Highlights of the Commission

Professional Practices Committee

This item proposes changes to Title 5 regulations that have to do with discipline of certificated personnel. These proposed changes were made necessary by action taken at the April 2005 Commission meeting.

First-time applicants who are subject to investigation will be given the opportunity to respond to allegations in writing rather than in person. Once the investigation is complete the disciplinary action may be sent via regular mail rather than registered mail and full administrative hearings will be replaced by an in-house review process for low-level discipline actions. These modifications could result in a savings of $46,000 for the commission.

These changes will now be sent out for public comments. It is anticipated that a public hearing could be held in November 2005.

Status of Legislation of Interest to the Commission

Bonnie Parks, Director of External Relations and Business Affairs reported on several bills:

AB430 (Nava) – Extends the date on which the Principal Training program becomes inoperative to July 1, 2012, and the repeal date to January 1. 2013. The CCTC supports this bill.
AB 309 (Walters) – Would require the Commission to conduct a study comparing CSU credentialed teachers with emergency permit teachers using STAR student achievement data by 11/1/2006. The CCTC is watching this bill and has taken no stand.
AB 420 (Horton, Shirley) – LOTE Alternative would require the Commission to establish guidelines for alternative assessments performed by organizations to determine the adequacy of preparation in languages other than English for which there is no adequate examination. Once these guidelines are established the bill would require the commission to give first priority to accepting assessments performed by an organization that is expert in the Filipino language and culture. The CCTC is watching this bill and has taken no stand.
AB 428 (Scott) – Would delete from the Ed code that requires individuals pass a basic skills examination, currently CBEST, for the purpose of earning a credential, certificate or permit for services in California public schools. The measure maintains the authority of employing school districts to administer a basic skills assessment at their discretion. Commission staff is addressing concerns with Senator Scott’s staff but the CCTC has taken no stand on this bill.

Report on 2003-2004 Emergency Permit and Credential Waivers

The Commission issued 10,242 emergency permits for 2003-2004, a decrease of 50.2% over 2002-2003. The Commission issued 458 teaching waivers during 2003-2004, a decrease of 57.6% over 2002-2003.

Initial Accreditation and Program Approval

Because some Commission members wanted to review the SMPP standards and review process prior to approval of any programs, a lengthy discussion of the issues to be considered in making such a postponement took place. It was decided that the Commission would grant approval of all 8 programs submitted but they would use the CSU Northridge English SMPP and the UC Irvine Mathematics SMPP as the subjects of a study session. If the Commission was not in agreement with the committee’s findings for these SMPP’s they could recall their approval.

With that decision the following Subject Matter Preparation Programs were approved:

Social Science Programs

California State University, Chico
California State University, Fresno
California State University, Fullerton

Mathematics Programs

California State University, Dominguez Hills
California State University, Long Beach
University of California, Irvine

English Program

California State University, Northridge

Home Economics Program

California State University, Fresno

Extension of Terms for Members of the Committee on Accreditation

Six members of the Committee on Accreditation had their terms extended to June 30, 2006. Their terms were originally scheduled to end on June 30, 2005.

Annual Report Card on Teacher Preparation programs for the Academic Year 2003-2004

The Annual Report Card on Teacher Preparation for 2003-2004 was approved. This report is generated from the Title II Report that Institutions of Higher Education submit each year. The information submitted will now become part of the national report on teacher quality published by the US Department of Education

Fiscal Policy and Planning

Updates were given on the 2005-2006 State budget.

The Commission approved Section 610 of the CCTC Policy Manual requiring that agreements or contracts of $100,000 or more be approved by the CCTC.

Approval for the CCTC to compete in a Competitive Grant Process that would enable support of local Paraprofessional Teacher Training Programs was given.

The full agenda of the Commission meeting can be found at http://www.ctc.ca.gov/commission/agendas/2005-08/2005-08-agenda.html.

Next Meeting: October 6, 2005

		Credential Counselors & Analysts of California Highlights of the Commission August 11, 2005 Barbara Noble, University of California, Irvine
	Professional Practices Committee This item proposes changes to Title 5 regulations that have to do with discipline of certificated personnel. These proposed changes were made necessary by action taken at the April 2005 Commission meeting. First-time applicants who are subject to investigation will be given the opportunity to respond to allegations in writing rather than in person. Once the investigation is complete the disciplinary action may be sent via regular mail rather than registered mail and full administrative hearings will be replaced by an in-house review process for low-level discipline actions. These modifications could result in a savings of $46,000 for the commission. These changes will now be sent out for public comments. It is anticipated that a public hearing could be held in November 2005. Status of Legislation of Interest to the Commission Bonnie Parks, Director of External Relations and Business Affairs reported on several bills: AB430 (Nava) – Extends the date on which the Principal Training program becomes inoperative to July 1, 2012, and the repeal date to January 1. 2013. The CCTC supports this bill. AB 309 (Walters) – Would require the Commission to conduct a study comparing CSU credentialed teachers with emergency permit teachers using STAR student achievement data by 11/1/2006. The CCTC is watching this bill and has taken no stand. AB 420 (Horton, Shirley) – LOTE Alternative would require the Commission to establish guidelines for alternative assessments performed by organizations to determine the adequacy of preparation in languages other than English for which there is no adequate examination. Once these guidelines are established the bill would require the commission to give first priority to accepting assessments performed by an organization that is expert in the Filipino language and culture. The CCTC is watching this bill and has taken no stand. AB 428 (Scott) – Would delete from the Ed code that requires individuals pass a basic skills examination, currently CBEST, for the purpose of earning a credential, certificate or permit for services in California public schools. The measure maintains the authority of employing school districts to administer a basic skills assessment at their discretion. Commission staff is addressing concerns with Senator Scott’s staff but the CCTC has taken no stand on this bill. Report on 2003-2004 Emergency Permit and Credential Waivers The Commission issued 10,242 emergency permits for 2003-2004, a decrease of 50.2% over 2002-2003. The Commission issued 458 teaching waivers during 2003-2004, a decrease of 57.6% over 2002-2003. Initial Accreditation and Program Approval Because some Commission members wanted to review the SMPP standards and review process prior to approval of any programs, a lengthy discussion of the issues to be considered in making such a postponement took place. It was decided that the Commission would grant approval of all 8 programs submitted but they would use the CSU Northridge English SMPP and the UC Irvine Mathematics SMPP as the subjects of a study session. If the Commission was not in agreement with the committee’s findings for these SMPP’s they could recall their approval. With that decision the following Subject Matter Preparation Programs were approved: Social Science Programs California State University, Chico California State University, Fresno California State University, Fullerton Mathematics Programs California State University, Dominguez Hills California State University, Long Beach University of California, Irvine English Program California State University, Northridge Home Economics Program California State University, Fresno Extension of Terms for Members of the Committee on Accreditation Six members of the Committee on Accreditation had their terms extended to June 30, 2006. Their terms were originally scheduled to end on June 30, 2005. Annual Report Card on Teacher Preparation programs for the Academic Year 2003-2004 The Annual Report Card on Teacher Preparation for 2003-2004 was approved. This report is generated from the Title II Report that Institutions of Higher Education submit each year. The information submitted will now become part of the national report on teacher quality published by the US Department of Education Fiscal Policy and Planning Updates were given on the 2005-2006 State budget. The Commission approved Section 610 of the CCTC Policy Manual requiring that agreements or contracts of $100,000 or more be approved by the CCTC. Approval for the CCTC to compete in a Competitive Grant Process that would enable support of local Paraprofessional Teacher Training Programs was given. The full agenda of the Commission meeting can be found at http://www.ctc.ca.gov/commission/agendas/2005-08/2005-08-agenda.html. Next Meeting: October 6, 2005