BILL NUMBER: SB 368 AMENDED
BILL TEXT
AMENDED IN SENATE APRIL 15, 2013
AMENDED IN SENATE APRIL 1, 2013
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 would 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 forth
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 specified guidelines and criteria to
determine comparability and equivalency for experience, knowledge,
and coursework, as specified .
Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no
yes . State-mandated local program: no.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. Section 44265.2 is added to the Education Code, to
read:
44265.2. (a) It is the intent of the Legislature to encourage
multiple pathways for credentialholders to add authorizations for
special education credentials. It is further the intent of the
Legislature to encourage program sponsors to evaluate candidates
individually to ensure that, where possible and appropriate, credit
is offered for prior experience, knowledge, and coursework.
(b) Programs accredited by the commission that offer added
authorizations in special education to credentialholders may consider
offering comparability for credential candidates pursuant to the
guidelines set forth in this subdivision.
44265.2. (a) Program sponsors
may determine offer comparability and
equivalency for credentialholders seeking added authorizations for
special education credentials , which shall be determined
in accordance with the following guidelines:
(1) Decisions regarding comparability are at the discretion of the
program sponsor.
(2) Program sponsors have a broad range of possibilities for data
in considering evidence for comparability.
(3) Evaluations of evidence for comparability are not required to
be based on a course-credit model. Evaluations may
shall be evidence-based, and reflect the current
commission-approved standards for education specialist credentials.
(4) For candidates simultaneously pursuing a degree in addition to
earning a credential, approved program sponsors may use their own
institutional processes and procedures for course credit evaluations.
(5) The evaluation process may shall
be guided by the principles of candidate friendliness and candidate
responsibility.
(6) The burden of retrieving, organizing, and reflecting on
evidence provided for evaluation is on the candidate.
(7) The comparability evaluation process may
shall be rigorous and labor intensive.
(c)
(b) Options used to verify competency may
shall include, but are not limited to, the
following:
(1) Examination results.
(2) Portfolio.
(3) Performance narrative.
(4) Field experience.
(5) Video.
(6) Transcript.
(7) Prior learning assessment.
(8) A review board process.
(d)
(c) When a candidate presents evidence to a program
sponsor for comparability, the following may
shall be evaluated:
(1) Whether information is based on current, adopted California
credential standards, as appropriate to the specific credential
sought.
(2) Whether written agreements formulated between the candidate
and program sponsor are evidence-based, as appropriate to the
specific credential sought.
(3) Whether evaluative information presented by the candidate is
aligned with the California Standards for the Teaching Profession.
(e)
(d) Flexible enrollment may be considered for
candidates who need minimal work to complete a credential program.
Program sponsors may explore alternatives for candidate enrollment in
the program, including, but not limited to, visitor status,
concurrent enrollment, open university, county or district programs,
university extension programs, and professional development
activities.
(f)
(e) Program sponsors may take advantage of frequent
collaborations to formalize written agreements concerning
comparability of coursework or fieldwork. The agreements may be
created to meet the needs of individual programs or individual
candidates.
(g)
(f) Prospective candidates may be granted recognition
and credit for their life and learning experiences through prior
learning assessment, in which candidates have the opportunity to
demonstrate how their experiences and learning are comparable to what
is required by the standards.
(h)
(g) For purposes of this section, the following
definitions apply:
(1) "Equivalency" means the determination that a given set of
knowledge, skills, and abilities as reflected in standards have been
met through coursework, fieldwork, or prior learning experience, as
determined by an evaluation process.
(2) "Comparability" means the determination that a candidate has
demonstrated the essence of a set of knowledge, skills, or abilities
required by a particular commission program standard through another
route.
(3) "Prior learning assessment" means a process through which a
person develops a portfolio of life experiences, training, or
preparation experience that establish the basis for meeting the
appropriate standards.
(4) "Program sponsor" means any university-based or local
educational agency-based program approved by the commission.