California Legislature—2015–16 Regular Session

Assembly BillNo. 141


Introduced by Assembly Member Bonilla

January 9, 2015


An act to amend Sections 44259, 44279.1, and 44279.2 of the Education Code, relating to teacher credentialing.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

AB 141, as introduced, Bonilla. Teacher credentialing: beginning teacher induction programs.

Existing law establishes the Marian Bergeson Beginning Teacher Support and Assessment System to, among other things, provide an effective transition into the teaching career for first year and 2nd year teachers in this state. Existing law requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction and the Commission on Teacher Credentialing to jointly administer this program, to contract for specified services, and to establish requirements for local teacher induction programs. Existing law makes participation in the system voluntary for teachers, school districts, and county offices of education. Existing law authorizes a school district or a consortium of school districts to apply for funding to establish a local teacher induction program, and sets forth the requirements that a school district or consortium of school districts must meet to be eligible for funding.

Existing law separately authorizes an alternative program of beginning teacher induction that is provided by one or more local educational agencies and has been approved by the commission and the Superintendent on the basis of initial review and periodic evaluations of the program in relation to appropriate standards of credential program quality and effectiveness that have been adopted by the commission, the Superintendent, and the State Board of Education, as provided. Existing law authorizes an alternative program of beginning teacher induction that has met state standards to apply for state funding, as specified.

Existing law also separately authorizes an alternative program of beginning teacher induction that is sponsored by a regionally accredited college or university, in cooperation with one or more local school districts, that addresses the individual professional needs of beginning teachers and meets the commission’s standards of induction.

This bill would, commencing with hiring for the 2016-17 school year, and each school year thereafter, require a school district or county office of education that hires a beginning teacher to provide that teacher with one of these induction programs, except as provided. The bill would also prohibit a local educational agency from charging a fee to a beginning teacher to participate in an induction program. By requiring school districts and county offices of education to provide an induction program to newly hired beginning teachers, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.

This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to these statutory provisions.

Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: yes.

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

P2    1

SECTION 1.  

Section 44259 of the Education Code is amended
2to read:

3

44259.  

(a) Except as provided in subparagraphs (A) and (C)
4of paragraph (3) of subdivision (b), each program of professional
5preparation for multiple or single subject teaching credentials shall
6not include more than two years of full-time study of professional
7preparation.

8(b) The minimum requirements for the preliminary multiple or
9single subject teaching credential are all of the following:

P3    1(1) A baccalaureate degree or higher degree from a regionally
2accredited institution of postsecondary education. Except as
3provided in subdivision (c) of Section 44227, the baccalaureate
4degree shall not be in professional education. The commission
5shall encourage accredited institutions to offer undergraduate
6minors in education and special education to students who intend
7to become teachers.

8(2) Passage of the state basic skills proficiency test that is
9developed and administered by the commission pursuant to Section
1044252.5.

11(3) Satisfactory completion of a program of professional
12preparation that has been accredited by the Committee on
13Accreditation on the basis of standards of program quality and
14effectiveness that have been adopted by the commission. In
15accordance with the commission’s assessment and performance
16standards, each program shall include a teaching performance
17assessment as set forth in Section 44320.2 that is aligned with the
18California Standards for the Teaching Profession. The commission
19shall ensure that each candidate recommended for a credential or
20certificate has demonstrated satisfactory ability to assist pupils to
21meet or exceed academic content and performance standards for
22pupils adopted by the state board pursuant to Section 60605.
23Programs that meet this requirement for professional preparation
24shall include any of the following:

25(A) Integrated programs of subject matter preparation and
26professional preparation pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section
2744259.1.

28(B) Postbaccalaureate programs of professional preparation,
29pursuant to subdivision (d) of Section 44259.1.

30(C) Internship programs of professional preparation, pursuant
31to Section 44321, Article 7.5 (commencing with Section 44325),
32Article 11 (commencing with Section 44380), and Article 3
33(commencing with Section 44450) of Chapter 3.

34(4) Study of alternative methods of developing English language
35skills, including the study of reading as described in subparagraphs
36(A) and (B), among all pupils, including those for whom English
37is a second language, in accordance with the commission’s
38standards of program quality and effectiveness. The study of
39reading shall meet the following requirements:

P4    1(A) Commencing January 1, 1997, satisfactory completion of
2comprehensive reading instruction that is research based and
3includes all of the following:

4(i) The study of organized, systematic, explicit skills including
5phonemic awareness, direct, systematic, explicit phonics, and
6decoding skills.

7(ii) A strong literature, language, and comprehension component
8with a balance of oral and written language.

9(iii) Ongoing diagnostic techniques that inform teaching and
10assessment.

11(iv) Early intervention techniques.

12(v) Guided practice in a clinical setting.

13(B) For purposes of this section, “direct, systematic, explicit
14phonics” means phonemic awareness, spelling patterns, the direct
15instruction of sound/symbol codes and practice in connected text,
16and the relationship of direct, systematic, explicit phonics to the
17components set forth in clauses (i) to (v), inclusive, of subparagraph
18(A).

19A program for the multiple subjects credential also shall include
20the study of integrated methods of teaching language arts.

21(5) Completion of a subject matter program that has been
22approved by the commission on the basis of standards of program
23quality and effectiveness pursuant to Article 6 (commencing with
24Section 44310) or passage of a subject matter examination pursuant
25to Article 5 (commencing with Section 44280). The commission
26shall ensure that subject matter standards and examinations are
27aligned with the academic content and performance standards for
28pupils adopted by the state board pursuant to Section 60605.

29(6) Demonstration of a knowledge of the principles and
30provisions of the Constitution of the United States pursuant to
31Section 44335.

32(7) Commencing January 1, 2000, demonstration, in accordance
33with the commission’s standards of program quality and
34effectiveness, of basic competency in the use of computers in the
35classroom as determined by one of the following:

36(A) Successful completion of a commission-approved program
37or course.

38(B) Successful passage of an assessment that is developed,
39approved, and administered by the commission.

P5    1(c) The minimum requirements for the clear multiple or single
2subject teaching credential shall include all of the following
3requirements:

4(1) Possession of a valid preliminary teaching credential, as
5prescribed in subdivision (b), possession of a valid equivalent
6credential or certificate, or completion of equivalent requirements
7as determined by the commission.

8(2) Except as provided in paragraph (3), completion of a
9program of beginning teacher induction, including one of the
10following:

11(A) A program of beginning teacher support and assessment
12approved by the commission and the Superintendent pursuant to
13Section 44279.1, a provision of the Marian Bergeson Beginning
14Teacher Support and Assessment System.

15(B) begin insert(i)end insertbegin insertend insertAn alternative program of beginning teacher induction
16that is provided by one or more local educational agencies and has
17been approved by the commission and the Superintendent on the
18basis of initial review and periodic evaluations of the program in
19relation to appropriate standards of credential program quality and
20effectiveness that have been adopted by the commission, the
21Superintendent, and the state board pursuant to this subdivision.
22The standards for alternative programs shall encourage innovation
23and experimentation in the continuous preparation and induction
24of beginning teachers. An alternative program of beginning teacher
25induction that has met state standards pursuant to this subdivision
26may apply for state funding pursuant to Sections 44279.1 and
2744279.2.

begin insert

28(ii) A local educational agency shall not charge a fee to a
29beginning teacher to participate in an alternative program of
30beginning teacher induction that is provided pursuant to this
31subparagraph.

end insert

32(C) begin insert(i)end insertbegin insertend insertAn alternative program of beginning teacher induction
33that is sponsored by a regionally accredited college or university,
34in cooperation with one or more local school districts, that
35addresses the individual professional needs of beginning teachers
36and meets the commission’s standards of induction. The
37commission shall ensure that preparation and induction programs
38that qualify candidates for professional credentials extend and
39refine each beginning teacher’s professional skills in relation to
40the California Standards for the Teaching Profession and the
P6    1academic content and performance standards for pupils adopted
2by the state board pursuant to Section 60605.

begin insert

3(ii) A school district shall not charge a beginning teacher a fee
4to participate in an alternative program of beginning teacher
5induction that is provided pursuant to this subparagraph.

end insert

6(3) (A) If a candidate satisfies the requirements of subdivision
7(b), including completion of an accredited internship program of
8professional preparation, and if that internship program fulfills
9induction standards and is approved as set forth in this subdivision,
10the commission shall determine that the candidate has fulfilled the
11requirements of paragraph (2).

12(B) If an approved induction program is verified as unavailable
13to a beginning teacher, or if the beginning teacher is required under
14the federal No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (20 U.S.C. Sec. 6301
15et seq.) to complete subject matter coursework to be qualified for
16a teaching assignment, the commission shall accept completion of
17an approved clear credential program after completion of a
18baccalaureate degree at a regionally accredited institution as
19fulfilling the requirements of paragraph (2). The commission shall
20adopt regulations to implement this subparagraph.

21(4) Experience that includes the application of knowledge and
22skills previously acquired in a preliminary credential program, in
23accordance with commission standards, that addresses the
24following:

25(A) Health education, including study of nutrition,
26cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and the physiological and
27sociological effects of abuse of alcohol, narcotics, and drugs and
28the use of tobacco. Training in cardiopulmonary resuscitation shall
29also meet the standards established by the American Heart
30Association or the American Red Cross.

31(B) Field experience in methods of delivering appropriate
32educational services to pupils with exceptional needs in regular
33education programs.

34(C) Advanced computer-based technology, including the uses
35of technology in educational settings.

36(d) The commission shall develop and implement standards of
37program quality and effectiveness that provide for the areas of
38application listed in subparagraphs (A) to (C), inclusive, of
39paragraph (4) of subdivision (c), starting in professional preparation
40 and continuing through induction.

P7    1(e) A credential that was issued before January 1, 1993, shall
2remain in force as long as it is valid under the laws and regulations
3that were in effect on the date it was issued. The commission shall
4not, by regulation, invalidate an otherwise valid credential, unless
5it issues to the holder of the credential, in substitution, a new
6credential authorized by another provision in this chapter that is
7no more restrictive than the credential for which it was substituted
8with respect to the kind of service authorized and the grades,
9classes, or types of schools in which it authorizes service.

10(f) A credential program that is approved by the commission
11shall not deny an individual access to that program solely on the
12grounds that the individual obtained a teaching credential through
13completion of an internship program when that internship program
14has been accredited by the commission.

15(g) Notwithstanding this section, persons who were performing
16teaching services as of January 1, 1999, pursuant to the language
17of this section that was in effect before that date, may continue to
18perform those services without complying with any requirements
19that may be added by the amendments adding this subdivision.

20(h) Subparagraphs (A) and (B) of paragraph (4) of subdivision
21(b) do not apply to any person who, as of January 1, 1997, holds
22a multiple or single subject teaching credential, or to any person
23enrolled in a program of professional preparation for a multiple
24or single subject teaching credential as of January 1, 1997, who
25subsequently completes that program. It is the intent of the
26Legislature that the requirements of subparagraphs (A) and (B) of
27paragraph (4) of subdivision (b) be applied only to persons who
28enter a program of professional preparation on or after January 1,
291997.

30

SEC. 2.  

Section 44279.1 of the Education Code is amended to
31read:

32

44279.1.  

(a) The Legislature finds and declares that the
33beginning years of the career of a teacher are a critical time in
34which it is necessary that intensive professional development and
35assessment occur. The Legislature recognizes that the public invests
36heavily in the preparation of prospective teachers, and that more
37than one-half of all new teachers leave some California school
38districts after one or two years in the classroom. Intensive
39professional development and assessment are necessary to build
40on the preparation that precedes initial certification, to transform
P8    1academic preparation into practical success in the classroom, to
2retain greater numbers of capable beginning teachers, and to
3remove novices who show little promise as teachers. It is the intent
4of the Legislature that the commission and the Superintendent
5develop and implement policies to govern the support and
6assessment of beginning teachers, as a condition for the
7professional certification of those teachers in the future.

8(b) There is hereby established the California Beginning Teacher
9Support and Assessment System, to be administered jointly by the
10commission and the Superintendent. In administering the system,
11the commission and the Superintendent shall approve the most
12cost-effective programs of support and assessment. The
13commission and the Superintendent also shall ensure that programs
14meet the Standards of Quality and Effectiveness for Beginning
15Teacher Support and Assessment Programs adopted by the
16commission and that local programs support beginning teachers
17in meeting the competencies described in the California Standards
18for the Teaching Profession adopted by the commission. The
19system shall do all of the following:

20(1) Provide an effective transition into the teaching career for
21first-year and second-year teachers in California.

22(2) Improve the educational performance of pupils through
23improved training, information, and assistance for new teachers.

24(3) Enable beginning teachers to be effective in teaching pupils
25who are culturally, linguistically, and academically diverse.

26(4) Ensure the professional success and retention of new
27teachers.

28(5) Ensure that a support provider provides intensive
29individualized support and assistance to each participating
30beginning teacher.

31(6) Improve the rigor and consistency of individual teacher
32performance assessments and the usefulness of assessment results
33to teachers and decisionmakers.

34(7) Establish an effective, coherent system of performance
35assessments that are based on the California Standards for the
36Teaching Profession adopted by the commission.

37(8) Examine alternative ways in which the general public and
38the educational profession may be assured that new teachers who
39remain in teaching have attained acceptable levels of professional
40competence.

P9    1(9) Ensure that an individual induction plan is in place for each
2participating beginning teacher and is based on an ongoing
3assessment of the development of the beginning teacher.

4(10) Ensure continuous program improvement through ongoing
5research, development, and evaluation.

6(c) begin insert(1)end insertbegin insertend insertParticipation in the system shall be voluntary for
7teachers,begin delete school districts, and county offices of educationend delete and
8participation by certificated employees shall not be made a
9condition of employment. The commission and the Superintendent
10shall adopt and implement criteria and standards for participation
11in the system, including criteria regarding the eligibility of teachers
12and standards of local program quality and intensity for schools,
13school districts, county offices of education, colleges, universities,
14and other educational and professional organizations. The criteria
15and standards shall be consistent with the purposes of the system.

begin insert

16(2) Commencing with hiring for the 2016-17 school year, and
17each school year thereafter, a school district or county office of
18education that hires a beginning teacher shall provide that
19beginning teacher with a program of beginning teacher induction
20described in paragraph (2) of subdivision (c) of Section 44259,
21unless the beginning teacher meets the requirements of paragraph
22(3) of subdivision (c) of Section 44259.

end insert

23(d) (1) For purposes of this article, unless the context otherwise
24requires, “beginning teacher” means a teacher with a valid
25California credential, as defined in Section 44259.

26(2) For purposes of this article, “beginning teacher” does not
27include a teacher with a life or a clear teaching credential who
28returns to serve in a certificated teaching position.

29(e) Subject to verification and approval bybegin insert the director ofend insert an
30inductionbegin delete program director,end deletebegin insert program,end insert a beginning teacher shall
31not be required to demonstrate that an induction standard has been
32met, or complete an element of an approved induction program
33designed to assist a candidate in mastering a given standard, if the
34candidate previously met the induction standard while participating
35in a commission-approved preparation program.

36(f) The Superintendent and the commission shall disseminate
37the California Standards for the Teaching Profession adopted by
38the commission to colleges, universities, school districts, county
39offices of education, and professional associations, who shall be
40encouraged to use the standards in efforts to improve teacher
P10   1preparation and support programs. Performance assessments
2developed under this article shall be designed to provide useful,
3helpful feedback to beginning teachers and their support providers.
4That information shall not be used for employment-related
5 evaluations, as a condition of employment, or as a basis for
6terminating employment.

7(g) It is the intent of the Legislature that the commission and
8the Superintendent establish a statewide teacher induction program
9that supports locally designed, high-quality induction programs
10that provide individualized support and formative assessment for
11all participating beginning teachers as defined in subdivision (d).
12At the discretion of the local beginning teacher support and
13assessment system teacher induction program, funds allocated to
14a program on the basis of eligible beginning teachers may be used
15to provide support, assistance, and preparation services to other
16credential candidates who are in their first or second year of
17employment as a classroom teacher.

18(h) This article shall be known, and may be cited, as the Marian
19Bergeson Beginning Teacher Support and Assessment System.

20

SEC. 3.  

Section 44279.2 of the Education Code is amended to
21read:

22

44279.2.  

(a) The Superintendent and the commission shall
23jointly administer the California Beginning Teacher Support and
24Assessment System pursuant to this chapter. In administering this
25section, the Superintendent and the commission shall provide or
26contract for the provision of all of the following:

27(1) Establishing requirements for reviewing and approving
28teacher induction programs.

29(2) Developing and administering a system for ensuring teacher
30induction program quality and effectiveness. For purposes of this
31section, “program effectiveness” means producing excellent
32program outcomes in relation to the purposes defined in subdivision
33(b) of Section 44279.1. For purposes of this section, “program
34quality” means excellence with respect to program factors,
35including, but not limited to, all of the following:

36(A) Program goals.

37(B) Design resources.

38(C) Management, evaluation, and improvement of the program.

39(D) School context and working conditions.

40(E) Support and assessment services to each beginning teacher.

P11   1(3) Developing purposes and functions for reviewing and
2approving supplemental grants and standards for program clusters
3and program consultants, as defined pursuant to Section 44279.7.

4(4) Improving and refining the formative assessment system.

5(5) Improving and refining professional development materials
6and strategies for all personnel involved in implementing induction
7programs.

8(6) Conducting and tracking research related to beginning
9teacher induction.

10(7) Periodically evaluating the validity of the California
11Standards for the Teaching Profession adopted by the commission
12and the Standards of Quality and Effectiveness for Beginning
13Teacher Support and Assessment Program adopted by the
14commission and making changes to those documents, as necessary.

15(b) As part of the California Beginning Teacher Support and
16Assessment System, the commission and the Superintendent shall
17establish requirements for local teacher induction programs.

18(c) A school district or consortium of school districts may apply
19to the Superintendent for funding to establish a local teacher
20induction program pursuant to this section. From amounts
21appropriated for purposes of this section, the Superintendent shall
22allocate three thousand dollars ($3,000) for each beginning teacher
23participating in the program. That amount shall be adjusted each
24fiscal year by the inflation factor set forth in Section 42238.1. To
25be eligible to receive funding, a school district or consortium of
26school districts shall, at a minimum, meet all of the following
27requirements:

28(1) Develop, implement, and evaluate teacher induction
29programs that meet the Quality and Effectiveness for Beginning
30Teacher Induction Program Standards adopted by the commission.

31(2) Support beginning teachers in meeting the competencies
32described in the California Standards for the Teaching Profession
33adopted by the commission.

34(3) Meet criteria for the cost-effective delivery of program
35services.

36(4) From amounts received from local, state, or resources
37available for purposes of teacher induction programs, contribute
38not less than two thousand dollars ($2,000) for the costs of each
39beginning teacher served in the induction program.

begin insert

P12   1(5) Not charge a fee to a beginning teacher to participate in the
2induction program.

end insert

3(d) Teachers who have received their preliminary credential in
4a district intern program pursuant to Article 7.5 (commencing with
5Section 44325) or an intern program pursuant to Article 3
6(commencing with Section 44450) of Chapter 3 and who are
7participating in an induction program pursuant to this section are
8not eligible for funding pursuant to Article 11 (commencing with
9Section 44380) of Chapter 2.

10

SEC. 4.  

If the Commission on State Mandates determines that
11this act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to
12local agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made
13pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division
144 of Title 2 of the Government Code.



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