BILL NUMBER: AB 163 AMENDED
BILL TEXT
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MARCH 16, 2015
INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Williams
( Principal coauthor: Assembly Member
Alejo )
( Coauthors: Assembly Members
Bigelow, Eduardo Garcia, Roger Hernández,
Linder, and Wilk )
JANUARY 21, 2015
An act to amend Section 44262.5 of the Education Code, and to
amend Section 1 of Chapter 324 of the Statutes of 2009, relating to
teacher credentialing.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 163, as amended, Williams. Teaching credential: American Indian
languages-culture language-culture
credential.
Existing law authorizes the Commission on Teacher Credentialing,
among other things, to establish professional standards, assessments,
and examinations for entry and advancement in the education
profession. Existing law requires the commission, upon recommendation
by a tribal government of a federally recognized Indian tribe in
California, to issue an American Indian languages credential to a
candidate who has demonstrated fluency in that tribal language and
met other requirements.
This bill would instead require the commission, upon
recommendation by a tribal government of a federally recognized
Indian tribe in California, to issue an American Indian
languages-culture language-culture credential
with an American Indian language authorization, or an American Indian
culture authorization, or both, to a candidate who has met specified
requirements. The bill would authorize the holder of an American
Indian languages-culture language-culture
credential to teach the American Indian language, or culture,
or both, for which the credential was issued in California public
schools in preschool, kindergarten, grades 1 to 12, inclusive, and in
adult education courses, and would make the holder of that
credential eligible for a clear teaching credential after 5 years,
upon application and the recommendation of the tribal government, as
specified. The bill would encourage each federally recognized
American Indian tribe to develop a written and oral assessment that
should be successfully completed before an applicant is recommended
for an American Indian languages-culture
language-culture credential with an American Indian language
authorization, American Indian culture authorization, or both, as
provided.
Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. Section 44262.5 of the Education Code is amended to
read:
44262.5. (a) Upon recommendation of the tribal government of a
federally recognized Indian tribe in California, the commission shall
issue an American Indian languages-culture
language-culture credential to a candidate who has met the
following requirements:
(1) (A) For the American Indian language authorization,
demonstrated fluency in that tribe's language based on an assessment
developed and administered by that federally recognized Indian tribe
pursuant to subdivision (e).
(B) For the American Indian culture authorization, demonstrated
knowledge in that tribe's culture based on an assessment developed
and administered by that federally recognized Indian tribe pursuant
to subdivision (e).
(C) Candidates meeting the requirements of both subparagraphs (A)
and (B) shall be granted both the American Indian language and the
American Indian culture authorizations.
(2) Successfully completed a criminal background check conducted
under Sections 44339, 44340, and 44341 for credentialing purposes.
(3) Submitted an application, fee, and recommendation for the
credential to the commission through the federally recognized Indian
tribe.
(b) The American Indian languages-culture
language-culture credential shall authorize the holder to teach
the American Indian language, or culture, or both, for which the
credential was issued in California public schools in preschool,
kindergarten, grades 1 to 12, inclusive, and in adult education
courses.
(c) The holder of an American Indian languages-culture
languag e-culture credential who does
not also have a valid teaching credential issued by the State of
California shall not teach in a public school, including a charter
school, any subject other than the American Indian language, or
culture, or both, for which he or she is credentialed.
(d) Each American Indian languages-culture
language-culture credential shall be issued initially for a
two-year period and may be renewed for a three-year period upon
recommendation of the tribal government. Upon completion of the
three-year period, the holder of an American Indian
languages-culture language-culture credential
shall be eligible for a clear teaching credential for that language
upon application and the recommendation of the tribal government, in
consultation with the applicant's public school employer.
(e) (1) Each federally recognized American Indian tribe is
encouraged to develop a written and oral assessment that should be
successfully completed before an applicant is recommended for an
American Indian languages-culture
language-culture credential.
(2) In developing the language assessment, an Indian tribe should
determine all of the following:
(A) Which dialects of the tribal language will be included in the
assessment.
(B) Whether the Indian tribe will standardize its writing system.
(C) The standard of knowledge and fluency required to qualify for
an American Indian languages language
authorization in that tribal language.
(D) Standards for effective teaching methods to be evaluated in
the classroom.
(3) In developing the culture assessment, an Indian tribe should
determine all of the following:
(A) The candidate's understanding of the tribe's culture and its
practices, including, but not limited to, rituals
ceremonies and traditions, social institutions and
relationships, holidays and festivals, health practices and
traditions, patterns of work and leisure, and culinary traditions and
practices.
(B) The standard of knowledge required to qualify for an American
Indian culture authorization in that tribal culture.
(C) Standards for effective teaching methods to be evaluated in
the classroom.
(4) The assessment should be administered at an appropriate
location that does not create hardship for members of the Indian
tribe administering the assessment.
(f) Upon agreement by the tribe, a tribe recommending a candidate
for an American Indian languages-culture
language-culture credential shall develop and administer a
technical assistance program guided by the California Standards for
the Teaching Profession. To the extent feasible, the program shall be
offered by teachers credentialed in an American Indian language, or
culture, or both, who have three or more years of teaching
experience. The technical assistance program may consist of direct
classroom observation and consultation, assistance in instructional
planning and preparation, support in implementation and delivery of
classroom instruction, and other assistance intended to enhance the
professional performance and development of the teacher of an
American Indian language, or culture, or both.
(g) Public school personnel responsible for evaluating teachers,
in accordance with local governing board policy, shall provide
individuals employed to teach on the basis of the American Indian
languages-culture language-culture
credential with information on the teaching personnel evaluation
process and the California Standards for the Teaching Profession.
(h) For a candidate who has already received an American Indian
language languages credential before
the effective date of this section, the tribe that recommended the
candidate for the American Indian language
languages credential shall determine if the candidate may add
the American Indian culture authorization to the preexisting
languages credential, or if the candidate must reapply for the
American Indian culture authorization as a new initial credential
pursuant to subdivision (a).
SEC. 2. Section 1 of Chapter 324 of the Statutes of 2009 is
amended to read:
Section 1. The Legislature finds and declares the following:
(a) Teaching American Indian languages
language and culture is essential to the proper education of
American Indian children.
(b) Preserving American Indian languages
language and culture is an important part of our national
heritage and can be of value to all Americans.