Section 44320 Of Article 7. Professional Preparation From California Education Code >> Division 3. >> Title 2. >> Part 25. >> Chapter 2. >> Article 7.
44320
. (a) Professional preparation, including student teaching,
shall be made available in the upper division course offerings at all
California public institutions of higher learning, except the
California Maritime Academy and the Hastings College of the Law. No
more than nine semester units, or the equivalent, of professional
education courses may be designated as prerequisites for purposes of
admission to student teaching, except that, to satisfy the English
language requirement as set forth in paragraph (3) of subdivision (b)
of Section 44259, candidates may be required to take 12 semester
units, or the equivalent, as professional education prerequisites to
student teaching.
(b) The commission shall encourage postsecondary institutions that
offer programs of professional preparation to collaborate with
school districts, county offices of education, and professional
organizations in the design and delivery of local programs to
function as part of the California beginning teacher support and
assessment program pursuant to Section 44279.2. If local educational
agencies and institutions of higher education voluntarily agree to
implement the program, the following provisions shall apply to each
collaborative effort:
(1) Postsecondary institutions and local education agencies shall
coordinate and articulate the program of professional preparation and
the beginning teacher support and assessment program, so the two
programs provide continuity in the preparation, support, and
assessment of beginning teachers.
(2) At the discretion of a postsecondary institution that
participates in a collaborative effort, the program of professional
preparation may be submitted to the commission for approval as a
program of preparation, support, and assessment that is at least two
years long.
(3) In each program of preparation, support, and assessment, the
postsecondary institution shall make it possible for each candidate
to complete all requirements for a valid teaching credential in the
equivalent of one year of full-time study.
(4) A postsecondary institution that participates in a
collaborative effort may, at its discretion, determine that
successful completion of the support and assessment components of an
articulated program of professional preparation, support, and
assessment fulfills some or all of the requirements of subdivision
(c) of Section 44259, and may accordingly recommend applicants for
the professional teaching credential. The standards and criteria for
making these determinations and recommendations shall be included in
the institution's proposal for a program.
(5) A local educational agency that collaborates, at its own
discretion, with a postsecondary education institution in the design
and delivery of an articulated program of professional preparation,
support, and assessment that meets the standards and criteria
pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section 44279.2, and that receives
funds pursuant to the annual Budget Act, may contract with the
postsecondary institution to pay the institution's costs of designing
and delivering the support and assessment components of the program.
(c) Local educational agencies that are approved by the commission
to provide programs of personalized preparation to candidates for
designated subjects teaching credentials are encouraged to
participate in the design and delivery of local programs under the
California beginning teacher support and assessment program pursuant
to Article 4.5 (commencing with Section 44279.2), in a manner
consistent with subdivision (b).
(d) Prior to admission to either student teaching under any
professional preparation program approved by the commission, or
participation in a field experience program as described in Section
44324, a candidate for a credential shall obtain a certificate of
clearance from the commission which shall be issued when the
commission has verified the candidate's personal identification and
health status. The fee for the certificate of clearance shall not
exceed one-half of the regular fee for a credential and shall be
deducted from the fee for the initial credential applied for by the
certificate holder.