AB811 - Teacher credentialing: computer science instruction: workgroup.

Amended IN Assembly March 18, 2025 CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION Assembly Bill No. 811 Introduced by Assembly Member Ahrens February 19, 2025 An act to amend Sections 44225 and 44259 of, and to add Section 44225.9 to, Section 44257.5 of the Education Code, relating to teacher credentialing. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 811, as amended, Ahrens. Teacher credentialing: teaching performance assessments: subject matter competence: prior field experience. computer science instruction: workgroup. Existing law requires the Commission on Teacher Credentialing to establish standards for the issuance and renewal of credentials, certificates, and permits. Existing law requires the commission to issue a single subject teaching credential only in specified subjects and authorizes the commission to issue an authorization to teach a subject other than the one authorized by a single subject teaching credential if the holder of the credential meets certain requirements. Existing law, upon appropriation by the Legislature for this purpose, requires the commission, on or before July 1, 2024, to convene a workgroup on credentialing for instruction in computer science, as provided. Existing law also requires the commission, on or before July 1, 2025, to provide a report of the workgroup’s findings and recommendations, as provided. Existing law repeals these provisions as of January 1, 2028. This bill would extend the above-referenced deadlines by 2 years and delay the repeal date of those provisions by 2 years. Existing law requires the Commission on Teacher Credentialing to establish standards for the issuance and renewal of credentials. Existing law requires, as minimum requirements for a preliminary multiple subject, single subject, or education specialist teaching credential, (1) the satisfactory completion of a program of professional preparation that includes a teaching performance assessment that meets specified requirements and has been approved by the commission, as provided, and (2) verification of subject matter competence, demonstrated through one of various methods, as provided. This bill would require the commission, on or before January 1, 2029, to establish 2 sets of standards for a teacher candidate’s prior field experience to be used as an alternative education pathway with one for meeting the requirements of a teaching performance assessment and one for meeting the requirements for verifying subject matter competence, as provided. On and after January 1, 2029, the bill would require a teacher candidate’s prior field experience that meets the applicable standards developed by the commission to qualify as an alternative education pathway for meeting a teaching performance assessment or for verifying subject matter competence, or both. Until January 1, 2029, the bill would expressly authorize the commission to, on an individual basis, allow for a teacher candidate’s prior field experience to qualify as an alternative education pathway for meeting the requirements of a teaching performance assessment or for verifying subject matter competence, or both. Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: NO Bill Text The people of the State of California do enact as follows: SECTION 1. Section 44257.5 of the Education Code is amended to read: 44257.5. (a) On or before July 1, 2024, 2026, the commission shall convene a workgroup on credentialing for instruction in computer science to do all of the following: (1) Determine which single subject teaching credentials or designated subjects career technical education teaching credentials, if any, should also authorize teaching computer science. (2) Determine whether a single subject teaching credential in computer science should be established. (3) Make recommendations on strategies to meet the workforce demands associated with expanding access to computer science instruction to all pupils. (b) At least one-half of the workgroup shall be composed of current classroom teachers with experience teaching computer science at the secondary level and the workgroup shall also include representatives from: (1) School administration. (2) Institutions of higher education involved in the preparation of teachers to teach computer science. (3) Content experts in the field of computer science education. (c) On or before July 1, 2025, 2027, the commission shall provide a report of the workgroup’s findings and recommendations to the appropriate policy and fiscal committees of the Legislature. (d) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2028, 2030, and as of that date is repealed. (e) The implementation of this section is contingent upon an appropriation for its purposes in the annual Budget Act or another statute. SECTION 1. Section 44225 of the Education Code is amended to read: 44225. The commission shall do all of the following: (a) Establish professional standards, assessments, and examinations for entry and advancement in the education profession. While the Legislature recognizes that the commission will exercise its prerogative to determine those requirements, it is the intent of the Legislature that standards, assessments, and examinations be developed and implemented for the following: (1) (A) The preliminary teaching credential, to be granted upon possession of a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher education, completion of an accredited program of professional preparation, and either successful passage of an examination or assessment that has been adopted or approved by the commission in the subject or subjects appropriate to the grade level to be taught, to include college-level reading, writing, and mathematics skills, or completion of an accredited program of subject matter preparation and successful passage of the basic skills proficiency test as provided for in Article 4 (commencing with Section 44250). The commission shall uniformly consider the results of the basic skills proficiency test in conjunction with other pertinent information about the qualifications of each candidate for a preliminary credential, and may award the credential on the basis of the overall performance of a candidate as measured by several criteria of professional competence if the candidate meets minimum standards set by the commission on each criterion. Upon application by a regionally accredited institution of higher education, the commission may categorically grant credit to coursework completed in an accredited program of professional preparation, as specified in this paragraph, by undergraduates of that institution, if the commission finds there are adequate assurances of the quality of necessary undergraduate instruction in the liberal arts and in the subject area or areas to be taught. (B) Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), for single subject teaching credentials, the baccalaureate degree shall not be in the subject of professional education. (2) The professional teaching credential, to be granted upon successful passage of a state examination or assessment in the subject or subjects appropriate to the grade level to be taught, to include college-level basic reading, writing, and mathematics skills, and completion of a period of beginning teacher support that includes assessments of ability to teach subject matter to pupils, ability to work well with pupils, classroom management, and instructional skills. A candidate who successfully passes the examination or assessment pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be deemed to have passed the state examination or assessment in the subject or subjects to be taught pursuant to this paragraph. (b) (1) Reduce and streamline the credential system to ensure teacher competence in the subject field or fields, while allowing greater flexibility in staffing local schools. The commission shall award the following types of credentials to applicants whose preparation and competence satisfy its standards: (A) Basic teaching credentials for teaching in kindergarten, or any of grades 1 to 12, inclusive, in public schools in the state. (B) Credentials for teaching adult education classes and vocational education classes. (C) Credentials for teaching specialties, including, but not necessarily limited to, bilingual education, early childhood education, and special education. The commission may grant credentials to any candidate who concurrently meets the commission’s standards of preparation and competence for the preliminary basic teaching credential and the preliminary specialty credential. (D) Credentials for school services, for positions including, but not necessarily limited to, administrators, school counselors, speech-language therapists, audiologists, school psychologists, library media teachers, supervisors of attendance, and school nurses. (2) The commission may establish standards and requirements for preliminary and professional credentials of each type. (c) Review and, if necessary, revise the code of ethics for the teaching profession. (d) Establish standards for the issuance and renewal of credentials, certificates, and permits. In setting standards, the commission shall seek to ensure, through its credentialing of teachers, that public school teachers satisfy all of the following criteria: (1) Are academically talented. (2) Are knowledgeable of the subjects to be taught in the classroom. (3) Are creative and energetic. (4) Have the human skills to motivate and inspire pupils to achieve their goals. (5) Have the sensitivity to foster self-esteem in pupils through recognition that each pupil has their own goals, talents, and levels of development. (6) Are willing to relate the educational process and their instructional strategies to meet the needs of pupils. (7) Are able to work effectively with and motivate pupils from a variety of ethnic, socioeconomic, cultural, academic, and linguistic backgrounds. (8) Have an understanding of principles and laws related to educational equity, and the equitable practice of the profession of education among all pupils regardless of their ethnicity, race, gender, age, religious background, primary language, or disabling condition. (e) Determine the scope and authorization of credentials to ensure competence in teaching and other educational services, and establish sanctions for the misuse of credentials and the misassignment of credentialholders. The commission may grant an added or supplementary authorization to a credentialholder who has met the requirements and standards of the commission for the added or supplementary authorization. The commission shall exempt the holder of a teaching credential obtained before January 1, 1974, who adds an authorization by successfully completing a commission-approved subject matter examination, from the requirements of subdivision (e) of Section 44259 and Section 44261. (f) Collect, compile, and disseminate information regarding exemplary practices in supporting and assessing beginning teachers. (g) (1) Establish alternative methods for entry into the teaching profession, and into other certificated roles in the schools, by persons in varying circumstances, including persons who have been educated outside of California, provided that each applicant satisfies all of the requirements established by the commission. One alternative method shall be the successful completion of at least two years of classroom instruction under a district intern certificate pursuant to Article 7.5 (commencing with Section 44325). In establishing alternative methods for entry into the teaching profession, the commission shall develop strategies to encourage classroom aides to become credentialed teachers. (2) (A) Until January 1, 2029, a teacher candidate’s prior field experience, as determined by the commission on an individual basis, may qualify as an alternative education pathway for meeting a teaching performance assessment requirement or for verifying subject matter competence, or both. (B) On and after January 1, 2029, a teacher candidate’s prior field experience that meets the applicable standards developed by the commission pursuant to Section 44225.9 shall qualify as an alternative pathway for meeting a teaching performance assessment requirement or for verifying subject matter competence, or both. (h) Adopt a framework and general standards for the accreditation of preparation programs for teachers and other certificated educators pursuant to Article 7 (commencing with Section 44320). (i) Appoint classroom teachers, school administrators, other school services personnel, representatives of the public, and public or private higher education representatives to one or more standing committees, which shall be given authority to recommend to the commission standards relating to examinations, performance assessments, program accreditation, and licensing. The commission shall establish criteria for membership on those committees, and shall determine the terms of committee members. Appointments to standing committees by the commission shall reflect, to the extent feasible, the ethnic and cultural diversity of the California public schools. (j) Consult with classroom teachers, faculty members from institutions of higher education that maintain accredited programs of professional preparation for teachers, administrators or other school services personnel, and other experts to aid in the development of examinations and assessments, and to study the impact of examinations and assessments on the teaching profession. To increase the fairness of its certification decisions, the commission may uniformly consider the results of tests, subtests, and assessments in conjunction with each other, and in conjunction with other pertinent information about the qualifications of each candidate. The commission may award credentials on the basis of average overall performances by candidates on several criteria of professional competence if the candidate meets minimum standards set by the commission on each criterion. (k) Adopt standards for all examinations and assessments that shall ensure that all prospective teachers demonstrate an understanding of the history and cultures of the major ethnic populations of this state and of teaching strategies for the acquisition of English language skills by non-English-speaking pupils. ( l ) Determine the terms of credentials, certificates, and permits, except that no credential, certificate, or permit shall be valid for more than five years from the date of issuance. This article shall govern the issuance of any credential, certificate, or permit, except as follows: (1) A credential, certificate, or permit shall remain in force as long as it is valid and continues to be valid under the laws and regulations that were in effect when it was issued. (2) The commission shall grant teaching credentials pursuant to statutes that were in effect on December 31, 1988, to candidates who, before t [Text truncated for display. Full text available on Congress.gov.]