BILL ANALYSIS �
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|SENATE RULES COMMITTEE | AB 1853|
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THIRD READING
Bill No: AB 1853
Author: Bonilla (D)
Amended: 7/5/12 in Senate
Vote: 21
SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE : 7-2, 6/20/12
AYES: Lowenthal, Alquist, Hancock, Liu, Price, Simitian,
Vargas
NOES: Blakeslee, Huff
NO VOTE RECORDED: Runner, Vacancy
SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE : Senate Rule 28.8
ASSEMBLY FLOOR : 56-21, 5/30/12 - See last page for vote
SUBJECT : Teacher credentialing: recognition of study in
transitional
kindergarten
SOURCE : Preschool California
DIGEST : This bill authorizes the Commission on Teacher
Credentialing to 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
a transitional kindergarten program.
ANALYSIS : Existing law defines transitional kindergarten
(TK) as the first year of a two-year kindergarten program
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that uses a modified kindergarten curriculum that is age
and developmentally appropriate.
Existing law establishes the Commission on Teacher
Credentialing (CTC) and vests the CTC with the power and
duty to, among other things, establish professional
standards, assessments, and examinations for entry and
advancement in the education profession.
Existing law authorizes the CTC to issue the Multiple
Subject Teaching Credential and defines multiple subject
instruction to mean the practice of assignment of teachers
and students for multiple subject matter instruction, as is
commonly practiced in California elementary schools.
This bill:
1.Defines "Recognition of study in transitional
kindergarten" as a statement added to a multiple subject
teaching credential to indicate that the holder 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.
Authorizes a recognition of study in a transitional
kindergarten teacher preparation program to be offered as
part of an initial credential program or as a separate
program for teachers who possess a valid multiple subject
teaching credential.
2.Defines transitional kindergarten pursuant to the
existing definition.
3.Authorizes the CTC to convene a workgroup to develop
program standards for the issuance of a recognition of
study in TK for holders of a multiple subject teaching
credential who will be teaching pupils enrolled in a TK
program. Specifies the membership of the workgroup to
include:
A. The Superintendent of Public Instruction or his or
her representative.
B. CTC-approved teacher preparation programs from the
CSU, UC, and independent institutions of higher
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education, as specified.
C. A researcher from a higher education institution
who has experience in early pupil learning.
D. A representative from a school district, county
office of education, or a charter school that has
implemented a TK program.
E. A TK teacher who has experience teaching pupils in
kindergarten.
F. A practicing TK teacher.
G. A representative of other organizations deemed
appropriate by the CTC.
H. A parent representative.
1.Authorizes the CTC to add a recognition of study in TK to
the multiple subject teaching credential of a teacher who
meets the established standards.
2.Expresses the intent of the Legislature that a successful
candidate for a recognition of study in TK be able to
demonstrate appropriate knowledge, as determined by the
commission, based on the recommendation of the workgroup
convened pursuant to subdivision (b).
3.Encourages the CSU and other teacher preparation
institutions to establish goals to increase the number of
teachers participating in TK preparation programs.
4.Encourages Beginning Teacher Support and Assessment
(BTSA) programs to provide appropriate support,
mentoring, and assistance to beginning teachers who teach
pupils in TK.
5.Authorizes the CTC to 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 TK programs.
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6.Requires the CTC to use private funds to support the
advisory panel on teacher leadership and specifically
prohibits General Fund moneys from being used for
purposes of the panel. Further specifies that the
workgroup shall be convened only after the Department of
Finance determines that private funds are sufficient to
fully support the activities of the workgroup.
7. Specifies that a recognition of study does not
authorize a holder to teach English learners and
specifies that the recognition of study 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.
Comments
According to the Senate Education Committee analysis, while
an argument could be made that teachers, as part of the
training they receive for their teaching credential, learn
how to differentiate instruction to meet individual pupil
needs, the CTC notes that "Educators and employing school
districts have communicated their desire for additional
development and support in developing TK curriculum and
instruction techniques." The CTC also states "The
recognition of study will allow teacher preparation
programs the option of preparing multiple subject teachers
to meet local school needs without restricting employment
opportunities."
The Kindergarten Readiness Act, SB 1381 (Simitian), Chapter
701, Statutes of 2010, moved the kindergarten start date
back from December 2 to September 1 over a three-year
period. Beginning in the 2014-15 school year, the
kindergarten start date will be September 1. Chapter 701
also required, commencing with the 2012-13 school year, a
child who would otherwise be eligible for enrollment in
kindergarten to be admitted to a TK program maintained by a
school district.
State Budget . The Governor's budget proposal eliminates
the TK program established pursuant to SB 1381, although
does not eliminate the changes to the kindergarten start
date. Both the Assembly and Senate Budget Subcommittees
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rejected the Governor's budget proposal.
FISCAL EFFECT : Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: Yes
Local: No
SUPPORT : (Verified 7/5/12)
Preschool California (source)
Advancement Project
Association of California School Administrators
Bay Area Council
California Federation of Teachers
California School Boards Association
California State PTA
California State University
Children Now
Commission on Teacher Credentialing
Fight Crime: Invest in Kids California
First 5 Santa Clara County
Sacramento City Unified School District
United Ways of California
ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT : According to the author's office,
while the Kindergarten Readiness Act provided for
transitional kindergarten and calls for an age and
developmentally appropriate curriculum, no new formal
opportunities were created or are currently available to
prepare teachers to deliver that curriculum to the four
year olds and "young fives" who would be enrolled in the
program. With a number of districts already offering a TK
program and more than 200 others moving forward with
implementing a program, supporters maintain teachers in
these programs should be prepared to deliver the age and
developmentally appropriate curriculum that will ensure
that TK students are ready to learn by the time they enter
kindergarten. By setting standards for a recognition of
study in transitional kindergarten, the author hopes AB
1853 will enable the Commission to create a uniform
framework for a sequenced course of study for current and
future TK teachers.
ASSEMBLY FLOOR : 56-21, 5/30/12
AYES: Achadjian, Alejo, Allen, Ammiano, Atkins, Beall,
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Block, Blumenfield, Bonilla, Bradford, Brownley,
Buchanan, Butler, Charles Calderon, Campos, Carter,
Cedillo, Chesbro, Davis, Dickinson, Eng, Feuer, Fong,
Fuentes, Furutani, Galgiani, Gatto, Gordon, Hall,
Hayashi, Roger Hern�ndez, Hill, Huber, Hueso, Huffman,
Lara, Bonnie Lowenthal, Ma, Mendoza, Miller, Mitchell,
Monning, Olsen, Pan, Perea, V. Manuel P�rez, Portantino,
Skinner, Smyth, Solorio, Swanson, Torres, Wieckowski,
Williams, Yamada, John A. P�rez
NOES: Bill Berryhill, Conway, Cook, Donnelly, Beth Gaines,
Garrick, Grove, Hagman, Halderman, Harkey, Jeffries,
Jones, Knight, Logue, Mansoor, Morrell, Nestande,
Nielsen, Norby, Silva, Wagner
NO VOTE RECORDED: Fletcher, Gorell, Valadao
PQ:n 7/5/12 Senate Floor Analyses
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: SEE ABOVE
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