California Legislature—2015–16 Regular Session

Assembly Bill No. 2706

Introduced by Assembly Member Wilk

February 19, 2016

An act to amend Section 44274.2 of the Education Code, relating to teachers.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

AB 2706, as introduced, Wilk. Teachers: credentialing.

Existing law requires the Commission on Teacher Credentialing to issue a 5-year preliminary multiple subject teaching credential authorizing instruction in a self-contained classroom, a 5-year preliminary single subject teaching credential authorizing instruction in departmentalized classes, or a 5-year preliminary education specialist credential authorizing instruction of special education pupils to an out-of-state prepared teacher who meets specified requirements, including that the teacher possess a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher education.

This bill would make nonsubstantive changes to those provisions and other related provisions.

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

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

SECTION 1.  

Section 44274.2 of the Education Code is
amended to read:

44274.2.  

(a) Notwithstanding any provision of this chapter,
the commission shall issue a five-year preliminary multiple subject
teaching credential authorizing instruction in a self-contained
classroom, a five-year preliminary single subject teaching
credential authorizing instruction in departmentalized classes, or
a five-year preliminary education specialist credential authorizing
instruction of special education pupils to an out-of-state prepared
teacher who meets all of the following requirements:

(1) Possesses a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited
institution of higher education.

(2) Has completed a teacher preparation program at a regionally
accredited institution of higher education, or a state-approved
teacher preparation program offered by a local educational agency.

(3) Meets the subject matter knowledge requirements for the
credential. If the subject area listed on the out-of-state credential
does not correspond to a California subject area, as specified in
Sections 44257 and 44282, the commission may require the
applicant to meet California subject matter requirements before
issuing a clear credential.

(4) Has earned a valid corresponding elementary, secondary,
or special education teaching credential based begin delete upon end delete begin insert on end insert the
out-of-state teacher preparation program. For the education
specialist credential, the commission shall determine the area of
concentration based on the special education program completed
out of state.

(5) Has successfully completed a criminal background check
conducted under Sections 44339, 44340, and 44341 for
credentialing purposes.

(b) The holder of a credential issued pursuant to this section
shall meet the state basic skills proficiency requirement set forth
in Section 44252 within one year of the date the credential is issued
or the credential shall become invalid.

(c) The commission shall issue a clear multiple subject, single
subject, or education specialist teaching credential to an applicant
who satisfies the requirements of subdivision (a), provides
verification of two or more years of teaching experience, including,
but not limited to, two satisfactory performance evaluations, and
documents, in a manner prescribed by the commission, that he or
she fulfills each of the following requirements:

(1) The applicant has begin delete completed end delete begin insert done one of the following: end insert

begin insert (A) end insert begin insert   end insert begin insert Completed end insert 150 clock hours of activities that contribute to
his or her competence, performance, and effectiveness in the
education profession, and that assist the applicant in meeting or
exceeding standards for professional preparation established by
the begin delete commission, or the applicant has earned end delete begin insert commission. end insert

begin insert (B) end insert begin insert   end insert begin insert Earned end insert a master’s degree or higher in a field related to the
credential, or the equivalent semester units, from a regionally
accredited institution of higher education.

(2) The applicant has met the state requirements for teaching
English learners including, but not limited to, the requirements in
Section 44253.3.

(d) For applicants who do not meet the experience requirement
described in subdivision (c), the commission shall issue a clear
multiple subject, single subject, or education specialist teaching
credential upon verification of the following requirements:

(1) The commission has issued to the applicant a preliminary
five-year teaching credential pursuant to subdivision (a). However,
an out-of-state prepared applicant in both special education and
general education, who has earned a clear California education
specialist credential, shall be granted a clear multiple subject or
clear single subject teaching credential without first holding a
preliminary multiple subject or single subject teaching credential,
unless the commission determines that the applicant does not meet
the other requirements of this subdivision.

(2) The applicant has completed a beginning teacher induction
program pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (c) of Section
44259.

(3) The applicant has met the requirements for teaching English
learners, including, but not limited to, the requirements in Section
44253.3.

(4) Before issuing an education specialist credential under this
subdivision, the commission shall verify completion of a program
for the Professional Level II credential accredited by the
commission.