BILL ANALYSIS Ó SB 368 Page 1 SENATE THIRD READING SB 368 (Pavley) As Amended August 15, 2013 Majority vote SENATE VOTE :36-0 EDUCATION 7-0 APPROPRIATIONS 17-0 ----------------------------------------------------------------- |Ayes:|Buchanan, Olsen, Chávez, |Ayes:|Gatto, Harkey, Bigelow, | | |Gonzalez, Nazarian, | |Bocanegra, Bradford, Ian | | |Weber, Williams | |Calderon, Campos, | | | | |Donnelly, Eggman, Gomez, | | | | |Hall, Holden, Linder, | | | | |Pan, Quirk, Wagner, Weber | |-----+--------------------------+-----+--------------------------| | | | | | ----------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY : Authorizes a Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) approved special education teacher preparation program to offer comparability and equivalency for coursework, subject to guidelines issued by the CTC. Specifically, this bill : 1)Authorizes a program sponsor to offer comparability and equivalency for a special education credential holder seeking to add a special education authorization to his or her credential using the following guidelines, subject to criteria and guidelines issued by the CTC: a) Decisions regarding comparability are at the discretion of the program sponsor. b) A program sponsor has a broad range of possible data that may be considered as evidence for comparability. c) For a candidate simultaneously pursuing a degree in addition to earning a credential, a program sponsor may use its own institutional process and procedure for course credit evaluations. 2)Authorizes evidence used to verify competency to include the following, subject to criteria and guidelines issued by the CTC: SB 368 Page 2 a) Examination results. b) Portfolio. c) Performance narrative. d) Field experience. e) Video. f) Transcripts. g) Prior learning assessment. h) A review board process. 3)Authorizes a program sponsor to use the following to evaluate evidence for comparability presented by a candidate, subject to criteria and guidelines issued by the CTC: a) Whether the information is based on current, adopted California credential standards, as appropriate to the authorization sought. b) Whether a written agreement between the candidate and program sponsor is evidence based, as appropriate to the authorization sought. c) Whether the information is aligned with the California Standards for the Teaching Profession. 4)Authorizes flexible enrollment to be considered for a candidate who needs minimal work to complete a credential program; and, authorizes a program sponsor to 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. 5)Authorizes a program sponsor to take advantage of frequent collaborations to formalize a written agreement concerning comparability of coursework or fieldwork; and specifies the agreement may be created to meet the needs of the individual program or the individual candidate. SB 368 Page 3 6)Authorizes a candidate to be granted recognition and credit for his or her life and learning experience through a prior learning assessment in which the candidate has the opportunity to demonstrate how his or her experience and learning are comparable to the CTC program standard. 7)Defines "Equivalency" to mean the determination, through an evaluation process, that a set of knowledge, skills, and abilities required by a CTC program standard has been met through coursework, fieldwork, or prior learning experience. 8)Defines "Comparability" to mean the determination that a candidate has demonstrated the essence of a set of knowledge, skills, and abilities required by a CTC program standard through another route. 9)Defines "Prior learning assessment" to mean a process through which a person develops a portfolio of life experiences, training, or preparation experience that establishes the basis for meeting the CTC program standard. 10)Defines "Program sponsor" to mean any university-based or local educational agency-based program approved by the CTC. FISCAL EFFECT : According to the Assembly Appropriations Committee, no direct fiscal impact to the CTC to implement this measure. COMMENTS : This bill allows credentialing programs to issue credit for comparable coursework when a special educator seeks additional specialist authorizations in special education. For those institutions of higher education that wish to provide credit for previous work, this bill will provide encouragement and guidance as to how to provide such credit. The bill implements the findings of a CTC report. According to the author, currently, there is no standard way to credit coursework and experience for added authorizations to the education specialist credential that is earned across multiple CTC-approved programs. This has resulted in well-qualified candidates being required to take redundant and unnecessary classes, both costing money and making it more difficult to become a special education teacher. This bill would authorize special education credentialing programs to use a defined process to determine comparability of coursework taken and SB 368 Page 4 experience earned across multiple CTC-approved institutions. Analysis Prepared by : Chelsea Kelley / ED. / (916) 319-2087 FN: 0001668