BILL ANALYSIS
SB 512
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Date of Hearing: June 17, 2009
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION
Julia Brownley, Chair
SB 512 (Committee on Education) - As Amended: June 1, 2009
SENATE VOTE : 38-0
SUBJECT : Education.
SUMMARY : Makes numerous non-controversial technical corrections
and conforming changes to provisions of the Education Code
related to teacher credentialing. Specifically, this bill :
1)Deletes inaccurate and outdated references to the Commission
on Teacher Preparation and Licensing and replaces those
references with the correct name, the Commission on Teacher
Credentialing (CTC).
2)Includes authorizations in the required elements of the annual
report on teacher supply that the CTC submits to the
Legislature and the Governor.
3)Replaces the outdated term "fifth year of study" with "clear
credential program."
4)Replaces the outdated term "professional clear credential"
with the term "clear credential."
5)Deletes references to commissions, committees and councils
that no longer exist.
EXISTING LAW requires the CTC to annually report to the
Legislature and the Governor on the availability of teachers in
California; and, requires the report, due by April 15 each year,
to include data on the number of credentials and emergency
permits recommended and issued, including on a county by county
and school district basis, the number of individuals serving in
various capacities and the number of individuals serving English
learner pupils without the proper authorization. (Education
Code 44225.6)
FISCAL EFFECT : This bill is keyed non-fiscal.
COMMENTS : This bill is one of the annual Education Code clean
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up bills that makes various non-controversial revisions to
statute. This education omnibus bill corrects errors, resolves
conflicts, and deletes obsolete references that relate to
teacher credentialing.
Teacher Supply Report : Current law specifies that the annual
teacher supply report include data regarding "credentials" and
"certificates." While the language does not specify the
inclusion of various authorizations that may be listed on a
credential (i.e. an authorization to teach English learner
pupils or a supplementary authorization to teach a specific
subject) the practice of the CTC has been to include
authorizations when relevant to the content requirements of the
report. By adding authorizations to the existing documents
specified in law, this bill will conform the required data
elements to current CTC practice and will assure consistency in
data reporting.
Outdated Terminology : This bill revises outdated and confusing
terminology in current law.
"Fifth year of study" - Current law refers to the process of
clearing a preliminary credential and qualifying for the clear
credential by completing a "fifth year of study." Many
teachers, however, have already completed five years of study by
the time they earn a preliminary credential, especially those
who have completed graduate work or who combine a Master's
degree with a teacher preparation program. In addition, SB 2042
(Alpert), Chapter 548, Statutes of 1998, changed the process by
which preliminary credential holders clear their credential.
Beginning teachers now earn the clear credential by completing
an induction program during the first two years of teaching or
by completing specified coursework at a regionally accredited
institution of higher education.
"Professional clear credential" - The term "professional clear"
denotes a credential for which there are professional growth
requirements for renewal. SB 1209 (Scott), Chapter 517,
Statutes of 2006, removed the professional growth requirement
for credential renewal. The term "clear" credential is now the
appropriate and commonly used term.
References to Commissions that No Longer Exist : Current law
requires school districts to grant a leave of absence for
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employees who serve on specified commissions, committees or
councils. This bill deletes from that list, certain commissions
and councils that no longer exist.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION :
Support
None on file.
Opposition
None on file.
Analysis Prepared by : Chelsea Kelley / ED. / (916) 319-2087