors, support providers, university supervisors, and consulting teachers. SEC. 3. There is hereby appropriated from the General Fund to the Superintendent of Public Instruction the sum of one hundred forty thousand dollars ($140,000) for the purpose of contracting for the development of standards for professional development pursuant to Article 3.1 (commencing with Section 44470) of Chapter 3 of Part 25 of the Education Code.