BILL NUMBER: AB 163	ENROLLED
	BILL TEXT

	PASSED THE SENATE  JUNE 25, 2015
	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY  APRIL 23, 2015
	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, Williams. Teaching credential: American Indian
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
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 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 language-culture credential with an American
Indian language authorization, American Indian culture authorization,
or both, as provided.



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 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 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 language-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 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
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 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 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, 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 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
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
languages credential before the effective date of this section, the
tribe that recommended the candidate for the American Indian
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 language and culture is essential to
the proper education of American Indian children.
   (b) Preserving American Indian language and culture is an
important part of our national heritage and can be of value to all
Americans.