Article 4. Bilingual Teacher Training Assistance Program of California Education Code >> Division 4. >> Title 2. >> Part 28. >> Chapter 7. >> Article 4.

It is the intent of the Legislature that school districts, county offices of education and institutions of higher education, with the assistance of the State Department of Education, shall continue to provide training for teachers under bilingual teacher waivers.

The State Bilingual Teacher Training Assistance Program is hereby established for teachers who are granted waivers under Section 52178 and who are enrolled and participating in a program leading to a bilingual specialist credential or a certificate of competence for bilingual-crosscultural competence. The program shall be administered by the State Department of Education which shall, in consultation with the Commission on Teacher Credentialing and representatives of bilingual educators from institutions of higher education, county offices of education, and school districts, develop annual and long-range goals and objectives for the program, based upon the reports required under subparagraph (B) of paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 52171.6 and under Section 52178.

(a) The State Department of Education shall establish minimum standards and criteria for the State Bilingual Teacher Training Assistance Program, and shall conduct appropriate training programs, or provide for training services by allocation to existing state staff development resource centers, county offices of education, public or private four-year institutions of postsecondary education, bilingual programs consortia, or cooperatives formed among two or more of these groups.
  (b) Allocations for training programs conducted under this article shall be primarily directed toward school districts with high concentrations of pupils of limited-English-proficiency and teachers on waiver under Section 52178.
  (c) In awarding allocations pursuant to subdivision (a), the department shall adopt evaluative criteria demonstrating the agency's ability to provide appropriate training services. The adopted criteria shall include, but need not be limited to, all of the following:
  (1) Demonstrated commitment to bilingual education and bilingual teacher training.
  (2) Demonstrated capability to fully prepare candidates for bilingual certificates of competence in accordance with the criteria for assessment in language, methodology, and culture.
  (3) The availability of bilingual education staff with demonstrated experience and knowledge of bilingual education training programs.
  (4) Demonstrated management and supportive services necessary to efficiently and effectively meet the intent of this article.
  (5) District matching funds or in-kind matching resources in support of teachers participating in training programs under this article.
  (d) Agencies maintaining programs for the training of bilingual teachers on waiver shall have their programs approved for a period not to exceed three consecutive years, contingent upon all of the following:
  (1) The availability of funds.
  (2) The submission of acceptable plans and modifications thereof.
  (3) An annual evaluation that demonstrates that participants have made significant progress toward passing competency requirements leading to bilingual teachers certification. Upon the successful completion of a three-year cycle, centers shall be eligible to reapply for continued funding.

The department shall establish minimum requirements for teachers who may wish to participate in the program, including, but not limited to, the following requirements:
  (a) That the teacher is working in a bilingual classroom serving pupils of limited-English-proficiency and is under a bilingual teacher waiver issued pursuant to Section 52178.
  (b) That the teacher's waiver application includes a certification by an assessor agency approved by the Commission on Teacher Preparation and Licensing issued pursuant to Section 52178.
  (c) That the teacher is enrolled and participating in a program leading to a bilingual specialist credential or a certificate of competence for bilingual-crosscultural instruction pursuant to Section 44253.5.
  (d) That the teacher demonstrates the ability and commitment to meet the requirements of the certificate of competence within the time period specified in Section 52178.

Agencies funded under Section 52182 to provide training services shall report annually to the Superintendent of Public Instruction the information required under Section 52184.

The department shall provide ongoing technical assistance and support for districts establishing or continuing bilingual teacher training assistance programs under this article.