AB1306 - Teacher preparation programs: school districts and county offices of education: English learners.

Assembly Bill No. 1306 CHAPTER 727 An act to add Section 44253.45 to the Education Code, relating to teacher credentialing. [ Approved by Governor October 13, 2025. Filed with Secretary of State October 13, 2025. ] LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 1306, Muratsuchi. Teacher preparation programs: school districts and county offices of education: English learners. Existing law requires the Commission on Teacher Credentialing to issue a clear multiple subject, single subject, or education specialist teaching credential to an applicant who satisfies, among other requirements, the state requirements for teaching English learners. Existing law requires the commission to issue authorizations for a teacher to provide specific services to limited-English-proficient pupils, if certain minimum requirements are met, including, among other requirements, completion of at least 6 semester units, or 9 quarter units, of coursework in a 2nd language at a regionally accredited institution of higher education. Existing law authorizes the commission to approve any regionally accredited institution of higher education to recommend to the commission the issuance of credentials to a person who has successfully completed a teacher education program with the institution, if the program meets the standards approved by the commission. This bill would, notwithstanding any other law, authorize the commission to approve a teacher education program offered by a school district or county office of education administered for purposes of earning a cross-cultural language and academic development certificate or a bilingual authorization certificate, including a California Teacher of English Learners program. The bill would require the commission to apply the standards for approval of a program of professional preparation offered by a regionally accredited institution of higher education to a program of professional preparation offered by a school district or county office of education under these provisions. 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 44253.45 is added to the Education Code, immediately following Section 44253.4, to read: 44253.45. (a) Notwithstanding any other law, the commission may approve a teacher education program offered by a school district or county office of education administered for purposes of earning a cross-cultural language and academic development certificate, English learner authorization, or a bilingual authorization certificate, including a California Teacher of English Learners program. (b) The commission shall apply the standards for approval of a program of professional preparation offered by a regionally accredited institution of higher education to a program of professional preparation offered by a school district or county office of education under this section.