ALIGNING TEACHER PREP WITH COMMON CORE STATE STANDARDS
The California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CCTC) has made a series of changes to better align teacher preparation requirements with the demands of teaching the Common Core State Standards (CCSS).
Specific changes in three key areas are outlined below, and more are expected in the coming months in further alignment to the new science standards, as well as reviewing Special Education Teaching Performance Expectations to ensure compatibility with the CCSS. The CCTC:
- Adopted revised Subject Matter Requirements (SMFs) for the California Standards Examination for Teachers (CSET) in Multiple Subject, Single Subject English, and Single Subject Mathematics.
- Adopted revised California Teaching Performance Expectations (TPEs) so that they are aligned with the CCSS. Accredited colleges and universities design their teacher preparation programs so that credential candidates meet the expectations in the TPEs. The teaching performance assessment that every teacher-candidate has to pass before gaining their preliminary credential is also based on the TPEs. Full implementation of the TPEs is expected by 2014-15.
- Clarified that induction programs must also use the CCSS as the definition of “standards of pupil performance.” Induction programs are charged with supporting new teachers’ professional skills in relation to pupil performance. Further, induction programs may provide CCSS professional development to beginning teachers to help strengthen a teacher’s ability to apply pedagogical skills beyond what may have been demonstrated for the preliminary credential. This clarification is designed to allow for the use of CCSS professional development funds to be used by induction programs.