Amended in Assembly March 18, 2016

California Legislature—2015–16 Regular Session

Assembly Bill No. 2706

Introduced by Assembly Member Wilk

February 19, 2016

An act to begin delete amend Section 44274.2 of end delete begin insert add Section 33133.7 to end insert the Education Code, relating to begin delete teachers. end delete begin insert teachers, and making an appropriation therefor. end insert

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

AB 2706, as amended, Wilk. Teachers: begin delete credentialing. end delete begin insert education technology and digital resources training pilot program. end insert

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(1) Existing law establishes a system of public elementary and secondary schools in this state, and authorizes local educational agencies throughout the state to operate schools and provide instruction to pupils in kindergarten and grades 1 to 12, inclusive.

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This bill would appropriate, without regard to fiscal years, $2,000,000 from the General Fund to the Superintendent of Public Instruction to be allocated to specified local educational agencies for the purpose of implementing a pilot program to train teachers teaching kindergarten or any of grades 1 to 12, inclusive, to more effectively utilize technology and digital resources within their instructional day, while also measuring and teaching the critical 21st century skills pupils need to succeed on California’s next-generation online assessments, as well as to prepare pupils for college and career objectives, thereby making an appropriation.

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The bill would require the Superintendent to develop an application process for the allocation of funds appropriated for the implementation of the pilot program that gives priority to applicant local educational agencies that serve a large percentage of pupils eligible for free or reduced-price meals. The bill would authorize any local educational agency in the state to apply to the Superintendent for funding to implement the pilot program, as specified. The bill would specify topics to be included in the training provided to teachers and pupils participating in the pilot program.

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(2) Funds appropriated by this bill would be applied toward the minimum funding requirements for school districts and community college districts imposed by Section 8 of Article XVI of the California Constitution.

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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.

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

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

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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begin insert Section 33133.7 is added to the end insert begin insert Education Code end insert begin insert ,
to read: end insert

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begin insert 33133.7. end insert   

(a) Notwithstanding any other law, two million
dollars ($2,000,000) shall be appropriated, without regard to
fiscal years, from the General Fund to the Superintendent to be
allocated to local educational agencies that apply for the purpose
of implementing a pilot program to train teachers who teach
kindergarten or any of grades 1 to 12, inclusive, to more effectively
use technology and digital resources within their instructional
day, while also measuring and teaching the critical 21st century
skills pupils need to succeed on California’s next-generation online
assessments, as well as to prepare pupils for college and career
objectives.

(b) (1) The Superintendent shall develop an application process
for the allocation of funds appropriated pursuant to subdivision
(a) that gives priority to applicant local educational agencies that
serve a large percentage of pupils eligible for free or reduced-price
meals.

(2) Any local educational agency in the state may apply for
funding from the Superintendent to implement the pilot program
described in subdivision (a), and subject to the requirements of
subdivision (c).

(c) The pilot program shall include both of the following:

(1) A focus on teachers who work with underserved populations.

(2) (A) An emphasis on enhancing the ability of participants
to measure 21st century skills of teachers and pupils using the
international standards defined by the International Society for
Technology in Education.

(B) The skills to be measured and enhanced for teachers
pursuant to this paragraph shall include, but not necessarily be
limited to, all of the following:

(i) Facilitation and inspiration of pupil learning and creativity.

(ii) Design and development of digital age learning experiences
and assessments.

(iii) Modeling of digital age work and learning.

(iv) Promotion and modeling of digital citizenship and
responsibility.

(v) Engagement in professional growth and leadership.

(C) The skills to be measured and enhanced for pupils pursuant
to this paragraph shall include, but not necessarily be limited to,
all of the following:

(i) Creativity and innovation.

(ii) Communication and collaboration.

(iii) Research and information fluency.

(iv) Critical thinking and problem solving.

(v) Digital citizenship.

(vi) Technology operations and concepts.

(d) The pilot program shall include training and professional
development for teachers to assist them to effectively personalize
digital literacy instruction for their pupils.

(e) The pupils participating in the pilot program shall receive
digital literacy instruction that will enhance the skills these pupils
need to succeed in elementary or secondary school, postsecondary
education, and careers.

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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 on 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 done one of the following:

(A) Completed 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 commission.

(B) Earned 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.

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