BILL ANALYSIS
SB 2042
Page 1
Date of Hearing: July 1, 1998
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION
Kerry Mazzoni, Chair
SB 2042 (Alpert) - As Amended: June 25, 1998
SENATE VOTE : 32-0
SUBJECT : Teacher credentialing.
SUMMARY : Makes a variety of changes to the laws governing the
qualifications and processes for obtaining a California teaching
credential. Specifically, this bill :
1) Requires that all programs and course work leading toward both
the preliminary and clear credential, as well as the 150 hours
of required staff development, be aligned with the California
Standards for the Teaching Profession (CSTP), established by
the Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) in July 1997.
2) Requires that each of the types of teacher preparation programs
authorized under current law administer a teaching performance
assessment. This assessment would be required to be aligned
with the CSTP and could either be (a) developed by the
preparation program and approved by the CTC, (b) developed by
the CTC and conducted by the program, or (c) developed and
conducted by the CTC.
3) Requires that the teaching performance assessment not be
incorporated into a preparation program without streamlining
the existing requirements. The bill also requires that the
CTC implement the assessment in a manner that does not
increase the number of assessments required for teacher
credential candidates.
4) Requires that the teaching performance assessment: a) be
designed so as to help a teacher candidate improve his or her
skill and ability, b) have results be reported so that they
may serve as one basis for a recommendation that the CTC
award a preliminary credential to a candidate, and c) serve
as one basis for a new teacher's individual induction plan.
5) Requires the CTC to encourage all accredited institutions of
postsecondary education to offer an undergraduate minor in
education for students who intend to become teachers (nothing
in existing law prohibits colleges and universities from
currently offering these types of programs). Under current
law, as well as under this bill, credential candidates are
prohibited from having a baccalaureate degree in professional
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education.
6) Requires that every candidate complete, during their first
two years of teaching, a program of beginning teacher support
and assessment that meets CTC standards, as specified. This
provision would be contingent upon appropriation in the
Budget Act to provide statewide access to such programs to
all eligible beginning teachers.
7) Re-organizes the process for earning a credential so that, in
effect, it becomes a two-phase process for all candidates, as
follows:
a) Phase One: Preliminary Credential: (1) Complete a
CTC-accredited professional preparation program including
the newly required performance assessment; and (2) meet
existing basic requirements (baccalaureate degree,
California Basic Educational Skills Test, etc.)
b) Phase Two: Clear Credential: (1) Complete all phase
one requirements; and (2) complete a two-year beginning
teacher induction or advanced preparation program, as
specified. The clear credential would be renewable every
five years, as specified.
8) Requires the CTC to develop and implement program quality
standards for the clear credential studies requirements under
current law.
9) Exempts from the new credential requirements imposed by this
bill candidates who were in the process of meeting teaching
credential requirements on or before December 31, 1998.
FISCAL EFFECT : The bill provides that the implementation of the
teaching performance assessment and the beginning teacher
induction program are to be implemented upon appropriation of
sufficient funds in the Budget Act. Funding for the teacher
preparation and the teacher assessment requirements set forth in
this bill has been approved by Senate Budget and Fiscal Review
Subcommittee #1 and Assembly Budget Subcommittee #2.
COMMENTS : SB 1422 (Bergeson), Chapter 1245, Statutes of 1992,
required the CTC to convene a 24-member advisory panel to review
and make recommendations regarding the requirements for earning
and renewing a teaching credential. This bill is the result of
this requirement.
How to Earn a Credential . Under current law, candidates for a
teaching credential are required to: (a) have a baccalaureate
degree from an accredited institution of higher education, (b)
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pass the California Basic Education Skills Test (CBEST), (c)
demonstrate subject-matter knowledge, and (d) complete one of the
following types of credentialing
programs:
1) Traditional: This type of program is offered through an
accredited university (public or private) and is approved
by the CTC. On a full-time basis, this program usually
takes a year. Approximately 15,000 individuals used this
route in 1997.
2) University Intern (established in 1967): This
"alternative" program, also approved by the CTC, takes
between one and two years to complete; participants are
paid during this time. Although established by a
university, it is a collaborative effort between a
university and a school district(s). About 3,700
individuals used this route in 1997.
3) District Intern (established in 1983): This
"alternative" program, which does not require CTC
approval, also takes approximately two years to complete
and is established and administered by a school district.
Participants are paid. Close to 1,500 individuals used
this route in 1997.
Beginning Teacher Support and Assessment . Following a pilot project
found to be very successful in both improving the quality of
beginning teachers and retaining them in the profession, the
Beginning Teacher Support and Assessment (BTSA) program was
established in 1992 by SB 1422 (Bergeson). Jointly administered by
the CTC and the Department of Education, BTSA is an optional program
which provides professional support for first and second-year
teachers who are in need of assistance in preparing for the
realities of classroom teaching. The Governor's Budget proposes
$34.8 million for BTSA in 1998-99, an increase of $16.9 million or
90 percent. In the current year, BTSA served 5,420 first and
second-year teachers.
Author's Amendments . The author intends to introduce amendments in
committee that correct technical errors in this bill.
Arguments in Support . Supporters of this bill indicate that the
major reforms it contains would offer more flexibility for teacher
training and support for new teachers, in addition to high standards
for the preparation of public school teachers and other educators in
California.
Arguments in Opposition . None received.
SB 2042
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REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION : (as of 6/26/98)
Support
American Electronics Association
Association of California School Administrators
Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities
California Association of Suburban School Districts
California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (Sponsor)
California Federation of Teachers
California State Board of Education
Opposition
None received.
Analysis prepared by : Alva Johnson / aed / (916) 319-2087