BILL NUMBER: SB 187 CHAPTERED 09/22/03 CHAPTER 461 FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE SEPTEMBER 22, 2003 APPROVED BY GOVERNOR SEPTEMBER 20, 2003 PASSED THE SENATE SEPTEMBER 10, 2003 PASSED THE ASSEMBLY SEPTEMBER 8, 2003 AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY SEPTEMBER 5, 2003 AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY AUGUST 25, 2003 AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY JUNE 5, 2003 AMENDED IN SENATE MAY 8, 2003 AMENDED IN SENATE APRIL 21, 2003 INTRODUCED BY Senator Karnette FEBRUARY 12, 2003 An act to amend Sections 44279.2, 44325, 44326, 44328, 44386, and 44830.3 of the Education Code, relating to district interns. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST SB 187, Karnette. District interns. Existing law establishes grant funding for alternative certification programs, including district intern and intern programs. This bill would make teachers who have received their preliminary credentials through a district intern or other specified intern program ineligible to receive grant funding under an alternative certification program. Existing law establishes the requirements for the issuance of district intern certificates. Existing law provides that upon the completion of successful service as a district intern the Commission on Teacher Credentialing shall award professional credentials to district interns in the same manner as applicants recommended for credentials by institutions that operate approved programs of professional preparation. This bill would, in contrast, use the term district intern credentials rather than district intern certificate to align the district intern program with the university intern program. Existing law provides for a preservice period for a district intern during which the intern is paired with an already certificated employee and authorizes the governing board of a school district to recommend to the commission that the district intern be credentialed after the district intern has completed the 2 year preservice period. This bill would further authorize the governing board of a school district to recommend to the commission that the district intern be credentialed after the district intern has completed service sufficient to meet program standards and performance assessment. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. Section 44279.2 of the Education Code is amended to read: 44279.2. (a) The superintendent and the commission shall jointly administer the Beginning Teacher Support and Assessment System pursuant to this chapter. In administering this section, the superintendent and the commission shall provide or contract for the provision of all of the following: (1) Establishment of requirements for reviewing and approving teacher induction programs. (2) Development and administration of a system for ensuring teacher induction program quality and effectiveness. For the purposes of this section, "program effectiveness" means producing excellent program outcomes in relation to the purposes defined in subdivision (b) of Section 44279.1. For the purposes of this section, "program quality" means excellence with respect to program factors, including, but not limited to, all of the following: (A) Program goals. (B) Design resources. (C) Management, evaluation, and improvement of the program. (D) School context and working conditions. (E) Support and assessment services to each beginning teacher. (3) Developing purposes and functions for reviewing and approving supplemental grants and standards for program clusters and program consultants, as defined pursuant to Section 44279.7. (4) Improving and refining the formative assessment system. (5) Improving and refining professional development materials and strategies for all personnel involved in implementing induction programs. (6) Conducting and tracking research related to beginning teacher induction. (7) Periodically evaluating the validity of the California Standards for the Teaching Profession adopted by the commission in January 1997 and the Standards of Quality and Effectiveness for Beginning Teacher Support and Assessment Program adopted by the commission in 1997 and making changes to those documents, as necessary. (b) As part of the Beginning Teacher Support and Assessment System, the commission and the superintendent shall establish requirements for local teacher induction programs. (c) A school district or consortium of school districts may apply to the superintendent for funding to establish a local teacher induction program pursuant to this section. From amounts appropriated for the purposes of this section, the superintendent shall allocate three thousand dollars ($3,000) for each beginning teacher participating in the program. That amount shall be adjusted each fiscal year by the inflation factor set forth in Section 42238.1. To be eligible to receive funding, a school district or consortium of school districts shall, at a minimum, meet all of the following requirements: (1) Develop, implement, and evaluate teacher induction programs that meet the Quality and Effectiveness for Beginning Teacher Induction Program Standards adopted by the commission in 1997. (2) Support beginning teachers in meeting the competencies described in the California Standards for the Teaching Profession adopted by the commission in January 1997. (3) Meet criteria for the cost-effective delivery of program services. (4) From amounts received from local, state, or resources available for the purposes of teacher induction programs, contribute not less than two thousand dollars ($2,000) for the costs of each beginning teacher served in the induction program. (d) Teachers who have received their preliminary credential in a district intern program pursuant to Article 7.5 (commencing with Section 44325) or an intern program pursuant to Article 3 (commencing with Section 44450) of Chapter 3 and who are participating in an induction program pursuant to this section are not eligible for funding pursuant to Article 11 (commencing with Section 44380) of Chapter 2. SEC. 2. Section 44325 of the Education Code is amended to read: 44325. (a) The Commission on Teacher Credentialing shall issue district intern credentials authorizing persons employed by a school district that maintains kindergarten and grades 1 to 12, inclusive, or that maintains classes in bilingual education to provide classroom instruction to pupils in those grades and classes in accordance with the requirements of Section 44830.3. The commission, until January 1, 2008, also shall issue district intern credentials authorizing persons employed by a school district to provide classroom instruction to pupils with mild and moderate disabilities in special education classes, in accordance with the requirements of Section 44830.3. (b) Each district intern credential is valid for a period of two years. However, a credential may be valid for three years if the intern is participating in a program that leads to the attainment of a specialist credential to teach pupils with mild and moderate disabilities, or four years if the intern is participating in a program that leads to the attainment of both a multiple subject or single subject teaching credential and a specialist credential to teach pupils with mild and moderate disabilities. Upon the recommendation of the school district, the commission may grant a one-year extension of the district intern credential. (c) The commission shall require each applicant for a district intern credential to demonstrate that he or she meets all of the following minimum qualifications for that credential: (1) The possession of a baccalaureate degree conferred by a regionally accredited institution of postsecondary education. (2) The successful passage of the state basic skills proficiency test administered under Sections 44252 and 44252.5. (3) The successful completion of the appropriate subject matter examination administered by the commission, or a commission-approved subject matter preparation program for the subject areas in which the district intern is authorized to teach. (4) The oral language component of the assessment program leading to the bilingual-crosscultural language and academic development certificate for persons seeking a district intern credential to teach bilingual education classes. (d) The commission shall apply the requirements of Sections 44339, 44340, and 44341 to each applicant for a district intern credential. SEC. 3. Section 44326 of the Education Code is amended to read: 44326. (a) Persons holding district intern credentials issued by the commission under Section 44325 to teach in grades 9 to 12, inclusive, or in grades 6 to 8, inclusive, in a departmentalized program, or in departmentalized bilingual classes, shall be authorized to teach in the subject area in which they have met the subject matter requirement. (b) Persons holding district intern credentials issued by the commission under Section 44325 to teach in kindergarten and grades 1 to 8, inclusive, in a self-contained program or in self-contained bilingual classes who have completed a commission approved academic diversified or liberal arts subject matter program that includes the subject matter coursework prescribed in Section 44314 or who have met the subject matter requirements by passing the subject matter examination approved by the commission for this purpose, shall be authorized to teach in those grades or classes. (c) Before being assigned to teach pupils with mild and moderate disabilities, persons holding district intern credentials issued by the commission under Section 44325 to teach those pupils shall meet the requirements of subdivision (b). (d) Each district intern is required to teach with the assistance and guidance of certificated employees selected through a competitive process adopted by the governing board after consultation with the exclusive teacher representative unit or by personnel employed by institutions of higher education to supervise student teachers. (e) A certificated employee who assists the district intern shall possess valid certification at the same level or of the same type of credential as the district interns they serve. SEC. 4. Section 44328 of the Education Code is amended to read: 44328. (a) Unless the commission determines that substantial evidence exists that a person is unqualified to teach, upon the completion of successful service as a district intern pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 44325, and upon the recommendation of the school district governing board, the commission shall award professional credentials to district interns in the same manner as applicants recommended for credentials by institutions that operate approved programs of professional preparation. (b) Notwithstanding paragraphs (1) and (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 44225, paragraphs (3), (4), (5), and (6) of subdivision (b) of Section 44259, paragraphs (1), (2), (3), and (4) of subdivision (c) of Section 44259, and Sections 44261, 44265, and 44335, it is the intent of the Legislature that upon recommendation by the governing board, district interns shall be issued professional credentials, rather than preliminary credentials, upon the completion of successful service as a teacher pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 44325 unless the governing board recommends, and the commission finds substantial evidence that the person is not qualified to teach. A school district may require a district intern who is pursuing a professional credential to complete an approved induction program if funds are available, or approved coursework in accordance with paragraph (5) of subdivision (c) of Section 44259. Pursuant to Article 11 (commencing with Section 44380), teachers participating in an induction program pursuant to Article 4.5 (commencing with Section 44279.1) are no longer eligible for funding under the district intern program. (c) Notwithstanding subdivisions (a) and (b), the governing board of a school district may request the commission to issue a preliminary teaching credential to an intern who has met the requirements for a preliminary teaching credential, as specified in subdivision (b) of Section 44259, but who has not successfully completed the requirements for a professional clear credential pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section 44259. (d) Notwithstanding Section 44261, the preliminary credential awarded to any district intern holding a district intern credential to teach bilingual education classes shall be a basic teaching credential with a bilingual-crosscultural language and academic development emphasis. Notwithstanding Section 44265, the preliminary credential awarded to any district intern who holds a district intern credential to teach special education pupils with mild and moderate disabilities shall be a special education specialist instruction credential that authorizes the holder to teach special education pupils with mild and moderate disabilities. (e) It is the intent of the Legislature that institutions of higher education that operate approved programs of professional preparation work cooperatively with school districts that offer district intern programs for a special education specialist credential to apply the regular education coursework and fieldwork from the special education district intern program toward earning a multiple or single subject teaching credential through the institution. SEC. 5. Section 44386 of the Education Code is amended to read: 44386. (a) From funds appropriated for the purposes of this article, the Commission on Teacher Credentialing shall award incentive grants to qualifying school districts or county offices of education. Each school district or county office of education that receives a grant shall provide matching funds from any available source in an amount equal to 50 percent of the cost of the alternative certification program. Grants shall be awarded by the commission for the remaining 50 percent of the cost of the alternative certification program, but in no event shall the grant amount awarded to any school district or county office of education exceed two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500) per intern per year, except that the commission may require a lesser local contribution, or provide a larger grant per intern per year, in hardship cases. (b) Participants in a district intern program conducted pursuant to Article 7.5 (commencing with Section 44325) or in an intern program conducted pursuant to Article 3 (commencing with Section 44450) of Chapter 3, who have received a preliminary credential and who are receiving funding for participating in an induction program pursuant to Article 4.5 (commencing with Section 44279.1) are not eligible for funding under this section. (c) As determined by the Commission on Teacher Credentialing, funds appropriated in the annual Budget Act for the alternative certification program may also be made available for expenditure on the Pre-Internship Teaching Program authorized pursuant to Article 5.6 (commencing with Section 44305). SEC. 6. Section 44830.3 of the Education Code is amended to read: 44830.3. (a) The governing board of any school district that maintains kindergarten or grades 1 to 12, inclusive, or that maintains classes in bilingual education or special education programs for pupils with mild and moderate disabilities, may in consultation with an accredited institution of higher education offering an approved program of pedagogical teacher preparation employ persons authorized by the Commission on Teacher Credentialing to provide service as district interns to provide instruction to pupils in those grades or classes as a classroom teacher. The governing board shall require that each district intern be assisted and guided by a certificated employee selected through a competitive process adopted by the governing board after consultation with the exclusive teacher representative unit or by personnel employed by institutions of higher education to supervise student teachers. These certificated employees shall possess valid certification at the same level, or of the same type, of credential as the district interns they serve. (b) The governing board of each school district employing district interns shall develop and implement a professional development plan for district interns in consultation with an accredited institution of higher education offering an approved program of pedagogical preparation. The professional development plan shall include all of the following: (1) Provisions for an annual evaluation of the district intern. (2) As the governing board determines necessary, a description of courses to be completed by the district intern, if any, and a plan for the completion of preservice or other clinical training, if any, including student teaching. (3) Mandatory preservice training for district interns tailored to the grade level or class to be taught, through either of the following options: (A) One hundred twenty clock hours of preservice training and orientation in the aspects of child development, classroom organization and management, pedagogy, and methods of teaching the subject field or fields in which the district intern will be assigned, which training and orientation period shall be under the direct supervision of an experienced permanent teacher. In addition, persons holding district intern certificates issued by the commission pursuant to Section 44325 shall receive orientation in methods of teaching pupils with mild and moderate disabilities. At the conclusion of the preservice training period, the permanent teacher shall provide the district with information regarding the area that should be emphasized in the future training of the district intern. (B) The successful completion, prior to service by the intern in any classroom, of six semester units of coursework from a regionally accredited college or university, designed in cooperation with the school district to provide instruction and orientation in the aspects of child development and the methods of teaching the subject matter or matters in which the district intern will be assigned. (4) Instruction in child development and the methods of teaching during the first semester of service for district interns teaching in kindergarten or grades 1 to 6, inclusive, including bilingual education classes and, for persons holding district intern certificates issued by the commission pursuant to Section 44325, special education programs for pupils with mild and moderate disabilities at those levels. (5) Instruction in the culture and methods of teaching bilingual children during the first year of service for district interns teaching children in bilingual classes and, for persons holding district intern certificates issued by the commission pursuant to Section 44325, instruction in the etiology and methods of teaching children with mild and moderate disabilities. (6) Any other criteria that may be required by the governing board. (7) In addition to the requirements set forth in paragraphs (1) to (6), inclusive, the professional development plan for district interns teaching in special education programs for pupils with mild and moderate disabilities also shall include 120 clock hours of mandatory training and supervised fieldwork that shall include, but not be limited to, instructional practices, and the procedures and pedagogy of both general education programs and special education programs that teach pupils with disabilities. (8) In addition to the requirements set forth in paragraphs (1) to (6), inclusive, the professional development plan for district interns teaching bilingual classes shall also include 120 clock hours of mandatory training and orientation, which shall include, but not be limited to, instruction in subject matter relating to bilingual-crosscultural language and academic development. (9) The professional development plan for district interns teaching in special education programs for pupils with mild and moderate disabilities shall be based on the standards adopted by the commission as provided in subdivision (a) of Section 44327. (c) Each district intern and each district teacher assigned to supervise the district intern during the preservice period shall be compensated for the preservice period required pursuant to subparagraph (A) or (B) of paragraph (3) of subdivision (b). The compensation shall be that which is normally provided by each district for staff development or in-service activity. (d) Upon completion of service sufficient to meet program standards and performance assessments, the governing board may recommend to the Commission on Teacher Credentialing that the district intern be credentialed in the manner prescribed by Section 44328.