Article 2. Commission On Teacher Credentialing of California Education Code >> Division 3. >> Title 2. >> Part 25. >> Chapter 2. >> Article 2.

(a) There is hereby established in the state government the Commission on Teacher Credentialing, to consist of 15 voting members, 14 of whom shall be appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate, as specified in paragraphs (2) to (7), inclusive. The commission shall consist of the following members:
  (1) The Superintendent or his or her designee.
  (2) Six practicing teachers from public elementary and secondary schools in California.
  (3) One person who is employed on the basis of a services credential other than an administrative services credential.
  (4) One member of a school district governing board.
  (5) Four representatives of the public. None of these persons shall have been employed by an elementary or secondary school district in a position requiring certification, or shall have served as a school district governing board member in the five-year period immediately prior to his or her appointment to the commission.
  (6) One school administrator in a public elementary or secondary school in California.
  (7) One faculty member from a college or university that grants baccalaureate degrees.
  (b) With the exception of the four representatives of the public and the Superintendent, the appointment of a member shall terminate if he or she is no longer a practicing teacher in a public elementary or secondary school, a person who is employed on the basis of a valid services credential, a school administrator, a faculty member of a college or university that grants baccalaureate degrees, or a school district governing board member, as may be the case, in California.
  (c) Not more than one member of the commission is to be appointed from the same school district or college or university campus.
  (d) The term of each member appointed to the commission on or prior to June 30, 1989, shall expire on July 1, 1989. It is the intent of the Legislature that as of July 1, 1989, the Governor first appoint to the commission, as feasible, members of the Commission on Teacher Credentialing whose terms, notwithstanding this section, would not have expired, to facilitate the transition to a commission with a reduced membership. Commencing July 1, 1989, four members shall be appointed to the commission for terms of two years, five members for terms of three years, and five members for terms of four years.
  (e) Each appointment pursuant to this section shall expire on November 20 of the year of expiration of the applicable term. All appointments made pursuant to this section are subject to Section 44213.

It is the intent of the Legislature that appointees to the commission reflect the ethnic and cultural diversity of the California public schools.

Representatives of statewide organizations may submit for the Governor's consideration the names of distinguished individuals to serve on the commission.

(a) (1) The Regents of the University of California, the Trustees of the California State University, the California Postsecondary Education Commission, and the Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities shall each appoint a representative to serve as member ex officio without vote in proceedings of the commission.
  (2) The Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges may appoint an alternate representative to serve as an ex officio member in the absence of the California Postsecondary Education Commission's representative.
  (b) The ex officio members shall not vote in the proceedings of the commission or in any of its committees or subcommittees, except, by a majority vote of the commission, ex officio members may be permitted to vote in committees or subcommittees in order to establish a quorum or as otherwise determined by majority vote of the commission.

Except as otherwise provided pursuant to Section 44210, upon the expiration of the term of office of an appointive member of the commission, the member's successor shall be appointed for a term of four years. No person shall be appointed by the Governor to serve more than two consecutive full terms. Prior service on the commission for a term of less than three years resulting from an initial appointment or an appointment for the remainder of an unexpired term shall not be counted as a full term.

If a member is absent from any four regularly scheduled meetings in any calendar year, his or her office as a member of the commission shall be deemed vacant. The chairperson of the commission shall forthwith notify the Governor that the vacancy exists.

Except as provided pursuant to Section 44217 with respect to private citizens, the members of the commission shall serve without compensation, but shall be reimbursed for their actual and necessary travel expenses incurred in the performance of their duties.

Whenever an employee of any public school district, state college, or other public agency is appointed to membership on the commission, his employer shall grant him sufficient time away from his regular duties, without loss of income or other benefits to which he is entitled by reason of his employment, to attend meetings of the commission and to attend to the duties imposed upon him by reason of his membership on the commission. The employer of any such member may make available such stenographic, secretarial, and staff assistance as is reasonably necessary to enable him to execute the duties imposed upon him by reason of his membership on the commission.

The compensation of the members of the commission who are public employees shall not be reduced by the agency or body by which they are regularly employed for any absence from service occasioned by attendance upon the business of the commission, its committees or subcommittees. Each school district which employs a member of the commission and which is required to employ a person to replace such member during his attendance at meetings of the commission or any committee or subcommittee thereof, shall be reimbursed from the Teacher Credentials Fund for the cost incurred by employing a replacement. A private citizen member may be provided from the Teacher Credentials Fund a stipend of up to fifty dollars ($50) per day, exclusive of per diem, for attendance at a meeting of the commission or any committee or subcommittee thereof, if such attendance results in loss of income.

The commission by majority vote of all its members shall elect its own chairman from among its members.

The commission shall meet as deemed appropriate and necessary by the chairperson and the executive committee to accomplish its duties, but shall meet no fewer than once each quarter of the year. In order that any allegation of misconduct and the effect thereof, if any, upon the application or credential of a certified employee are determined, as required by subdivision (b) of Section 44244, no later than six months after an investigation is commenced, the commission or the Committee of Credentials shall meet more frequently than once each quarter, if possible.

(a) The commission shall appoint an executive director, who shall be exempt from the provisions of the State Civil Service Act, and may in its discretion remove him or her by a majority vote of all its members. He or she shall be the secretary to the commission and its chief executive officer. He or she shall receive the salary that the commission determines, and, subject to appropriation, other prerequisites that the commission determines.
  (b) Any power, duty, purpose, function, or jurisdiction that the commission may lawfully delegate is delegated to the executive director, unless the commission specifically has reserved the same for its own action.
  (c) Pursuant to subdivision (aa) of Section 11126 of the Government Code, the commission may hold closed sessions when considering matters relating to the recruitment, appointment, employment, or removal of the executive director.

The commission may employ personnel as necessary to carry out its duties and responsibilities. The staff of the commission shall be subject to the provisions of the State Civil Service Act contained in Part 2 (commencing with Section 18500) of Division 5 of Title 2 of the Government Code. All persons, other than temporary employees, serving in the state civil service and engaged in the performance of a function transferred to the Commission on Teacher Credentialing or engaged in the administration of a law, the administration of which is transferred to the commission, shall remain in the state civil service and may request transfer to the commission or remain with the department on the effective date of this section. The status, position, and rights of any person shall not be affected by his or her transfer and shall continue to be retained pursuant to the State Civil Service Act, except as to positions the duties of which are vested in a position that is exempt from civil service.

The Department of Education shall assist the commission in any manner the commission may request in implementing this chapter; provided that the department shall be reimbursed from the Teacher Credentials Fund for any expenses incurred in assisting the commission or the Committee of Credentials.

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) The preliminary teaching credential, to be granted upon possession of a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution in a subject other than professional 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, provided that each 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 by this paragraph, by undergraduates of that institution, where 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.
  (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) 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:
  (1) Basic teaching credentials for teaching in kindergarten, or any of the grades 1 to 12, inclusive, in public schools in this state.
  (2) Credentials for teaching adult education classes and vocational education classes.
  (3) 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.
  (4) Credentials for school services, for positions including, but not limited to, administrators, school counselors, speech-language therapists, audiologists, school psychologists, library media teachers, supervisors of attendance, and school nurses. 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 his or her own goals, talents, and levels of development.
  (6) Be 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 prior to 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 Sections 44261, 44261.5, and 44261.7.
  (f) Collect, compile, and disseminate information regarding exemplary practices in supporting and assessing beginning teachers.
  (g) 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.
  (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, provided that each candidate meets minimum standards set by the commission on each criterion.
  (k) Adopt standards for all examinations and assessments which 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, prior to the effective date of regulations to implement subdivision (a), are in the process of meeting the requirements for teaching credentials that were in effect on December 31, 1988, except that neither enrollment as an undergraduate student nor receipt of a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution prior to the effective date of the regulations shall, by themselves, exempt a candidate from the requirements of subdivision (a). Enrollment in a preparation program for teachers prior to the effective date of the regulations shall not exempt a candidate from the requirements of paragraph (2) of subdivision (a), if the preliminary credential of the candidate was granted after the effective date of the regulations.
  (m) Review requests from school districts, county offices of education, private schools, and postsecondary institutions for the waiver of one or more of the provisions of this chapter or other provisions governing the preparation or licensing of educators. The commission may grant a waiver upon its finding that professional preparation equivalent to that prescribed under the provision or provisions to be waived will be, or has been, completed by the credential candidate or candidates affected or that a waiver is necessary to accomplish any of the following:
  (1) Give a local educational agency one semester or less to address unanticipated, immediate, short-term shortages of fully qualified educators by assigning a teacher who holds a basic teaching credential to teach outside of his or her credential authorization, with the teacher's consent.
  (2) Provide credential candidates additional time to complete a credential requirement.
  (3) Allow local school districts or schools to implement an education reform or restructuring plan.
  (4) Temporarily exempt from a specified credential requirement small, geographically isolated regions with severely limited ability to develop personnel.
  (5) Provide other temporary exemptions when deemed appropriate by the commission. No provision in this chapter may be waived under Section 33050 and 33051, after June 30, 1994, by the State Board of Education.
  (n) It is the intent of the Legislature that the commission develop models for voluntary use by California colleges and universities that do not have these models in place, to assist in the screening of applications for admission to teacher education programs. The models shall give emphasis to the following qualifications of the applicants: academic talent, knowledge of subjects to be taught, basic academic skills, creativity, experience in working with children and adolescents, ability to motivate and inspire pupils, and willingness to relate education to pupils with a wide variety of cultural, ethnic, and academic backgrounds. The commission may continue to administer the state basic skills proficiency test, in order (1) to utilize the results of this test in awarding preliminary teaching credentials and emergency permits, and (2) to enable colleges and universities to utilize this test in conjunction with other appropriate sources of information in teacher preparation admission decisions. However, it is the intent of the Legislature that applicants for admission to teacher preparation programs may not be denied admission solely on the basis of state basic skills proficiency test results. The commission may recover the costs of administering and developing the test by charging examinees a fee for taking the test.
  (o) It is the intent of the Legislature that the commission encourage colleges and universities to design and implement, by August 1, 1990, concentrated internship programs for persons who have attained a bachelor's degree in the field in which they intend to teach. Those programs would be targeted at subject area shortages, would substitute for conventional training programs, and would include a full summer session of college-level coursework, a one-year internship, or the equivalent, a seminar throughout the internship, and a summer session following the internship. Educator preparation through internship programs shall be subject to Article 10 (commencing with Section 44370).
  (p) Grant a field placement certificate to any candidate who has been admitted to an accredited program of professional preparation, and who must complete a supervised practicum in public elementary or secondary schools as a condition for completion of the program. The commission shall establish standards for the issuance of field placement certificates.
  (q) Propose appropriate rules and regulations to implement the act which enacts this section.
  (r) Adopt subject matter assessments for teaching credentials after developing those assessments jointly with the Superintendent.

The Commission on Teacher Credentialing shall adopt standards for the issuance of teaching credentials to persons who received a score equal to or exceeding the minimum acceptable score set by the commission.

(a) By April 15 of each year, the commission shall report to the Legislature and the Governor on the availability of teachers in California. This report shall include the following information:
  (1) The number of individuals recommended for credentials by institutions of higher education and each type of credential, certificate, or authorization for which they were recommended, including authorizations issued pursuant to Sections 44253.3 and 44253.4.
  (2) The number of individuals recommended by school districts operating district internship programs and each type of credential, certificate, or authorization for which they were recommended, including authorizations issued pursuant to Sections 44253.3 and 44253.4.
  (3) The number of individuals receiving an initial credential based on a program completed outside of California and each type of credential, certificate, or authorization for which they were recommended, including authorizations issued pursuant to Sections 44253.3 and 44253.4.
  (4) The number of individuals receiving an emergency permit, credential waiver, or other authorization that does not meet the definition of a highly qualified teacher under the federal No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (20 U.S.C. Sec. 6301 et seq.).
  (5) The number of individuals receiving the certificate of completion of staff development in methods of specially designed content instruction delivered in English pursuant to subdivision (d) of Section 44253.10 and, separately, pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (e) of Section 44253.11.
  (6) Statewide, by county, and by school district, the number of individuals serving in the following capacities and as a percentage of the total number of individuals serving as teachers statewide, in the county, and in the school district:
  (A) University internship.
  (B) District internship.
  (C) Preinternship.
  (D) Emergency permit.
  (E) Credential waiver.
  (F) Preliminary or clear credential.
  (G) An authorization, other than those listed in this paragraph, that does not meet the definition of a highly qualified teacher under the federal No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (20 U.S.C. Sec. 6301 et seq.) by category of authorization.
  (H) An authorization issued pursuant to Section 44253.3.
  (I) Certificates or authorizations issued pursuant to Section 44253.3, 44253.4, 44253.10, or 44253.11, if available.
  (J) The number of individuals serving English learner pupils in settings calling for English language development, in settings calling for specially designed academic instruction in English, or in primary language instruction, without the appropriate authorization under Section 44253.3, 44253.4, 44253.10, or 44253.11, or under another statute, if available. The commission may utilize data from the department's Annual Language Census Survey to report the data required pursuant to this paragraph.
  (7) The specific subjects and teaching areas in which there are a sufficient number of new holders of credentials to fill the positions currently held by individuals with emergency permits.
  (b) The commission shall make this report available to school districts and county offices of education to assist them in the recruitment of credentialed teachers and shall make the report and supporting data publicly available on the commission's Web site.
  (c) A common measure of whether teacher preparation programs are meeting the challenge of preparing increasing numbers of new teachers is the number of teaching credentials awarded. The number of teaching credentials recommended by these programs and awarded by the commission are indicators of the productivity of teacher preparation programs. The commission shall include in the report prepared for the Legislature and Governor pursuant to subdivision (a) the total number of teaching credentials recommended by all accredited teacher preparation programs authorized by the commission and the number recommended by each of the following:
  (1) The University of California system.
  (2) The California State University system.
  (3) Independent colleges and universities that offer teacher preparation programs approved by the commission.
  (4) Other institutions that offer teacher preparation programs approved by the commission.
  (d) For purposes of this section, "authorization" has the same meaning as defined in subdivision (d) of Section 44203.

(a) The commission may approve a school district request for the assignment of an individual pursuant to subdivision (m) of Section 44225 or Section 44300 if the district has certified by an annual resolution of the governing board that it has made reasonable efforts to recruit a fully prepared teacher for the assignment. If a suitable fully prepared teacher is not available to a school district, the district under all circumstances shall make reasonable efforts to recruit an individual for the assignment, in the following order:
  (1) A candidate who is qualified to participate and enrolls in an approved internship program in the region of the school district.
  (2) A candidate who is scheduled to complete preliminary credential requirements within six months. The commission shall assure that the employer will provide orientation, guidance, and assistance to the candidate.
  (b) If a suitable individual who meets the priorities listed in subdivision (a) is not available to the school district, the district, as a last resort, may request approval for the assignment of a person who does not meet that criteria.
  (c) As the supply of teaching interns increases as a result of legislative efforts to expand the Alternative Certification Program, the commission shall notify school districts that state policy directs the assignment of interns to classrooms when available in a given region, with decreased reliance on persons serving on emergency permits or credential waivers.
  (d) As the supply of fully prepared teachers increases as a result of the Legislature's efforts to recruit and retain qualified teachers for California classrooms, the commission shall notify school districts that state policy directs the assignment of fully prepared teachers to California classrooms, with the use of permits or waivers only when school districts are geographically isolated from teacher preparation programs or in the case of unanticipated, short-term need for the assignment of personnel.
  (e) As used in this section, a "fully prepared teacher" means an individual who has completed a teacher preparation program. For purposes of this subdivision, a "teacher preparation program" means either a set of courses, including supervised field experience, or an equivalent alternative program, that provides a curriculum of systematic preparation for serving as an educator in California public schools.

(a) All teacher preparation programs, regardless of program sponsor, including, but not limited to, local educational agencies or other programs that are not accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, shall provide information to prospective candidates regarding the license examination passage rates of completers of its program for the most recent available year, if that data is available electronically through the Internet Web site of the Commission on Teacher Credentialing.
  (b) For purposes of subdivision (a), "provide" includes placement of an Internet Web site address labeled as an access point for data on the passage rates of program completers on the Internet Web site of the program where enrollment information for the program is also located, on an Internet Web site that provides centralized admissions information for postsecondary educational systems or programs with multiple campuses, or on an application for enrollment or other program information distributed to prospective candidates.
  (c) The commission shall provide all teacher preparation programs with the appropriate electronic link to comply with the provisions of subdivision (a). To the extent feasible, the link may also include access to additional data from the commission and from the California Longitudinal Teacher Integrated Data Education System regarding the types of programs offered and data on program effectiveness.

(a) The commission may approve any institution of higher education to recommend to the commission the issuance of credentials to persons who have successfully completed a teacher education program of the institution if the program meets the standards approved by the commission.
  (b) An institution of higher education whose teacher education program has been accredited by the commission shall approve and electronically submit credential applications to the commission, and the commission shall grant credentials to these applicants based upon that approval.
  (c) Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, the commission may approve for credit any coursework completed for credential purposes or for step increases in programs offered in California by out-of-state institutions of higher education that meet the requirements prescribed by Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 94700) of Part 59 only if the program of courses is offered by a regionally accredited institution and evidence of satisfactory evaluation by that accrediting body is submitted by the out-of-state institution to the commission for purposes of seeking approval of the program and any courses within that program to enable potential teachers to meet one or more requirements for a teaching credential in California.

(a) The Legislature hereby establishes the Science, Technology, Engineering, Math, and Career Technical Education Educator Credentialing Program for purposes of providing alternative routes to credentialing, in accordance with the guidelines for the federal Race to the Top Fund, authorized under the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5), that do not compromise state standards.
  (b) No later than June 1, 2010, the commission, in consultation with the Committee on Accreditation established pursuant to Section 44373, shall develop a process to authorize additional high-quality alternative route educator preparation programs provided by school districts, county offices of education, community-based organizations, and nongovernmental organizations. Organizations participating in this project may offer educator preparation programs for any science, mathematics, and career technical education credential type issued by the commission if the organization meets the requirements for being authorized pursuant to criteria established by the commission.
  (c) The commission shall authorize community-based or nongovernmental organizations accredited by an accrediting organization that is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation and the United States Department of Education. The commission may also establish alternative criteria, if necessary, for project participants that are not eligible for accreditation by one of the accredited organizations.
  (d) Participating organizations shall electronically submit credential applications to the commission.
  (e) The commission may assess a fee on a community-based or nongovernmental organization that is seeking approval to participate in the program. For purposes of this section, an independent college or university in California is not a community-based or nongovernmental organization.

(a) It is the intent of the Legislature that college and university faculty members who teach courses relating to teaching or administrative methods in programs of professional preparation that are approved by the Commission on Teacher Credentialing have direct knowledge of the way that public elementary and secondary schools function and operate.
  (b) The Commission on Teacher Credentialing, in cooperation with public and private postsecondary institutions operating teacher education programs, shall develop standards and procedures which ensure that each faculty member who teaches a course relating to teaching methods in an approved program of professional preparation actively participates in public elementary or secondary schools and classrooms at least once every three academic years.
  (c) The commission, in cooperation with public and private postsecondary institutions operating administrative services credential programs, shall develop standards and procedures which ensure that each faculty member who teaches a course relating to administrative methods as defined by the commission in an approved program of professional preparation actively participates in public elementary or secondary schools or classrooms at least once every three academic years.
  (d) The commission shall exempt from this requirement faculty members whose primary assignments are in departments or schools other than education.

The Legislature encourages institutions of higher education to provide, in teacher training programs, increased emphasis on the recognition of, and teaching strategies for, specific learning disabilities, including dyslexia and related disorders. Experts in the field of these disabilities should be utilized for that purpose.

To assist in approving teacher education programs, the commission may appoint panels of educators, including public school classroom teachers, and lay persons to serve as members of visiting teams to institutions and school districts having such programs. The provisions of Sections 44215, 44216, and 44217 shall be applicable to such panels of educators.

The commission shall invite the public, the teaching profession, and interested professional groups and associations to appear before it and submit proposals for commission consideration and action.

(a) (1) The commission shall maintain for public record, and may disclose, only the following information relating to the credentials, certificates, permits, or other documents that it issues: the document number, title, term of validity, subjects, authorizations, effective dates, renewal requirements, and restrictions. The commission may also disclose the last known business address of any applicant or credentialholder.
  (2) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, except as provided for in Section 44248, no information, other than that set forth in paragraph (1), may be disclosed by the commission absent an order from a court of competent jurisdiction.
  (b) In order to expedite the application process for the benefit of applicants for credentials, certificates, permits, or other documents issued by the commission, the commission may receive from, or transmit to, the agency that submitted the application, either electronically or by printed copy, the information set forth in that application. For purposes of this subdivision, "agency" means a school district, county office of education, or institution of higher education having a commission-approved program of professional preparation.

The commission shall establish a nonpersonally identifiable educator identification number for each educator to whom it issues a credential, certificate, permit, or other document authorizing that individual to provide a service in the public schools.

Unless otherwise specified, the meetings of the commission shall be open and public and due notice of their time and place shall be posted.

The commission may enter into contracts with comparable agencies in other states in order to facilitate the relocation of qualified teachers from one state to another and to expedite other matters related to ascertaining qualifications of credentialed teachers and other educators.

(a) There is in the State Treasury the Teacher Credentials Fund. All fees levied and collected by the commission shall be deposited in the Teacher Credentials Fund and shall not be transferred to any other fund.
  (b) Notwithstanding any other law, if at the beginning of any fiscal year the commission has unencumbered funds in an amount which is in excess of its operating budget, plus funds required to implement statutory mandates and other changes to teacher credentials, plus a prudent reserve, which reserve shall not exceed 10 percent of the total amount that the commission is authorized to spend in that fiscal year, as determined by the Department of Finance, the department shall recommend a reduction in credential or other fees, whether fixed by statute or determined by this commission within limits fixed by statute, in an amount which will reduce any surplus funds of the commission.
  (c) Nothing in this section shall preclude the implementation of multiyear mandates that require a reserve amount that is greater than 10 percent in one fiscal year.

(a) Fees shall be levied by the commission for the issuance and renewal of teaching and service credentials. Commencing January 1, 1987, the fee for the issuance and renewal of teaching and service credentials shall be fifty dollars ($50). In subsequent years, the commission may set a different fee, but in no case shall a fee exceed one hundred dollars ($100) without express legislative approval.
  (b) A single fee, not to exceed the charge for a single supplemental credential, shall be charged for all supplemental credentials applied for at the same time as a teaching or service credential pursuant to subdivision (a).
  (c) Subject to funds being appropriated expressly for this purpose in the annual Budget Act, fees authorized by this section shall be waived by the commission for first-time teaching credential applicants for the following credentials:
  (1) Single subject credential.
  (2) Multiple subject credential.
  (3) Special education credential.
  (4) Specialist instruction credential.
  (d) Annually, as part of the budget review process, the Department of Finance shall recommend to the Legislature an appropriate credential fee sufficient to generate revenues necessary to support the operating budget of the commission plus a prudent reserve, as determined by the Department of Finance pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 44234.

(a) Effective July 1, 1987, all fees collected by the commission for tests, examinations, or assessments shall be deposited in the Test Development and Administration Account, which is hereby created in the Teacher Credentials Fund.
  (b) Any proposed expenditures from this account shall be subject to the normal legislative budget review process.
  (c) Except as otherwise provided in subdivision (e) or unless otherwise authorized by the Legislature, funds deposited in this account shall be expended for the development, agency-support, maintenance, or administration of tests or other assessments established, required, or administered by the commission.
  (d) Funds in this account shall not be subject to the provisions of subdivision (b) of Section 44234.
  (e) If there is a deficiency in the Teacher Credentials Fund, the Department of Finance may authorize a loan from the Test Development and Administration Account to the Teacher Credentials Fund to the extent needed to cover the projected deficiency. Any loan made under this subdivision shall be repaid under the terms provided in the authorization.

(a) If in any month there are insufficient moneys in the Teacher Credentials Fund to satisfy monthly payroll obligations and scheduled claims, and there are moneys in the Test Development and Administration Account not required to meet any demand that has accrued or may accrue against it, the Controller shall transfer moneys from the Test Development and Administration Account to the Teacher Credentials Fund to the extent necessary to meet the immediate obligations of the Teacher Credentials Fund.
  (b) Moneys transferred pursuant to subdivision (a) shall be returned to the Test Development and Administration Account as soon as there are sufficient moneys in the Teacher Credentials Fund to do so, but by no later than 60 days after the transfer was made.
  (c) If sufficient moneys do not accumulate in the Teacher Credentials Fund within 60 days after the transfer was made, whatever portion of the amount received from the Test Development and Administration Account that is in the Teacher Credentials Fund at that time shall be returned to the Test Development and Administration Account. The remaining balance of the outstanding transfer, if any, shall be returned thereafter in monthly installments as moneys accumulate in the Teacher Credentials Fund. If the Teacher Credentials Fund fails to return the full amount of any transfer by the end of the fiscal year, the Teacher Credentials Fund shall be ineligible to receive further transfers until it has returned the full amount previously transferred from the Test Development and Administration Account.

Within the limits set forth in this chapter, the commission may establish and collect fees to recover its costs for the development and administration of any subject matter examination adopted by the commission to implement the provisions of this chapter, unless the costs are recovered by appropriations from another source of funds.

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the commission shall waive all application and processing fees for the initial issuance of a teaching credential to an out-of-state prepared applicant who relocates to California due to orders received from a branch of the United States Armed Forces that require the applicant's spouse to relocate to California.

Any fee or excess amount of fee paid under Section 44235 may be refunded by the commission from the Teacher Credentials Fund when the applicant does not qualify for a credential or when such fee or excess is paid in error, and the amount of any such refund is hereby appropriated for the making of such refund.

(a) Every person, firm, association, partnership, or corporation offering or conducting private school instruction on the elementary or high school level shall require each applicant for employment in a position requiring contact with minor pupils to submit two sets of fingerprints prepared for submittal by the employer to the Department of Justice for the purpose of obtaining criminal record summary information from the Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
  (b) (1) As used in this section, "employer" means every person, firm, association, partnership, or corporation offering or conducting private school instruction on the elementary or high school level.
  (2) As used in this section, "employment" means the act of engaging the services of a person, who will have contact with pupils, to work in a position at a private school at the elementary or high school level on or after September 30, 1997, on a regular, paid full-time basis, regular, paid part-time basis, or paid full-time or part-time seasonal basis.
  (3) As used in this section, "applicant" means any person who is seriously being considered for employment by an employer.
  (4) This section does not apply to a secondary school pupil working at the school he or she attends or a parent or legal guardian working exclusively with his or her children.
  (c) (1) Upon receiving the identification cards, the Department of Justice shall ascertain whether the applicant has been arrested or convicted of any crime insofar as that fact can be ascertained from information available to the Department of Justice and forward the information to the employer submitting the fingerprints no more than 15 working days after receiving the identification cards. The Department of Justice shall not forward information regarding criminal proceedings that did not result in a conviction but shall forward information on arrests pending adjudication.
  (2) Upon implementation of an electronic fingerprinting system with terminals located statewide and managed by the Department of Justice, the Department of Justice shall ascertain the information required pursuant to this subdivision within three working days. If the Department of Justice cannot ascertain the information required pursuant to this subdivision within three working days, the Department of Justice shall notify the employer submitting the fingerprints that it cannot so ascertain the required information. This notification shall be delivered by telephone or email to the employer submitting the fingerprints. If the employer submitting the fingerprints is notified by the Department of Justice that it cannot ascertain the required information about a person, the employer shall not employ that person until the Department of Justice ascertains that information.
  (3) The Department of Justice shall review the criminal record summary it obtains from the Federal Bureau of Investigation to ascertain whether an applicant for employment has a conviction, or an arrest pending final adjudication, for any sex offense, controlled substance offense, crime of violence, or serious or violent felony. The Department of Justice shall provide written notification to the private school employer only as to whether an applicant for employment has any convictions, or arrests pending final adjudication, for any of these crimes.
  (d) An employer shall not employ a person until the Department of Justice completes its check of the state criminal history file as set forth in this section.
  (e) (1) An employer shall not employ a person who has been convicted of a violent or serious felony or a person who would be prohibited from employment by a public school district pursuant to any provision of this code because of his or her conviction for any crime.
  (2) A person who would be prohibited from employment by a private school pursuant to paragraph (1) shall not, on or after July 1, 1999, own or operate a private school offering instruction on the elementary or high school level.
  (f) An employer shall request subsequent arrest service from the Department of Justice as provided under Section 11105.2 of the Penal Code.
  (g) This section applies to any violent or serious offense that, if committed in this state, would have been punishable as a violent or serious felony.
  (h) For purposes of this section, a violent felony is any felony listed in subdivision (c) of Section 667.5 of the Penal Code and a serious felony is any felony listed in subdivision (c) of Section 1192.7 of the Penal Code.
  (i) Notwithstanding subdivision (e), a person shall not be denied employment or terminated from employment solely on the basis that the person has been convicted of a violent or serious felony if the person has obtained a certificate of rehabilitation and pardon pursuant to Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 4852.01) of Title 6 of Part 3 of the Penal Code.
  (j) Notwithstanding subdivision (e), a person shall not be denied employment or terminated from employment solely on the basis that the person has been convicted of a serious felony that is not also a violent felony if that person can prove to the sentencing court of the offense in question, by clear and convincing evidence, that he or she has been rehabilitated for the purposes of school employment for at least one year. If the offense in question occurred outside this state, then the person may seek a finding of rehabilitation from the court in the county in which he or she is a resident.
  (k) The commission shall make available to each private school a listing of all credentialholders who have had final adverse action taken against their credential. The information shall be identical to that made available to public schools in the state. The commission shall also send on a quarterly basis a complete and updated list of all teachers who have had their teaching credentials revoked or suspended, excluding teachers who have had their credentials reinstated, or who are deceased.
  (l) The Department of Justice may charge a reasonable fee to cover costs associated with the processing, reviewing, and supplying of the criminal record summary as required by this section. The fee shall not exceed the actual costs incurred by the Department of Justice.
  (m) Where reasonable access to the statewide electronic fingerprinting network is available, the Department of Justice may mandate electronic submission of the fingerprints and related information required by this section.
  (n) All information obtained from the Department of Justice is confidential. Agencies handling Department of Justice information shall ensure the following:
  (1) A recipient shall not disclose its contents or provide copies of information.
  (2) Information received shall be stored in a locked file separate from other files, and shall only be accessible to the custodian of records.
  (3) Information received shall be destroyed upon the hiring determination in accordance with subdivision (a) of Section 708 of Title 11 of the California Code of Regulations.
  (4) Compliance with destruction, storage, dissemination, auditing, backgrounding, and training requirements as set forth in Sections 700 to 708, inclusive, of Title 11 of the California Code of Regulations and Section 11077 of the Penal Code governing the use and security of criminal offender record information is the responsibility of the entity receiving the information from the Department of Justice.

(a) The Commission on Teacher Credentialing, in consultation with the State Department of Education, shall contract with an independent evaluator with proven expertise in design and research to conduct a study of the availability and effectiveness of cultural competency training for teachers and administrators.
  (b) The study shall focus on 10 culturally diverse schools that reflect the diverse demography and geography of California. The schools shall be selected for the study based on appropriate research methods. The criteria for school selection shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following:
  (1) The cultural demographics of the pupil population within the school including, but not limited to, linguistic demographics and the number of English learners.
  (2) The Academic Performance Index scores for each school. The study shall include schools that were previously low-performing schools that have shown significant progress in their Academic Performance Index scores and include schools that were low-performing schools that have not shown significant progress in their Academic Performance Index scores.
  (3) The experience of teachers, including, but not limited to, the number of teachers with emergency credentials.
  (c) The study shall entail all of the following:
  (1) Evaluating cultural competency training programs by doing all of the following:
  (A) Assessing the availability and effectiveness of cultural competency training in teacher credentialing programs and professional development programs in which the teachers and administrators of each school have participated, including, but not limited to, university teacher preparation programs, university and district intern programs, distance learning schools, programs implemented pursuant to the California Beginning Teacher Support and Assessment System (Art. 4.5 (commencing with Sec. 44279.1), Ch. 2, Part 25), preinternship programs, and professional development institutes.
  (i) The study shall consider pupil performance as one of many measures to determine the effectiveness of cultural competency training programs.
  (ii) The study shall also consider the Academic Performance Index score of each school and their correlation to cultural competency training.
  (B) Describing the cultural competency component of the training programs in which the teachers and administrators of each school have participated.
  (C) Reporting on identifiable differences in cultural competency training in schools with a higher score on the Academic Performance Index compared to schools with a lower score on the Academic Performance Index.
  (D) Determining whether cultural competency training programs at each school are correlated to higher pupil performance.
  (E) Summarizing the participation rate of the teachers and administrators of each school in teacher credentialing programs, professional development programs, and other training programs.
  (2) Evaluating teacher demographics at each school by doing both of the following:
  (A) Summarizing the training, experience, cultural demographics, and other background characteristics of the teacher and administrative population at each school.
  (B) Summarizing the patterns, criteria, and attributes that are priorities for staff hiring, compensation, and training at each school.
  (3) Evaluating the cultural demographics of the pupil population at each school.
  (4) Evaluating the commitment of each school to cultural competency by doing both of the following:
  (A) Determining whether each school and its school district have a plan or timeline for achieving cultural competency in the classroom.
  (B) Discussing the responsiveness of each school and its school district to their communities with regard to developing cultural competency training programs.
  (5) Evaluating parent interactions at each school by doing all of the following:
  (A) Describing the interaction between parents, parent organizations, teachers, administrators, and pupils at each school.
  (B) Describing the procedures and policies that influence the interactions between each school and its administrators, teachers, parents, parent organizations, and pupils.
  (C) Determining whether cultural competency training is effective in building connections between teachers, administrators, pupils, and their families.
  (D) Reporting on identifiable differences in community and parental involvement in schools with higher scores on the Academic Performance Index compared to schools with lower scores on the Academic Performance Index.
  (d) Upon the conclusion of the study, and on or before May 1, 2005, the independent evaluator shall submit to the appropriate policy committees of the Legislature a report that includes recommendations of all of the following, based on the results of the study:
  (1) Ways to improve access to cultural competency training programs for teachers and administrators who attend teacher credentialing programs and professional development programs.
  (2) Criteria for cultural competency training programs.
  (3) Further studies that are necessary to provide information about types of cultural competency training programs that correlate to higher pupil performance.
  (4) A model program related to the results of the study that may be implemented as a pilot program in other schools.
  (e) For purposes of this section, the following phrases are defined as follows:
  (1) "Cultural competency" includes, but is not limited to, adequate knowledge of diverse cultures, including languages, that may be encountered by a teacher in the classroom and the appropriate skills to work with pupils and their families.
  (2) "Cultural demographics" includes, but is not limited to, familial country of origin and language, cultural traditions, and beliefs.
  (3) "Low-performing schools" means schools that are ranked in the lowest two deciles on the Academic Performance Index.
  (4) "Pupil performance" includes, but is not limited to, test scores, attendance rates, and graduation rates.

The commission, the State Board of Education, and the Superintendent of Public Instruction shall notify one another regarding proposed and adopted policies and regulations, in order to achieve consistency in state policies concerning the professional preparation of teachers, and curriculum and instruction in the public elementary and secondary schools.