Chair’s Report

Chair Schwarze began the meeting by announcing the retirement of the Commission’s Executive Director, Dr. Sam Swofford. In her comments she stated that Dr. Swofford has been the Executive Director of the Commission for the past ten years, making him the longest-serving Executive Director. She thanked him for his leadership and his contributions to education in California. She also announced that he will be joining the faculty of St. Mary’s College of California in the Education Leadership Division.

Chair Schwarze also announced that Commissioner Ruth Bloome has resigned. Ms. Bloome has been the liaison from the State Department of Education. At this time no replacement has been named.

Update on the Proposed 2006-07 Governor’s Budget

CCTC staff reported that as of May 26 the Assembly version of the 2006-07 budget is moving forward.  Both houses have approved their version of the budget.

An agenda insert for this item was available at the meeting. This insert included a table of Legislative Change Proposals and their status. This insert also included the letter from CCAC regarding the report from the Legislative Analyst Office concerning credentialing in California and a letter from AICCU on the same subject. The LAO report is available at:

http://www.lao.ca.gov/2006/ctc/ctc_042706.pdf

During the hearing of this item Dr. Mel Hunt, CCAC Past President, went to the table to emphasize the need for an independent policy board as opposed to the advisory board recommended in the LAO report.

On the second day of the meeting the Commissioners and meeting attendees were given a copy of new budget language which would convene a working group to undertake major teacher credential and accreditation reform. The reforms would include significantly simplifying credential requirements, giving credentialing responsibility to IHEs and county offices, eliminating any redundancies associated with credential reviews and fingerprinting, simplifying the accreditation system by shifting to annual reviews of measurable performance outcomes and the biggie – elimination of the CCTC. This additional item generated a lot of discussion among the Commissioners. Commissioners expressed their support of the mission and work of the CCTC and indicated that they were willing to testify in support of the CCTC wherever they were needed.

Budget Change Proposal for the 2007-08 Budget Year

This item asked for the approval of the Commission to allow the CCTC to request a budget change proposal to provide funding for the “Independent Evaluation of the California School Paraprofessional Teacher Training Program (PTTP). This proposal would seek $523,300 in additional resources to enable the Commission to complete an independent evaluation of the PTTP as mandated in Education Code Section 44393(e).

CCTC staff proposed four options for the Commissioners’ consideration. The Commissioners voted to accept option 4 which would direct staff to seek amendments to law, defer the evaluation pending legislative action and continue to provide annual reports to the Legislature as required in Education Code Section 44393(g). 

Release of Request for Proposals for the Administration of Commission Examinations

This item generated a great deal of discussion. Commissioners were concerned about the release of an RFP which would generate new contracts with testing companies. Because of SB 1209 (Scott) Commissioners expressed concern about possible legislative changes that would impact testing as we know it today.  Commissioners suggested that CCTC staff look at extending the current contracts with the testing companies. CCTC staff indicated to the Commissioners that even if legislative changes were made it would take quite some time to structure the new format for testing, do a new RFP, conduct validity studies, etc. CCTC staff also indicated that in spite of proposed changes there would still be the need for exams such as CBEST and CSET. Also, the Commission needs to make sure that they have valid exams in place until the new structure is adopted.  After much discussion the Commission voted by roll-call vote to issue the RFP for the tests. 

CCTC staff was directed to come back to the Commission to outline the long-term implications of testing changes.

Validity Study Process and Funding for the RICA Examination

At the last Commission meeting there was a great deal of discussion regarding the funding of the RICA validity study and the approval needed to fund this activity  Since the last meeting CCTC staff did a considerable amount of research in which they found that they did not need Commission approval to fund this study. This validity study will now take place.

Information Update on Accreditation

This item was a follow-up to the same item on the last Commission meeting agenda. This discussion highlighted the two national accrediting agencies that accredit institutions of higher education in the U.S. The two agencies are NCATE and TEAC.  CCTC staff’s presentation included information about both. The basic difference between the two is that NCATE accredits the entire educational unit (i.e. School of Education), and TEAC accredits specific programs.

This item generated a great deal of discussion among Commissioners as well as comments from the audience. Several of the Commissioners who had served on accreditation teams that conducted joint accreditation visits (NCATE and CCTC) stated that national accreditation might not be a good option for California since California has done so much work in creating the K-12 standards. They felt that going to national accreditation would discount the value of the items that are written into the California K-12 standards.

Comments from the audience urged the Commission to take action to put an accreditation process in place. It was stated that if the Commission did not take action on this issue it could mean “suicide” for the CCTC in light of the LAO report.

Staff was directed by the Commission to bring a plan for action to the next meeting. The Commission indicated that accreditation should begin sooner rather than later and that first attention should be given to those programs that have never had an accreditation visit.

Program Approval and Initial Accreditation

The Commission approved 11 undergraduate subject matter preparation programs.  They were:

•             Azusa Pacific University:  Social Science
•             Loyola Marymount University:  Social Science
•             California State University, Sacramento:  Social Science
•             California State University, Los Angeles, Mathematics
•             Point Loma Nazarene University:  Mathematics
•             National University:  Mathematics
•             California State University, Sacramento:  Mathematics
•             Sonoma State University:  Mathematics
•             California State University, San Bernardino:  English
•             St. Mary’s College:  English
•             California State University, Channel Islands:  English

The Commission approved an Induction Program for Arcadia Unified School District Professional Teacher Induction Program, and a Professional Clear Administrative Services Program for University of California, Irvine, Extension.

This item also generated a great deal of discussion among the Commissioners  Commissioner Young brought up the point that she had done some research regarding how long programs were waiting for approval. Most of the programs submitted by the CSU schools had been waiting for 6-9 months with no action. 

Questions were also raised about how review committees conducted the approval process. It was indicated by CCTC Staff that most of the review was done by phone and e-mail contact because there was not funding available to bring reviewers to Sacramento to sit meet together to review programs. CCTC staff was directed to come back to the Commission at a future meeting to give information about when the practice of bringing reviewers to Sacramento was stopped and a suggested plan of how to reinstate the process.  Chair Schwarze indicated that if reviewers could work in the same room where they could talk back and forth it might help to alleviate some of the concerns that Commissioners have about the program approval process.

Proposed Plan to Modify the Special Education Credentialing Requirements

This is another item that is back on the agenda as a result of the discussion at the last Commission meeting. This item recommends procedures for adding the English Learner Authorization to the current Education Specialist credentials and to approve plans to examine professional level certification, subject matter competence and the structure of and requirements for Special Ed credentials.

On the issue of English Learners, IHEs with educational specialist programs will be required to submit a proposal addressing Standard 7A, Preparation to Teach Reading-Languages Arts, Standard 13, Preparation To Teach English Learners, and Standard 19 (for the Professional Level Credential) Teaching English Learners.  Submissions Guidelines were to be distributed by June 12.

All recommendations were approved.

Status of Legislation of Interest to the Commission

• SB 1533 (Scott) – Currently in the Assembly Education Committee
• AB 49 (Benoit) – In Senate Appropriations
• AB 476 (Baca) – In Senate Education Committee
• AB 2054 (Horton, Shirley) - In Senate Rules
• AB 2445 (Salinas) In the Assembly for a third reading
• SB 1209 (Scott) – In Assembly
• AB 1857 (Garcia) – In Senate Rules

Analysis of Bills of Interest to the Commission

• AB 2802 (Pavley) – Early Childhood Education Multiple Subject Teaching Credential – Staff recommended a “watch” position.  The author has incorporated amendments to address CCTC concerns.
• SB 1433 (Torlakson) – California Teacher Leadership Program – The Commission recommends a position of “support”.
• SB 1209 (Scott) – Implementation of recommendations by the Center for the Future of Teaching and Learning:  Status of the Teaching Profession, 2005 – The CCTC has recommended a position of “support” on this bill.  The CCTC staff has been working with the author to address major concerns in this proposed bill.  The Commission directed staff to continue to work with the author.  An area of particular concern was the portion relating to removing the professional growth requirements for those who hold professional clear credentials.  The Commission feels that this would be a step backward and a return to what was known as life credentials.  Candidates would in essence hold a life credential, but pay to renew it every five years.  This bill suggests that school districts could require teachers to do professional growth, but they indicated that this could be an issue in labor negotiations.

Other Items of Interest to the Commission

• AB 1988 (Coto) – Would require the Commission to develop a 10-hour English language learner professional development module.  Commissioners questioned why this bill has been drafted since these items are currently covered in the new 2042 programs.  This bill is not currently moving.
• AB 2913 (Frommer) – This bill would require the Commission to submit an expenditure plan for the development of a subject matter examination in the Armenian language.  This bill has moved to the Senate.  This bill is similar AB 420 (Horton).
• SB 1124 (Torlakson) Teacher Recruitment, Training and Retention – This bill has passed the Senate.  It is a companion bill to SB 1209.
• SB 1614 (Simitian) Teacher Data System – This bill has passed the Senate and has been referred to the Assembly.
• SB 1842 (Migden) – This bill would require the CCTC, upon the recommendation of the governing board of a school district, to issue a two-year California Preliminary credential if the candidate displays knowledge and expertise in math or science.  The candidate would have to meet the following criteria:
  • Post-baccalaureate or graduate degree from a regionally accredited institution of postsecondary education
  • Minimum of five years practice in the field for which the post-baccalaureate or graduate degree was awarded
  • Pass CBEST
  • Subject matter competence by exam
  • Fitness to teach by successfully passage of a criminal background check

This bill is in the Senate Education Committee.  No hearing date has been set.

You will find the complete agenda of this meeting at http://www.ctc.ca.gov/commission/agendas/2006-05/2006-05-agenda.html.  The next meeting of the Commission will be held July 31 – August 1, 2006 at the Commission Offices in Sacramento.