BILL ANALYSIS
AB 1374
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Date of Hearing: January 13, 2010
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION
Julia Brownley, Chair
AB 1374 (Brownley) - As Amended: January 4, 2010
SUBJECT : Adult education: teaching credentials.
SUMMARY : Streamlines requirements for the Preliminary and
Clear designated subjects adult education teaching credential
(DSAE). Specifically, this bill :
1)Specifies the minimum requirements for the three-year
Preliminary DSAE credential to be the following:
a) For nonacademic subjects:
i) Three years of recent experience in the subject
named on the credential; and,
ii) Possession of a high school diploma or passage
of an equivalency examination designated by the
Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC).
b) For academic subjects:
i) A baccalaureate or higher degree from an accredited
institution of higher education that includes a minimum
of 20 semester units, or the equivalent quarter units, of
coursework in the subject named on the credential; and,
ii) Passage of the state basic skills requirement,
as specified.
c) Satisfaction of the requirements for teacher fitness
(finger print clearance and criminal background check).
2)Specifies the minimum requirements for the five-year Clear
DSAE credential to be all of the following:
a) A valid-three year Preliminary DSAE teaching credential;
b) Two years of successful teaching as authorized by the
Preliminary DSAE credential;
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c) Completion of a program of personalized preparation as
approved by the CTC;
d) Completion of two semester units or passage of an
examination on the principles and provisions of the United
States Constitution; and,
e) Completion of a program of study in health education and
computer technology.
3)Makes conforming changes to delete duplicative code sections
and language.
EXISTING LAW :
1)Establishes the minimum requirements for the Preliminary DSAE
teaching credential to be the following:
a) Five years or the equivalent of recent experience in the
subject named on the credential;
b) Possession of a high school diploma or passage of an
equivalency examination designated by the CTC;
c) The completion of two semester units or passage of an
examination on the principles and provisions of the United
States Constitution; and,
d) The passage of a basic reading, writing and math exam.
2)Specifies the following requirements for the renewal of the
DSAE credential:
a) A valid Preliminary DSAE teaching credential;
b) Two years of successful teaching as authorized by the
credential;
c) Completion of a program of personalized preparation as
approved by the CTC;
d) Completion of a program of study in health education;
and,
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e) Completion of a program of study in computer-based
technology.
FISCAL EFFECT : According to the CTC, this bill has no fiscal
impact to the Commission.
COMMENTS : Background : According to the CTC, the adult education
teaching credential authorizes an individual to teach the
subject(s) named on the credential in courses organized
primarily for adults. Adult education credentials are currently
divided into those that authorize the individual to teach
academic subjects-those designed to support adults preparing to
take and pass the General Equivalency Diploma examination (GED)
and develop English language skills-and non-academic
subjects-such as nutrition, parenting education, and career
technical education (CTE) courses.
Adult education schools and courses are offered through most
public schools and receive public funds for their operations.
Over one and a half million adults are currently served in adult
education programs in California. A large percentage of those
adults attending adult education programs are English language
learners. Adults with disabilities also rely on these programs
for basic living skills and recreational support. In addition,
students who exit high schools early without graduating depend
on these programs to help them pass the GED, learn job skills,
and manage their lives more effectively.
Process for Revising the DSAE : In April 2008, the CTC recruited
an expert advisory panel to review the credential requirements
and the Standards of Quality and Effectiveness for Designated
Subjects Adult Education Programs in order to update those
standards. The panel reviewed a collection of resources and
research related to adult education including the recently
adopted Designated Subjects Career Technical Education (DSCTE)
Program Standards (2008) and made recommendations that revise
the DSAE as outlined in this bill. Many of the updates to the
DSAE are aligned with updates made to the DSCTE in 2008 through
the passage of SB 1104 (Scott), Chapter 576, Statutes of 2008.
By reducing the experience requirement for the Preliminary DSAE
credential from five years to three years and by moving the U.S.
Constitution requirement into the Clear credential, this bill
could make it easier for candidates to become adult education
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teachers. In consolidating the statutory requirements for the
Preliminary DSAE credential and those for the Clear DSAE
credential, this bill creates a two-tiered credential structure
for the DSAE credential that parallels the structure of other
teaching credentials, such as Preliminary and Clear Single
Subject teaching credentials. Additionally, minor technical
revisions are proposed to provide general clean up and promote
greater clarity within the section. These revisions include
references to the basic skills, health education, technology,
and professional fitness requirements.
Over time, the Legislature has established separate requirements
for the issuance of Preliminary DSAE teaching credentials and,
unlike other credentials, specifies additional requirements for
the renewal of these credentials under specified circumstances.
A separate code section (Education Code Section 44260.8), added
at a later time, requires the study of health education and
computer technology in order to earn a Clear designated subjects
credential in adult education and establishes the study of
health education as a requirement for any Clear designated
subject credential. This bill attempts to streamline and
clarify the Education Code sections related to the DSAE
credential by consolidating all the requirements for each type
of credential into its own Education Code section.
The CTC is sponsoring the bill and argues, "The revisions
recommended by AB 1374 are intended to increase the flow of
program participants into Adult Education credential preparation
programs and improve the quality of training participants
receive. Many of the revisions recommended in AB 1374 are
aligned with those made to the Career Technical Education
credential and provide an overall continuity to the Designated
Subject credentials section of the Education Code."
Previous Legislation : SB 1104 (Scott), Chapter 576, Statutes of
2008, revised the DSCTE teaching credential to reflect the
recommendations of the CTC advisory panel.
Committee Amendment : Committee staff recommends the following
typographical correction to the bill: On page 2, line 3, delete
"primary" and replace that term with "preliminary."
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION :
AB 1374
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Support
Commission on Teacher Credentialing (Sponsor)
Opposition
None on file.
Analysis Prepared by : Chelsea Kelley / ED. / (916) 319-2087