Amended in Senate April 15, 2013

Amended in Senate April 1, 2013

Senate BillNo. 368


Introduced by Senator Pavley

February 20, 2013


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

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

SB 368, as amended, Pavley. Teachers: added authorization in special education.

Existing law establishes the Commission on Teacher Credentialing, and authorizes the commission to issue teaching and service credentials, including a special education credential. Existing law also authorizes the commission to grant an added or supplementary authorization to a credentialholder who has met the requirements and standards of the commission for the added or supplementary authorization.

This bill wouldbegin delete declare the intent of the Legislature to encourage multiple pathways for credentialholders to add authorizations for special education credentials, and to encourage program sponsors, as defined, to ensure, where possible and appropriate, that credit is offered for prior work experience, knowledge, and coursework. The bill would set forthend deletebegin insert authorize program sponsors, as defined, to offer comparability and equivalency, as those terms are defined, for credentialholders seeking added authorizations for special education credentials in accordance with specifiedend insert guidelines and criteriabegin delete to determine comparability and equivalency for experience, knowledge, and coursework, as specifiedend delete.

Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: begin deleteno end deletebegin insertyesend insert. State-mandated local program: no.

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

P2    1

SECTION 1.  

Section 44265.2 is added to the Education Code,
2to read:

begin delete
3

44265.2.  

(a) It is the intent of the Legislature to encourage
4multiple pathways for credentialholders to add authorizations for
5special education credentials. It is further the intent of the
6Legislature to encourage program sponsors to evaluate candidates
7individually to ensure that, where possible and appropriate, credit
8is offered for prior experience, knowledge, and coursework.

9(b) Programs accredited by the commission that offer added
10authorizations in special education to credentialholders may
11consider offering comparability for credential candidates pursuant
12to the guidelines set forth in this subdivision.

end delete
13begin insert

begin insert44265.2.end insert  

end insert

begin insert(a)end insertbegin insertend insert Program sponsors maybegin delete determineend deletebegin insert offerend insert
14 comparability and equivalency for credentialholders seeking added
15authorizations for special education credentialsbegin insert, which shall be
16determinedend insert
in accordance with the following guidelines:

17(1) Decisions regarding comparability are at the discretion of
18the program sponsor.

19(2) Program sponsors have a broad range of possibilities for
20data in considering evidence for comparability.

21(3) Evaluations of evidence for comparability are not required
22to be based on a course-credit model. Evaluationsbegin delete mayend deletebegin insert shallend insert be
23evidence-based, and reflect the current commission-approved
24standards for education specialist credentials.

25(4) For candidates simultaneously pursuing a degree in addition
26to earning a credential, approved program sponsors may use their
27own institutional processes and procedures for course credit
28evaluations.

29(5) The evaluation processbegin delete mayend deletebegin insert shallend insert be guided by the principles
30of candidate friendliness and candidate responsibility.

31(6) The burden of retrieving, organizing, and reflecting on
32evidence provided for evaluation is on the candidate.

33(7) The comparability evaluation processbegin delete mayend deletebegin insert shallend insert be rigorous
34and labor intensive.

begin delete

35(c)

end delete

36begin insert(b)end insert Options used to verify competencybegin delete mayend deletebegin insert shallend insert include, but
37are not limited to, the following:

38(1) Examination results.

P3    1(2) Portfolio.

2(3) Performance narrative.

3(4) Field experience.

4(5) Video.

5(6) Transcript.

6(7) Prior learning assessment.

7(8) A review board process.

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8(d)

end delete

9begin insert(c)end insert When a candidate presents evidence to a program sponsor
10for comparability, the followingbegin delete mayend deletebegin insert shallend insert be evaluated:

11(1) Whether information is based on current, adopted California
12credential standards, as appropriate to the specific credential
13sought.

14(2) Whether written agreements formulated between the
15candidate and program sponsor are evidence-based, as appropriate
16to the specific credential sought.

17(3) Whether evaluative information presented by the candidate
18is aligned with the California Standards for the Teaching
19Profession.

begin delete

20(e)

end delete

21begin insert(d)end insert Flexible enrollment may be considered for candidates who
22need minimal work to complete a credential program. Program
23sponsors may explore alternatives for candidate enrollment in the
24program, including, but not limited to, visitor status, concurrent
25enrollment, open university, county or district programs, university
26extension programs, and professional development activities.

begin delete

27(f)

end delete

28begin insert(e)end insert Program sponsors may take advantage of frequent
29collaborations to formalize written agreements concerning
30comparability of coursework or fieldwork. The agreements may
31be created to meet the needs of individual programs or individual
32candidates.

begin delete

33(g)

end delete

34begin insert(f)end insert Prospective candidates may be granted recognition and credit
35for their life and learning experiences through prior learning
36assessment, in which candidates have the opportunity to
37demonstrate how their experiences and learning are comparable
38to what is required by the standards.

begin delete

39(h)

end delete

40begin insert(g)end insert For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:

P4    1(1) “Equivalency” means the determination that a given set of
2knowledge, skills, and abilities as reflected in standards have been
3met through coursework, fieldwork, or prior learning experience,
4as determined by an evaluation process.

5(2) “Comparability” means the determination that a candidate
6has demonstrated the essence of a set of knowledge, skills, or
7abilities required by a particular commission program standard
8through another route.

9(3) “Prior learning assessment” means a process through which
10a person develops a portfolio of life experiences, training, or
11preparation experience that establish the basis for meeting the
12appropriate standards.

13(4) “Program sponsor” means any university-based or local
14educational agency-based program approved by the commission.



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