BILL NUMBER: AB 2226	CHAPTERED  08/01/08

	CHAPTER  233
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE  AUGUST 1, 2008
	APPROVED BY GOVERNOR  AUGUST 1, 2008
	PASSED THE SENATE  JULY 3, 2008
	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY  JULY 14, 2008
	AMENDED IN SENATE  JUNE 4, 2008
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 3, 2008

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Ruskin

                        FEBRUARY 20, 2008

   An act to add Section 44265.2 to the Education Code, relating to
teachers.



	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 2226, Ruskin. Teachers: special education teacher preparation
programs: comparability of coursework.
   Existing law establishes in state government the Commission on
Teacher Credentialing, and authorizes the commission to issue
teaching and services credentials, including a special education
credential. Existing law authorizes the commission to approve any
institution of higher education to recommend the issuance of
credentials to persons who have successfully completed a teacher
education program.
   This bill would require the commission to convene a workgroup for
the purpose of providing guidance to programs in determining the
comparability of coursework or field experience completed in other
commission-accredited programs to special education programs. The
bill would require the commission to report the findings of the
workgroup to the Legislature, the Governor, and the Secretary for
Education on or before December 1, 2009.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  The Legislature encourages a public or private
institution of higher education or a local educational agency that
conducts a commission-accredited program of professional preparation
for the education specialist credential in special education to
accept coursework or field experience completed in another
commission-accredited preparation program if the coursework or field
experience is determined by the institution or agency to be
comparable.
  SEC. 2.  Section 44265.2 is added to the Education Code, to read:
   44265.2.  (a) The commission shall convene a workgroup of
interested parties including, but not limited to, representatives of
the California State University, the University of California,
private postsecondary institutions of higher education, local
educational agencies, and organizations that represent public school
educators, for the purpose of providing guidance to programs in
determining the comparability of coursework or field experience
completed in other commission-accredited programs to special
education programs.
   (b) The commission shall report the workgroup's findings to the
Legislature, the Governor, and the Secretary for Education on or
before December 1, 2009.