BILL NUMBER: AB 1853 ENROLLED
BILL TEXT
PASSED THE SENATE AUGUST 13, 2012
PASSED THE ASSEMBLY AUGUST 21, 2012
AMENDED IN SENATE AUGUST 6, 2012
AMENDED IN SENATE JULY 5, 2012
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MAY 25, 2012
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY APRIL 19, 2012
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MARCH 29, 2012
INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Bonilla
(Principal coauthor: Senator Simitian)
FEBRUARY 22, 2012
An act to add Section 44255 to the Education Code, relating to
teacher credentialing.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 1853, Bonilla. Teacher credentialing: recognition of study in
transitional kindergarten.
Existing law requires the Commission on Teacher Credentialing to
establish standards and to determine the terms for the issuance and
renewal of teaching credentials, certificates, and permits, as
specified.
This bill would authorize the commission to convene a workgroup
consisting of specified members to develop program standards for the
issuance of a recognition of study in transitional kindergarten, as
defined, for holders of a multiple subject teaching credential who
will be teaching pupils enrolled in transitional kindergarten, as
defined, and would authorize the commission to add a recognition of
study in transitional kindergarten to the multiple subject teaching
credential of a teacher who meets the established standards. The bill
would authorize the commission to work with the Superintendent of
Public Instruction to gather and post, on an appropriate Internet Web
site, best practices from school districts and schools on curriculum
development and professional development relating to implementing
and sustaining transitional kindergarten programs. The bill also
would provide that the holder of a multiple subject teaching
credential who has received a recognition of study in transitional
kindergarten is not authorized to teach English learners, except as
specified, and that a recognition of study in transitional
kindergarten is not considered a type of authorization, cannot be
used as a condition of employment, does not replace subject matter
competence requirements, and cannot be used in making employment
decisions relating to reductions in employee positions.
The bill would require the commission to use private funds to
support the development of the recognition of study in transitional
kindergarten and would prohibit the use of General Fund moneys for
this purpose. The bill would require the workgroup to be convened
only after the Department of Finance determines, and files a written
statement with specified persons, that private funds have been
deposited with the state, as specified.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. Section 44255 is added to the Education Code, to read:
44255. (a) For purposes of this section, the following
definitions shall apply:
(1) "Recognition of study in transitional kindergarten" is a
statement added to a multiple subject teaching credential to indicate
that the holder of a multiple subject teaching credential has
completed a commission-approved program in transitional kindergarten
teaching methods that can be applied to the academic instruction
authorized by his or her credential. A recognition of study in a
transitional kindergarten teacher preparation program may be offered
as part of an initial teacher preparation program or as a separate
program for teachers who possess a valid multiple subject teaching
credential.
(2) "Transitional kindergarten" is the first year of a two-year
kindergarten program that uses a modified kindergarten curriculum
that is age and developmentally appropriate, as defined in
subdivision (d) of Section 48000.
(b) The commission may convene a workgroup to develop program
standards for the issuance of a recognition of study in transitional
kindergarten for holders of a multiple subject teaching credential
who will be teaching pupils enrolled in transitional kindergarten
pursuant to Section 48000. The workgroup shall include, but not be
limited to, all of the following:
(1) The Superintendent or his or her representative.
(2) Representatives from approved teacher preparation programs,
including at least one representative from the California Community
Colleges, the California State University, the University of
California, and the Association of Independent California Colleges
and Universities. To the extent practicable, the representatives
described in this paragraph should have an academic interest or prior
experience in preparing teachers to teach pupils in transitional
kindergarten.
(3) A researcher from a higher education institution who has
experience in early pupil learning.
(4) A representative from a school district, a county office of
education, or a charter school that has implemented a program for
transitional kindergarten.
(5) A transitional kindergarten teacher who has experience
teaching pupils in kindergarten.
(6) A teacher who is currently teaching pupils in transitional
kindergarten.
(7) A representative of other organizations deemed appropriate by
the commission.
(8) A parent representative.
(c) The commission may add a recognition of study in transitional
kindergarten to the multiple subject teaching credential of a teacher
who meets the standards established pursuant to this section.
(d) It is the intent of the Legislature that a successful
candidate for a recognition of study in transitional kindergarten be
able to demonstrate appropriate knowledge, as determined by the
commission, based on the recommendations of the workgroup convened
pursuant to subdivision (b).
(e) With respect to a recognition of study in transitional
kindergarten, the California State University and other teacher
preparation institutions are encouraged to establish goals to
increase the number of teachers participating in transitional
kindergarten preparation programs.
(f) Beginning teacher support and assessment programs are
encouraged to provide appropriate support, mentoring, and assistance
to beginning teachers who teach pupils in transitional kindergarten.
(g) The commission may work with the Superintendent to gather and
post, on an appropriate Internet Web site, best practices from school
districts and schools on curriculum development and professional
development relating to implementing and sustaining transitional
kindergarten programs.
(h) The commission shall use private funds to support the
development of the recognition of study in transitional kindergarten
as described in this section. General Fund moneys shall not be used
for this purpose.
(i) The holder of a multiple subject teaching credential who has
received a recognition of study in transitional kindergarten pursuant
to subdivision (c) is not authorized to teach English learners
unless he or she holds an appropriate authorization or is employed on
the basis of a local assignment option.
(j) A recognition of study in transitional kindergarten shall not
be considered a type of authorization, shall not be used as a
condition of employment, shall not replace a subject matter
competence requirement, and shall not be used in making employment
decisions pursuant to Section 44955.
(k) The workgroup described in subdivision (b) shall be convened
only after the Department of Finance determines that private funds,
in an amount sufficient to fully support the activities of the
workgroup, have been deposited with the state. If the Department of
Finance determines that sufficient funding has been secured to
establish and support the activities of the workgroup, the Department
of Finance shall file a written statement with the Secretary of the
Senate, the Chief Clerk of the Assembly, and the Legislative Counsel
memorializing that this determination has been made.