Amended  IN  Assembly  March 26, 2019

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2019–2020 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill No. 1154

Introduced by Assembly Member Bonta

February 21, 2019

An act to add Article 9.5 (commencing with Section 89284) to Chapter 2 of Part 55 of Division 8 of Title 3 of, and to repeal Section 89287 of, the Education Code, relating to postsecondary education.


LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


AB 1154, as amended, Bonta. California State University: Early care and education major pilot program.
Existing state law, known as the Donahoe Higher Education Act, sets forth, among other things, the missions and functions of California’s public and independent segments of higher education and their respective institutions of higher education. Existing law establishes the California State University under the administration of the Trustees of the California State University as one of the public segments of postsecondary education in this state.

This bill would state the intent of the Legislature to enact future legislation to create a pilot program at 4 California State University campuses to offer a major in early care and education for children zero to 5 years of age, inclusive.

This bill would, upon appropriation in the Budget Act or another statute for this purpose, establish the Early Care and Education Degree Pilot Program at 4 California State University campuses, to be administered by the Office of the Chancellor of the California State University, in consultation with the Commission on Teacher Credentialing, for 5 years commencing with the 2020–21 academic year. This bill would require the program to provide a student the opportunity to earn a baccalaureate degree and a teaching credential in child development within 4 years. This bill would authorize the trustees and the commission to adopt rules and regulations for the administration of the program. The bill would also require the chancellor to report to the Legislature annually beginning January 1, 2022, on program enrollment and to submit a final report on or before January 1, 2026, including an evaluation of the effectiveness of the program and recommendations for a statewide scaling of the program.
Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: NOYES   Local Program: NO  

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:


SECTION 1.

 Article 9.5 (commencing with Section 89284) is added to Chapter 2 of Part 55 of Division 8 of Title 3 of the Education Code, to read:
Article  9.5. Early Care and Education Degree Pilot Program

89284.
 The Early Care and Education Degree Pilot Program is hereby established for the purpose of providing students an opportunity to earn a baccalaureate degree and a teaching credential in child development within four years.

89285.
 (a) Beginning with the 2020–21 academic year, the Office of the Chancellor of the California State University shall operate the Early Care and Education Degree Pilot Program for five years, subject to all of the following:
(1) The Chancellor shall administer the program, in consultation with the Commission on Teacher Credentialing.
(2) The program shall allow a student to earn a baccalaureate degree and a teaching credential within four years.
(3) The degree shall focus on early care and education of children from infancy to five years of age, inclusive.
(4) The degree shall combine child development educational theory and practical training in the field in order to effectively prepare teaching candidates.
(5) The Commission on Teaching Credentialing shall develop the requirements for the teaching credential portion of the program, consistent with current requirements for establishing a teaching credential.
(b) The pilot program shall operate at four California State University campuses, chosen by the Chancellor, subject to both of the following requirements:
(1) Each campus shall have an existing child development program and school of education.
(2) The campuses shall be geographically diverse, as determined by the Chancellor.

89286.
 The trustees and the Commission on Teacher Credentialing may adopt rules and regulations as necessary for the administration of this article.

89287.
 (a) The Chancellor shall report to the Legislature as follows:
(1) On or before January 1, 2022, and annually thereafter until January 1, 2025, on program enrollment.
(2) A final report on or before January 1, 2026, including an evaluation of the effectiveness of the program and recommendations for a statewide scaling of the program.
(b) The reporting specified in subdivision (a) shall be submitted in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code.
(c) This section is repealed January 1, 2030.

89288.
 The requirements of this article are contingent upon an appropriation by the Legislature in the Budget Act or another statute for these purposes.

SECTION 1.

(a)The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:

(1)There is a shortage of early care and education providers in California.

(2)There are a number of barriers to recruiting and retaining a qualified early care and education workforce, including the absence of a clear educational pathway to become an early care and education teacher.

(3)To create a highly qualified workforce, there is a need to create a major that equips prospective students with both subject matter knowledge and pedagogical skills concurrently, to strengthen their preparation for the classroom, which the state currently does not offer.

(b)It is the intent of the Legislature to enact future legislation to create a pilot program at four California State University campuses to offer a major in early care and education for children zero to five years of age, inclusive.