Bill Text: CA SB368 | 2013-2014 | Regular Session | Chaptered

California Senate Bill 368 (Prior Session Legislation)

Bill Title: Teachers: added authorization in special education.

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 7-1)

Status: (Passed) 2013-10-10 - Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 717, Statutes of 2013. [SB368 Detail]

Download: California-2013-SB368-Chaptered.html

BILL NUMBER: SB 368	CHAPTERED
	BILL TEXT

	CHAPTER  717
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE  OCTOBER 10, 2013
	APPROVED BY GOVERNOR  OCTOBER 10, 2013
	PASSED THE SENATE  AUGUST 30, 2013
	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY  AUGUST 26, 2013
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  AUGUST 15, 2013
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  JUNE 26, 2013
	AMENDED IN SENATE  MAY 8, 2013
	AMENDED IN SENATE  APRIL 15, 2013
	AMENDED IN SENATE  APRIL 1, 2013

INTRODUCED BY   Senator Pavley
   (Coauthors: Senators Beall, Block, and Padilla)
   (Coauthors: Assembly Members Frazier, Gonzalez, Gorell, and
Nazarian)

                        FEBRUARY 20, 2013

   An act to add Section 44265.2 to the Education Code, relating to
teacher credentialing.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 368, Pavley. Teachers: added authorization in special
education.
   Existing law establishes the Commission on Teacher Credentialing,
and authorizes the commission to issue teaching and service
credentials, including a special education credential. Existing law
also authorizes the commission to 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.
   This bill would authorize program sponsors, as defined, to offer
comparability and equivalency, as those terms are defined, to a
special education credentialholder seeking to add a special education
authorization to his or her special education credential in
accordance with specified guidelines and criteria.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  Section 44265.2 is added to the Education Code, to
read:
   44265.2.  (a) A program sponsor may offer comparability and
equivalency to a special education credentialholder seeking to add a
special education authorization to his or her credential. The
following are guidelines for offering comparability and equivalency,
subject to criteria and guidelines issued by the commission:
   (1) Decisions regarding comparability are at the discretion of the
program sponsor.
   (2) A program sponsor has a broad range of possible data that may
be considered as evidence for comparability.
   (3) For a candidate simultaneously pursuing a degree in addition
to earning a credential, a program sponsor may use its own
institutional process and procedure for course credit evaluations.
   (b) Evidence used to verify competency may include the following,
subject to criteria and guidelines issued by the commission:
   (1) Examination results.
   (2) A portfolio.
   (3) A performance narrative.
   (4) Field experience.
   (5) Video.
   (6) Transcripts.
   (7) Prior learning assessment.
   (8) A review board process.
   (c) A program sponsor may use the following to evaluate evidence
for comparability presented by a candidate, subject to criteria and
guidelines issued by the commission:
   (1) Whether the information is based on current, adopted
California credential standards, as appropriate to the authorization
sought.
   (2) Whether a written agreement between the candidate and program
sponsor is evidence based, as appropriate to the authorization
sought.
   (3) Whether the information is aligned with the California
Standards for the Teaching Profession.
   (d) Flexible enrollment may be considered for a candidate who
needs minimal work to complete a credential program. A program
sponsor may explore alternatives for candidate enrollment in the
program, including, but not limited to, visitor status, concurrent
enrollment, open university, county or district programs, university
extension programs, and professional development activities.
   (e) A program sponsor may take advantage of frequent
collaborations to formalize a written agreement concerning
comparability of coursework or fieldwork. The agreement may be
created to meet the needs of the individual program or the individual
candidate.
   (f) A candidate may be granted recognition and credit for his or
her life and learning experience through a prior learning assessment
in which the candidate has the opportunity to demonstrate how his or
her experience and learning are comparable to the commission program
standard.
   (g) For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:

   (1) "Equivalency" means the determination, through an evaluation
process, that a set of knowledge, skills, and abilities required by a
commission program standard has been met through coursework,
fieldwork, or prior learning experience.
   (2) "Comparability" means the determination that a candidate has
demonstrated the essence of a set of knowledge, skills, and abilities
required by a commission program standard through another route.
   (3) "Prior learning assessment" means a process through which a
person develops a portfolio of life experiences, training, or
preparation experience that establishes the basis for meeting the
commission program standard.
   (4) "Program sponsor" means a university-based or local
educational agency-based program approved by the commission.