BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 163
Page 1
Date of Hearing: March 25, 2015
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION
Patrick O'Donnell, Chair
AB 163
Williams - As Amended March 16, 2015
SUBJECT: Teaching credential: American Indian language-culture
credential
SUMMARY: Establishes the American Indian Culture teaching
credential. Specifically, this bill:
1)Renames the existing "American Indian languages credential" as
the "American Indian language-culture credential."
2)Requires the Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) to
issue an American Indian language-culture credential upon
recommendation by the tribal government of a federally
recognized Indian tribe in California if the following
requirements are met for the American Indian culture
authorization:
a) Demonstrated knowledge in that tribe's culture based on
an assessment developed and administered by that federally
recognized Indian tribe.
b) Successfully completed a criminal background check for
AB 163
Page 2
credentialing purposes.
c) Submitted an application, fee, and recommendation for
the credential to the commission through the federally
recognized Indian tribe.
3)Specifies 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.
4)Specifies 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.
5)Requires each American Indian language-culture credential to
be issued initially for a two-year period and may be renewed
for a three-year period upon recommendation of the tribal
government; and, requires upon completion of the three-year
period, the holder of an American Indian language-culture
credential to 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.
6)Encourages each federally recognized American Indian tribe to
AB 163
Page 3
develop a written and oral assessment that should be
successfully completed before an applicant is recommended for
an American Indian language-culture credential.
7)Specifies that 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.
8)Specifies the assessment should be administered at an
AB 163
Page 4
appropriate location that does not create hardship for members
of the Indian tribe administering the assessment.
9)Requires, upon agreement by the tribe, a tribe recommending a
candidate for an American Indian language-culture credential
to develop and administer a technical assistance program
guided by the California Standards for the Teaching
Profession.
10)Requires, to the extent feasible, the program to be offered
by teachers credentialed in an American Indian language, or
culture, or both, who have three or more years of teaching
experience and specifies 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.
11)Requires public school personnel responsible for evaluating
teachers, in accordance with local governing board policy, to
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.
AB 163
Page 5
12)Requires candidates meeting the requirements of both the
language and culture requirements be granted both the American
Indian language and the American Indian culture
authorizations; and, specifies for a candidate who has already
received an American Indian languages credential before the
effective date of this bill, 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.
13)Makes legislative findings and declarations that teaching
American Indian language and culture is essential to the
proper education of American Indian children and, preserving
American Indian language and culture is an important part of
our national heritage and can be of value to all Americans.
EXISTING LAW requires the CTC to issue an American Indian
languages credential to a candidate who has been recommended by
a tribal government of a federally recognized Indian tribe in
California, if they have completed specified requirements.
FISCAL EFFECT: Unknown
COMMENTS: This bill expands the American Indian languages
credential to include American Indian culture. Under the new
American Indian language-culture credential, applicants can be
AB 163
Page 6
authorized in American Indian language, culture or both.
There are currently at least 109 federally recognized tribes in
California, and under the provisions of this bill, each tribe
would have the authority to create their own assessment system
for their culture. The ability of these tribes to develop their
own assessments is important to maintain the integrity of each
of their differing cultural characteristics.
According to the author, AB 163 builds on the provisions of AB
544 (Coto) from 2009, and allows further alignment with federal
law to ensure that experts in American Indian culture are
allowed to serve as the teacher in this subject area. Over a
century of forced assimilation has made the preservation of
language and culture more difficult, by adding an authorization
in American Indian culture, AB 163 is ensuring that American
Indian culture and traditions are preserved alongside American
Indian languages.
American Indian culture instruction could include various topics
including, but not limited to, art, music dance, beliefs, food,
oral history, traditions and celebrations.
Other State Policies: At least six other states have developed
a teaching credential of American Indian Culture. Those states
include: Alaska, Minnesota, Montana, New Mexico, Washington and
Wisconsin.
At least nineteen other states have developed policies to allow
Native American Language teachers to teach in public schools.
Those states include: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado,
Hawaii, Idaho, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada,
New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota,
Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming. Twelve of these states
AB 163
Page 7
involve tribes either directly or indirectly, in the process of
certifying, licensing, or endorsing the teachers of Native
languages in the state public schools.
Previous Legislation: AB 544 (Coto), Chapter 329 from 2009
required the CTC to issue an American Indian language
credential, upon recommendation of the tribal government of a
federally recognized Indian tribes in California.
Arguments in Support: The Rincon Band of Luiseno Indians
supports the bill and states, "The Rincon Band of Luiseno
Indians believes that educating our youth in our native
language, culture and customs and traditions, is crucial for
native identity and the long-term existence of our tribe as a
politically and culturally distinct people. We work hard to
provide education opportunities for our tribal members and are
proud of the work our elders and teachers provide."
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION:
Support
California Nations Indian Gaming Association
California Teachers Association
Commission on Teacher Credentialing
Ramona Band of Cahuilla
AB 163
Page 8
Rincon Band of Luiseno Indians
San Manuel Band of Mission Indians
Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians
Tribal Alliance of Sovereign Indian Nations
Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation
Opposition
None on file.
Analysis Prepared by:Chelsea Kelley / ED. / (916) 319-2087
AB 163
Page 9