BILL NUMBER: AB 544 AMENDED
BILL TEXT
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MAY 6, 2009
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MARCH 25, 2009
INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Coto
( Coauthors: Assembly Members
Ammiano, Brownley, Buchanan,
Carter, Eng, Miller, Nestande,
Portantino, and Solorio )
FEBRUARY 25, 2009
An act to amend Section 44262 of, and to add Article 14
(commencing with Section 44410) to Chapter 2 of Part 25 of Division 3
of Title 2 of, the Education Code, relating to teacher
add Section 44262.5 to the Education Code, relating to teacher
credentialing.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 544, as amended, Coto. Eminence credential: American Indian
languages.
Existing law authorizes the Commission on Teacher Credentialing
to , among other things, to establish
professional standards, assessments, and examinations for entry and
advancement in the education process. The commission is authorized to
issue an eminence credential to any person who has achieved eminence
in a field of endeavor taught , or service practiced
, in the public schools of California.
This bill would require the commission, upon recommendation by a
tribal government , of a federally recognized
Indian tribe in California, to issue an American Indian
languages eminence credential to a candidate who has demonstrated
eminence fluency in the tribal
that tribal language of a federally
recognized Indian tribe in California , and met other
requirements . The bill would authorize the holder of an
American Indian languages eminence credential to teach the
tribal American Indian language for which
he or she is credentialed in a school district, public
charter school, education services district, community college, or
institution of higher education the credential was
issued in California public schools in preschool,
kindergarten, grades 1 to 12, inclusive, and in adult education
courses , and would make the holder of that credential eligible
for a professional clear teaching credential upon completion of a
specified period of time. The bill would authorize
encourage each federally recognized American Indian tribe
to develop a written and oral assessment that should be
successfully completed before the an
applicant is recommended for an American Indian languages
eminence credential. The bill would require the commission
to establish the cost of registration for the credential based on the
actual cost of maintaining records of those credentials .
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. The Legislature finds and declares the following:
(a) Teaching American Indian languages is essential to the proper
education of American Indian children.
(b) Preserving American Indian languages is an important part of
our national heritage and can be of value to all Americans.
SEC. 2. Section 44262 of the Education Code is
amended to read:
44262. (a) (1) Upon the recommendation of the governing board of
a school district, the commission may issue an eminence credential to
any person who has achieved eminence in a field of endeavor taught
or service practiced in the public schools of California. This
credential shall authorize teaching or the performance of services in
the public schools in the subject or subject area or service and at
the level or levels approved by the commission as designated on the
credential.
(2) Each credential so issued shall be issued initially for a
two-year period and may be renewed for a three-year period by the
commission upon the request of the governing board of the school
district. Upon completion of the three-year renewal period, the
holder of an eminence credential shall be eligible upon application
for a professional clear teaching credential.
(b) (1) Upon recommendation of the tribal government of a
federally recognized Indian tribe in California, the commission shall
issue an American Indian languages eminence credential to a
candidate who has demonstrated eminence in that tribal language based
on an assessment developed and administered by that federally
recogized Indian tribe. The American Indian languages eminence
credential shall authorize the holder to teach the American Indian
language for which the credential was issued in California public
schools.
(2) Each American Indian languages eminence credential shall be
issued initially for a two-year period and may be renewed for a
three-year period upon recommendation of the tribal government. Upon
completion of the three-year period, the holder of an American Indian
languages eminence credential shall be eligible upon application for
a professional clear teaching credential for that language.
SEC. 3. Article 14 (commencing with Section
44410) is added to Chapter 2 of Part 25 of Division 3 of Title 2 of
the Education Code, to read:
Article 14. American Indian Languages Eminence Credential
44410. The department and the commission shall establish an
American Indian languages eminence credential.
44411. (a) Each federally recognized American Indian tribe may
develop a written and oral assessment that should be successfully
completed before an applicant is recommended for an American Indian
languages eminence credential.
(b) In developing the language assessment, an Indian tribe should
determine all of the following:
(1) Which dialects of the tribal language will be included in the
assessment.
(2) Whether the Indian tribe will standardize its writing system.
(3) The standard of knowledge and fluency required to qualify for
an American Indian languages eminence credential in their tribal
languages.
(4) Standards for effective teaching methods to be evaluated in
the classroom.
(c) The tribe should also discuss the commitment to bear all costs
associated with American Indian languages eminence credentialing.
(d) The assessment should be administered at an appropriate
location that does not create hardship for members of the Indian
tribe administering the assessment.
44412. Upon affirmation that candidate for an American Indian
languages eminence credential has demonstrated knowledge and fluency
at the required standard, the commission shall register the
candidate. The commission shall then issue an American Indian
languages eminence credential for three years to the candidate. The
American Indian languages eminence credential may be renewed every
two years by the credential holder through the tribe that
administered the assessment and then registered with the commission.
44413. (a) The commission shall accept candidates for the
American Indian languages eminence credential who have met all of the
following requirements:
(1) The candidate has been certified by the tribal government as
having demonstrated the tribal language standards of knowledge and
fluency established by the tribal government.
(2) The candidate's tribal government has paid the cost of
registering the credential.
(b) The commission shall establish the cost of registration based
on the actual cost of maintaining records of these credentials. The
costs may be recalculated every three years, beginning in 2013.
(c) Except for conviction of a felony and California's required
background check, the commission may not require that candidates meet
any other criteria than certification by the tribal government that
the individual has demonstrated eminence in the tribal language.
44414. (a) An American Indian languages eminence credential
qualifies the holder to teach in a school district, public charter
school, education services district, community college, or
institution of higher education.
(b) The holder of an American Indian languages eminence credential
who does not also have a valid teaching credential issued by the
State of California may not teach in a public school, including a
charter school, any subject other than the American Indian language
for which he or she is credentialed.
44415. Upon agreement by the tribe, a tribe submitting a
candidate for an American Indian languages eminence credential shall
develop and administer a technical assistance program. The program
shall be offered by teachers credentialed in an American Indian
language who have three or more years of teaching experience. The
technical assistance program may consist of direct classroom
observation and consultation, assistance in instructional planning
and preparation, support in implementation and delivery of classroom
instruction, and other assistance intended to enhance the
professional performance and development of the American Indian
language teacher.
SEC. 2. Section 44262.5 is added to the
Education Code , to read:
44262.5. (a) Upon recommendation of the tribal government of a
federally recognized Indian tribe in California, the commission shall
issue an American Indian languages eminence credential to a
candidate who has met the following requirements:
(1) Demonstrated eminence in that tribe's language based on an
assessment developed and administered by that federally recognized
Indian tribe pursuant to subdivision (e).
(2) Successfully completed a criminal background check conducted
under Sections 44339, 44340, and 44341 for credentialing purposes.
(3) Submitted an application, fee, and recommendation for the
credential to the commission through the federally recognized Indian
tribe.
(b) The American Indian languages eminence credential shall
authorize the holder to teach the American Indian language for which
the credential was issued in California public schools in preschool,
kindergarten, grades 1 to 12, inclusive, and in adult education
courses.
(c) The holder of an American Indian languages eminence credential
who does not also have a valid teaching credential issued by the
State of California shall not teach in a public school, including a
charter school, any subject other than the American Indian language
for which he or she is credentialed.
(d) Each American Indian languages eminence credential shall be
issued initially for a two-year period and may be renewed for a
three-year period upon recommendation of the tribal government and
the governing board of the school district. Upon completion of the
three-year period, the holder of an American Indian languages
eminence credential shall be eligible, upon application, for a clear
teaching credential for that language.
(e) (1) Each federally recognized American Indian tribe is
encouraged to develop a written and oral assessment that should be
successfully completed before an applicant is recommended for an
American Indian languages eminence credential.
(2) In developing the language assessment, an Indian tribe should
determine all of the following:
(A) Which dialects of the tribal language will be included in the
assessment.
(B) Whether the Indian tribe will standardize its writing system.
(C) The standard of knowledge and fluency required to qualify for
an American Indian languages eminence credential in that tribal
language.
(D) Standards for effective teaching methods to be evaluated in
the classroom.
(3) The assessment should be administered at an appropriate
location that does not create hardship for members of the Indian
tribe administering the assessment.
(f) Upon agreement by the tribe, a tribe recommending a candidate
for an American Indian languages eminence credential shall develop
and administer a technical assistance program. The program shall be
offered by teachers credentialed in an American Indian language who
have three or more years of teaching experience. The technical
assistance program may consist of direct classroom observation and
consultation, assistance in instructional planning and preparation,
support in implementation and delivery of classroom instruction, and
other assistance intended to enhance the professional performance and
development of the American Indian language teacher.
(g) Public school personnel responsible for evaluating teachers,
in accordance with local governing board policy, shall provide
individuals employed to teach on the basis of the American Indian
languages credential with information on the teaching personnel
evaluation process and the California Standards for the Teaching
Profession.