BILL NUMBER: ABX5 5	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Nestande

                        NOVEMBER 23, 2009

   An act to amend Section 44227 of the Education Code, relating to
teachers.



	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 5, as introduced, Nestande. Education: teacher credentialing.
   Existing law requires the Commission on Teacher Credentialing to
adopt standards for the issuance of teaching credentials to persons,
as specified. The commission may approve any institution of higher
education to recommend the issuance of credentials to persons who
have successfully completed a teacher education program of the
institution if the program meets the standards approved by the
commission.
   Existing law also requires an institution of higher education
whose teacher education program has been accredited by the commission
to approve and electronically submit credential applications to the
commission, and the commission is required to grant credentials to
these applicants based upon that approval.
   This bill would authorize the commission to approve an
institution, including an institution of higher education, school
district, county office of education, or community-based or
noneducational institution to recommend the issuance of credentials
to persons who have successfully completed a teacher education
program of the institution if the program meets the standards
approved by the commission.
   The bill would further require an institution, including an
institution of higher education, school district, county office of
education, or community-based or noneducational institution whose
educator preparation program has been accredited by the commission to
approve and electronically submit credential applications to the
commission, and would require the commission to grant credentials to
these applicants based upon that approval.
   The bill would authorize the commission to assess a fee on an
institution seeking approval for an educator preparation program
unless the institution is regulated by another state agency.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.


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

  SECTION 1.  Section 44227 of the Education Code is amended to read:

   44227.  (a) The commission may approve  any  
an  institution  , including an institution  of higher
education  , school district, county office of education, or
community-based or noneducational organization  to recommend to
the commission the issuance of credentials to persons who have
successfully completed a teacher education program of the institution
if the program meets the standards approved by the commission.
   (b) An institution  , including an institution  of higher
education  whose teacher education   , school
district, county office of education, or community-based or
noneducational organization whose educator preparation  program
has been accredited by the commission shall approve and
electronically submit credential applications to the commission, and
the commission shall grant credentials to these applicants based upon
that approval.
   (c) Notwithstanding any  provision of  law to the
contrary, the commission may approve for credit  any
  the  coursework completed for credential purposes
or for step increases in programs offered in California by
out-of-state institutions of higher education that meet the
requirements prescribed by  former  Chapter 7 (commencing
with Section 94700) of Part 59  of Division 10 of Title 3 
only if the program of courses is offered by a regionally accredited
institution and evidence of satisfactory evaluation by that
accrediting body is submitted by the out-of-state institution to the
commission for purposes of seeking approval of the program and any
courses within that program to enable potential teachers to meet one
or more requirements for a teaching credential in California. 
   (d) The commission may assess a fee on an institution seeking
approval for an educator preparation program in an amount that covers
the costs of the commission to evaluate the application, except
institutions regulated by another state agency.