ctcwatch Mailing List: June CTC Meeting Report (CTC Watch)

[Tsai-Tsai O-Lee (tolee]

   CTC WATCH____________________
              Your source for current events impacting the Commission on Teacher Credentialing......

Authored & Published by:
Bruce Kitchen, CCTC/School District Liaison
San Bernardino & San Diego Counties

PROPOSED LEGISLATION DOMINATES MORNING SESSION

Nearly three (3) hours of the Commission's morning session were spent in very active discussion over two pieces of proposed legislation.  Senate Bill 1643 (Torlakson) is sponsored by the the Governor's office and the Secretary of Education.  The Bill's intent is to provide the ability of County Offices of Education to create and issue Eminence Teaching Credentials.  This practice would circumvent the Commission on Teacher Credentialing and led some to question the real intent behind such a significant change.  Bad law is easy to create and very difficult to reverse.  Perhaps it was this recognition that was the ultimate concern of Commissioners and members of stakeholder groups that led the CTC to take a position of OPPOSE instead of the staff's recommended SEEK AMENDMENTS.
 

The potential for overwhelming the capacity of the Commission while "drastically" changing the teacher preparation structure was the focus of discussion related to SB 2517 (Portantino).  The intent of this Governor sponsored Bill is to allow virtually any organization to operate a teacher credentialing program when accredited by the CTC.  The purpose would appear to be to provide additional routes to address perceived concern for future institutional inability to provide the candidate numbers necessary to meet potential shortages of licensed teachers.  Both watchdog groups Public Advocates and Californians Together joined some stakeholders indicating their opposition to this Bill as currently written.   A position of OPPOSED UNLESS AMENDED was taken by the Commission noting the need to express the viability of an organization to meet Commission standards is lacking and needs to be addressed. 

Both the Torlakson and Portantino Bills have the potential for major structural change in California's teacher preparation structure.  You may want to let your voice be heard before this is over.

GENERAL SCIENCE CREDENTIAL "COMING SOON"

Okay!  "Soon" and Government action is an oxymoron, but we are on the way.  The Commission staff was directed to move forward with a single subject teaching authorization in Foundational-Level General Science.  They were also directed to prepare the requirements for necessary changes in Title 5 of the California Code of Regulations.  These will be acted upon at the August meeting of the CTC.  Finalization of the credential creation process will include a public hearing and more.  The end result will be a new authorization that would allow the self-contained elementary level teacher to serve in a middle or high school departmentalized assignment as well as the middle and high school departmentalized level teacher in another subject to earn an additional authorization to expand their NCLB compliant capability.  Credential holders would be authorized to teach the content area of general or introductory science in preschool, grades K-12, and adu lts.

LOOKING AHEAD

Should we be concerned?  Fourteen (14) of the fifteen voting members of the Commission on Teacher Credentialing are composed of Governor appointees.  We were surprised to learn that Jennifer Husbands (administrative services representative) submitted her resignation at the close of today's meeting.  The Commission is already short three (3) members and five (5) other members will see their terms expire in a few months.  The filling of current vacancies and anticipated losses due to end of term appointments is cause for contemplation.  The Governor relies on his Secretary of Education for help in this arena and how rapidly and effectively replacement members are seated, as well as their political leanings, could bring about a real personality change in the Commission and their performance.

Huummmm

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