SACRAMENTO, Calif., July 17,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The California Commission on Teacher
Credentialing is optimistic that a new state law intended to
address the teacher shortage will help eliminate barriers to the
profession and attract more prospective educators into
classrooms.
Senate Bill 153, signed by Governor Gavin Newsom on June 29,
2024, and effective immediately, allows for a qualifying
bachelor's degree or higher in any subject to be all that is needed
for an individual to demonstrate basic skills required for
admission to most teacher preparation programs.
This means that if an applicant holds a bachelor's degree or
higher from a regionally accredited institution of higher
education, teacher preparation programs will no longer need to
verify demonstrated competence in reading, writing, and mathematics
through any other options, including passing the California Basic
Skills Examination for Teachers (CBEST) or performing a transcript
review.
"This change in state educator preparation policy represents a
major shift that will benefit the vast majority of prospective
educators in California," said
Mary Vixie Sandy, executive
director, California Commission on
Teacher Credentialing.
"Now is a great time for anyone with a qualifying bachelor's
degree or higher who has considered teaching to take the next step
to pursue their passion for education and apply to one of the
state's many accredited teacher preparation programs."
The Commission's recent teacher supply annual report to the
Legislature tracked an 11.2 % year-over-year decrease in the number
of new teaching credentials issued between 2021-22 and 2022-23. In
the most recent 2022-23 fiscal year data, there were 14,636 new
teaching credentials issued compared to 16,484 the previous
year.
"The CSU greatly appreciates the
state's decision to recognize the bachelor's degree as
demonstration of basic skills competence for educator credentials,"
said Commissioner Shireen Pavri,
assistant vice chancellor of the Educator and Leadership Program at
California State University.
"We believe this is exactly the right move toward reducing
barriers for those considering teaching, counseling, and other
education professions in California."
The State of California has
provided approximately $1.6 billion
since 2016-17 to address the teacher shortage.
The 2022-23 state budget funded eight career counselors staffed
at the Commission on Teacher Credentialing to provide one-on-one
assistance to anyone interested in becoming an educator.
These experienced staff members serve as career guidance
counselors, credential experts, subject matter experts, and
resource specialists for individuals seeking to make the transition
into a PK-12 educational career.
The Commission on Teacher Credentialing offers the following
resources for those interested in pursuing a teaching
credential:
Roadmap to Teaching
Career Counselor Appointment Request
Approved Teacher Preparation Programs
Funding Your Future in Teaching
For additional information on how to become an educator in
California, contact credentials@ctc.ca.gov.
The California Commission on
Teacher Credentialing is an agency in the Executive Branch of
California State Government. It was created in 1970 by the Ryan Act
and is the oldest of the autonomous state standards boards in the
nation. The major purpose of the agency is to serve as a state
standards board for educator preparation for the public schools of
California, the licensing and
credentialing of professional educators in the State, the
enforcement of professional practices of educators, and the
discipline of credential holders in the State of California.
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SOURCE California Commission on
Teacher Credentialing