BILL NUMBER: AB 1282	CHAPTERED  10/10/99

	CHAPTER   704
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE   OCTOBER 10, 1999
	APPROVED BY GOVERNOR   OCTOBER 6, 1999
	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY   SEPTEMBER 9, 1999
	PASSED THE SENATE   SEPTEMBER 8, 1999
	AMENDED IN SENATE   SEPTEMBER 2, 1999
	AMENDED IN SENATE   JUNE 28, 1999
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY   APRIL 27, 1999

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Jackson

                        FEBRUARY 26, 1999

   An act to amend Section 44252.5 of, and to add Section 44252.9 to,
the Education Code, relating to teacher credentialing.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 1282, Jackson.  Teacher credentialing.
   Existing law requires the Commission on Teacher Credentialing to
establish standards and procedures for the initial issuance and
renewal of teacher credentials.  Existing law requires the
Superintendent of Public Instruction to adopt an appropriate state
test to measure proficiency in certain basic skills, and requires
each applicant to an approved credential program unless otherwise
exempted, to take the state basic skills proficiency test.  Existing
law requires the commission to establish the amount of the fee
charged to individuals being tested not to exceed $30 in the 1982-83
fiscal year, $35 in the 1983-84 fiscal year, and $40 in subsequent
fiscal years.
   This bill would provide that subsequent to January 1, 2002, the
fee shall be set by the commission to recover the costs of
examination administration and development, unless the costs are
recovered by appropriations from another source of funds.  The bill
would require the commission to make improvements to increase access
to the state basic skills proficiency test and to improve
exam-related services provided to candidates for teaching
credentials.  This bill would require the commission to adopt these
improvements in consultation with the Department of Finance and to
report all improvements to the Legislature.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:


  SECTION 1.  Section 44252.5 of the Education Code is amended to
read:
   44252.5.  (a) The commission shall administer the state basic
skills proficiency test pursuant to Sections 44227, 44252, and 44830
in accordance with rules and regulations adopted by the commission.
The adopted rules and regulations shall be promulgated by the
commission before January 1, 1983, and shall be exempt from the
requirements of Section 44232.  A fee shall be charged to individuals
being tested to cover the costs of the test, including the costs of
developing, administering, and grading the test.  The commission
shall establish the amount of this fee.  However, the fee shall not
exceed thirty dollars ($30) in the 1982-83 fiscal year, thirty-five
dollars ($35) in the 1983-84 fiscal year, and forty dollars ($40) for
the 1984-85 fiscal year to January 1, 2002.  Subsequent to January
1, 2002, the amount of the fee shall be established by the commission
to recover the cost of examination administration and development
pursuant to Section 44235.3.
   (b) The commission may enter into agreements with other states
permitting the use of the state basic skills proficiency test as a
requirement for the issuance of credentials or for teacher
preparation program admission in those other states, provided that
the use would advance the interests of the State of California and
that the other states reimburse the Teacher Credentials Fund for a
proportionate share of costs of the development and administration of
the test.
   (c) Any individual who passes the state basic skills proficiency
test, as adopted by the Superintendent of Public Instruction, shall
be considered proficient in the skills of reading, writing, and
mathematics, and shall not be required to be retested by this test
for purposes of meeting the proficiency requirements of Sections
44227, 44252, and 44830.
   (d) Any individual who passes one or more components of the state
basic skills proficiency test in the subjects of basic reading,
writing, or mathematics, shall be deemed to have demonstrated his or
her proficiency in these subject areas and shall not be required to
be retested in these subjects during subsequent test administrations.

  SEC. 2.  Section 44252.9 is added to the Education Code, to read:
   44252.9.  (a) The Legislature finds and declares that the
effective education of pupils in kindergarten and grades 1 to 12,
inclusive, depends substantially on the academic skills, content
competence, and pedagogical preparation of classroom teachers.  It is
essential that the ongoing administration of the state basic skills
proficiency exam for teachers be carried out at all times by a
competent contractor who adheres to high standards using sound,
effective, and defensible assessment procedures.  The administration
of this exam is jeopardized by the increasing costs of the exam and
statutory restrictions that remain in effect.  To preserve and
strengthen the screening of teacher candidates in relation to their
basic academic skills, the Legislature intends to maintain the state
examination that is administered by the commission pursuant to
Section 44252.5, and to support needed improvements in exam-related
services to teaching credential candidates.
   (b) The commission shall make improvements to increase access to
the state basic skills proficiency test, and shall improve
exam-related services provided to candidates for teaching
credentials, which may include, but are not limited to, the
following:
   (1) Administering the test more frequently.
   (2) Increasing the number of testing locations.
   (3) Making the exam available year-round by appointment at
examination centers that are highly secure and professionally
supervised.
   (c) The commission shall adopt these improvements in consultation
with the Department of Finance and shall report all improvements to
the Legislature.