BILL NUMBER: AB 1853 AMENDED
BILL TEXT
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MAY 25, 2012
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY APRIL 19, 2012
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MARCH 29, 2012
INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Bonilla
FEBRUARY 22, 2012
An act to add Section 44255 to the Education Code, relating to
teacher credentialing.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 1853, as amended, Bonilla. Teacher credentialing: recognition
of study in transitional kindergarten.
Existing law requires the Commission on Teacher Credentialing to
establish standards and to determine the terms for the issuance and
renewal of teaching credentials, certificates, and permits, as
specified.
This bill would authorize the commission to convene a workgroup
consisting of specified members to develop program standards for the
issuance of a recognition of study in transitional kindergarten, as
defined, for holders of a multiple subject teaching credential who
will be teaching pupils enrolled in transitional kindergarten, as
defined, and would authorize the commission to add a recognition of
study in transitional kindergarten to the multiple subject teaching
credential of a teacher who meets the established standards. The bill
would authorize the commission to work with the Superintendent of
Public Instruction to gather and post, on an appropriate Internet Web
site, best practices from school districts and schools on curriculum
development and professional development relating to implementing
and sustaining transitional kindergarten programs. The bill also
would provide that the holder of a multiple subject teaching
credential who has received a recognition of study in transitional
kindergarten is not authorized to teach English learners, except as
specified, and that a recognition of study in transitional
kindergarten is not considered a type of authorization, cannot be
used as a condition of employment, does not replace subject matter
competence requirements, and cannot be used in making employment
decisions relating to reductions in employee positions.
The bill would require the commission to use private funds to
support the development of the recognition of study in transitional
kindergarten and would prohibit the use of General Fund moneys for
this purpose. The bill would further prohibit the implementation of
these provisions unless the commission certifies that it has received
private funding to complete the development of the recognition of
study in transitional kindergarten.
Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. Section 44255 is added to the Education Code, to read:
44255. (a) For purposes of this section, the following
definitions shall apply:
(1) "Recognition of study in transitional kindergarten" is a
statement added to a multiple subject teaching credential to indicate
that the holder of a multiple subject teaching credential
has completed a commission-approved program in transitional
kindergarten teaching methods that can be applied to the academic
instruction authorized by his or her credential. A recognition of
study in a transitional kindergarten teacher preparation program may
be offered as part of an initial teacher preparation program or as a
separate program for teachers who possess a valid multiple subject
teaching credential.
(2) "Transitional kindergarten" means the first year of a two-year
kindergarten program that uses a modified kindergarten curriculum
that is age and developmentally appropriate, as defined in
subdivision (d) of Section 48000.
(b) The commission may convene a workgroup to develop program
standards for the issuance of a recognition of study in transitional
kindergarten for holders of a multiple subject teaching credential
who will be teaching pupils enrolled in transitional kindergarten
pursuant to Section 48000. The workgroup shall include, but not be
limited to, all of the following:
(1) The Superintendent or his or her representative.
(2) Representatives from approved teacher preparation programs,
including at least one representative from the California Community
Colleges, the California State University, the University of
California, and the Association of Independent California Colleges
and Universities. To the extent practicable, the representatives
described in this paragraph should have an academic interest or prior
experience in preparing teachers to teach pupils in transitional
kindergarten.
(3) A researcher from a higher education institution who has
experience in early pupil learning.
(4) A representative from a school district, a county office of
education, or a charter school that has implemented a program for
transitional kindergarten.
(5) A transitional kindergarten teacher who has experience
teaching pupils in kindergarten.
(6) A teacher who is currently teaching pupils in transitional
kindergarten.
(7) A representative of other organizations deemed appropriate by
the commission.
(8) A parent representative.
(c) The commission may add a recognition of study in transitional
kindergarten to the multiple subject teaching credential of a teacher
who meets the standards established pursuant to this section.
(d) It is the intent of the Legislature that a successful
candidate for a recognition of study in transitional kindergarten be
able to demonstrate appropriate knowledge, as determined by the
commission , based on the recommendations of the workgroup
convened pursuant to subdivision (b).
(e) With respect to a recognition of study in transitional
kindergarten, the California State University and other teacher
preparation institutions are encouraged to establish goals to
increase the number of teachers participating in transitional
kindergarten preparation programs.
(f) Beginning teacher support and assessment programs are
encouraged to provide appropriate support, mentoring, and assistance
to beginning teachers who teach pupils in transitional kindergarten.
(g) The commission may work with the Superintendent to gather and
post, on an appropriate Internet Web site, best practices from school
districts and schools on curriculum development and professional
development relating to implementing and sustaining transitional
kindergarten programs.
(h) The commission shall use private funds to support the
development of the recognition of study in transitional kindergarten
as described in this section. General Fund moneys shall not be used
for this purpose.
(h)
(i) The holder of a multiple subject teaching
credential who has received a recognition of study in transitional
kindergarten pursuant to subdivision (c) is not authorized to teach
English learners unless he or she holds an appropriate authorization
or is employed on the basis of a local assignment option.
(i)
(j) A recognition of study in transitional kindergarten
shall not be considered a type of authorization, shall not be used
as a condition of employment, shall not replace a subject matter
competence requirement, and shall not be used in making employment
decisions pursuant to Section 44955.
(k) This section shall not be implemented unless the commission
certifies that it has received private funding pursuant to
subdivision (h) to complete the development of the recognition of
study in transitional kindergarten.