Amended in Senate July 9, 2015

Amended in Assembly June 1, 2015

Amended in Assembly April 7, 2015

California Legislature—2015–16 Regular Session

Assembly Bill No. 141

Introduced by Assembly Member Bonilla

January 9, 2015

An act to amend Section 44259 of the Education Code, relating to teacher credentialing.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

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

Existing law prescribes the minimum requirements for a clear multiple or single subject teaching credential, including the completion of either a beginning teacher induction program approved by the Commission on Teacher Credentialing and the Superintendent of Public Instruction pursuant to the Marian Bergeson Beginning Teacher Support and Assessment System, 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, or 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, except as provided. begin insert Existing law also requires credentials for teaching specialties, including, but not limited to, bilingual education, early childhood education, and special education, to be based upon a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution, completion of a program of professional preparation, and any other standards which the commission may establish. end insert

This bill would, commencing with hiring for the 2016-17 school year, and each school year thereafter, begin delete as a condition for receiving certain federal funds, end delete require a school district, county office of education, or begin delete a end delete charter school that hires a beginning teacher to provide that beginning teacher with a beginning teacher induction program that is approved by the commission and the Superintendent or one of the alternative beginning teacher induction programs described above, except as provided. The bill would begin delete require the State Department of Education to enforce the condition in making subgrants of those federal funds to school districts, county offices of education, and charter schools. The bill also would prohibit a local educational agency from charging a fee to a beginning teacher to participate in an induction program. end delete begin insert define a beginning teacher for purposes of that provision to include a teacher with a preliminary multiple or single subject teaching credential, or a preliminary education specialist credential. By requiring local educational agencies to provide an induction program to newly hired beginning teachers, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. end insert

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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.

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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.

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Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program:  begin delete no end delete begin insert yes end insert .

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

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begin insert SECTION 1. end insert   

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The Legislature finds and declares all of the
following:

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(a) Educators and policymakers have long acknowledged that
the skills and competencies needed to be an effective teacher are
supported through early and structured mentoring and assessment.

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(b) Induction programs help beginning teachers transition into
the profession by providing standards-based, individualized
assistance that combines the application of theory with intensive
mentor-based support and formative assessment.

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(c) In 1998, California created its two-tiered teaching credential
system and established the completion of a statewide,
standards-based induction program, Beginning Teacher Support
and Assessment (BTSA), as a path toward a clear credential.

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(d) Until 2009, the state provided $4,000 per participating
teacher to BTSA providers as part of the Teacher Credentialing
Block Grant.

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(e) In order to receive state funding, a local education agency
(LEA) was required to make a local in-kind contribution of $2,000
per participating teacher.

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(f) The combined level of dedicated funding was sufficient for
running the program and allowed LEAs to provide induction at
no charge to beginning teachers.

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(g) In 2009, due to the Great Recession, the state gave increased
flexibility to LEAs by allowing Teacher Credentialing Block Grant
funds to be used for any educational purpose.

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(h) In 2013, the state eliminated the majority of K-12 categorical
programs, including the Teacher Credentialing Block Grant, with
the establishment of the local control funding formula (LCFF).

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(i) Although former Teacher Credentialing Block Grant funds
are included in LEAs’ base LCFF funding, some induction
providers have shifted the costs of induction onto teacher
participants, while others have closed their programs altogether.

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(j) According to data collected by the Commission on Teacher
Credentialing, nearly 12 percent of providers are charging
teachers an average of $2,000 per year for induction.

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(k) The large fees place heavy financial burdens on teachers
just starting their careers and put the entire responsibility of
identifying, accessing, and completing a quality induction program
solely on new teachers.

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(l) A new teacher’s inability to access an induction program
compromises that teacher’s professional growth and greatly
reduces the chance that the teacher will stay in the profession.

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(m) This is particularly troubling because enrollment in teacher
preparation programs, and the number of new teaching credentials
being issued, have reduced considerably in recent years.

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(n) In 2013, according to the Commission on Teacher
Credentialing, there were fewer than 20,000 students enrolled in
teacher preparation programs in the state, less than half of the
number that were enrolled in 2008.

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(o) The shortage is expected to worsen within the next 20 years
with projected increases in student enrollment and teacher
retirements.

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(p) Access to high quality induction programs is critical to
addressing the teacher shortage because induction is an important
tool for recruiting and retaining teachers.

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(q) Teacher retention data collected by the Commission on
Teacher Credentialing in 2008 demonstrates the effectiveness of
induction, showing that 87 percent of teachers who participated
in a BTSA program were still teaching five years later.

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(r) The Governor and Legislature recognized induction’s
importance by including $490 million in the 2015-16 Budget Act
for activities that promote educator quality and effectiveness,
including support and mentoring for both beginning teachers and
administrators.

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(s) The 2015-16 Budget Act also directs the Commission on
Teacher Credentialing, by September 1, 2015, to work with
stakeholders to evaluate any burdens of existing induction
requirements and identify funding recommendations, including
state, LEA, and teacher candidate responsibilities.

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(t) The allocation and forthcoming report by the Commission
on Teacher Credentialing provide a great opportunity to protect
and support new teachers by strengthening access and the quality
of induction programs.

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begin delete SECTION 1. end delete
begin insert SEC. 2. end insert   

Section 44259 of the Education Code is amended to
read:

44259.  

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

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

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

(2) Passage of the state basic skills proficiency test that is
developed and administered by the commission pursuant to Section
44252.5.

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

(A) Integrated programs of subject matter preparation and
professional preparation pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section
44259.1.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(iv) Early intervention techniques.

(v) Guided practice in a clinical setting.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(A) (i) A program of beginning teacher induction approved by
the commission and the Superintendent.

(ii) (I) Commencing with hiring for the 2016-17 school year,
and each school year thereafter, begin delete as condition for receiving Part A
of Title II federal funds pursuant to the federal No Child Left
Behind Act of 2001 (20 U.S.C. Sec. 6301 et seq.), end delete a school district,
county office of education, or charter school that hires a beginning
teacher shall provide that beginning teacher with a program of
beginning teacher induction, unless the beginning teacher meets
the requirements of paragraph (3).

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(II) The department shall enforce the condition specified in
subclause (I) in making subgrants to school districts, county offices
of education, and charter schools pursuant to Subpart 2 of Part A
of Title II of the federal No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (20
U.S.C. Sec. 6301 et seq.).

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(II) For purposes of subclause (I), a beginning teacher includes
a teacher with a preliminary multiple or single subject teaching
credential, or a preliminary education specialist credential.

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(iii) A school district, county office of education, or charter
school shall not charge a fee to a beginning teacher to participate
in the beginning teacher induction program.

(B) (i) 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 pursuant to this subdivision.
The standards for alternative programs shall encourage innovation
and experimentation in the continuous preparation and induction
of beginning teachers. An alternative program of beginning teacher
induction that has met state standards pursuant to this subdivision
may apply for state funding pursuant to Sections 44279.1 and
44279.2.

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

(C) (i) 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. The
commission shall ensure that preparation and induction programs
that qualify candidates for professional credentials extend and
refine each beginning teacher’s professional skills in relation to
the California Standards for the Teaching Profession and the
academic content and performance standards for pupils adopted
by the state board pursuant to Section 60605.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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begin insert SEC. 3. end insert   

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

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