Friday, December 7, 2012

State considers shorter service for under-prepared teachers | California Watch

State considers shorter service for under-prepared teachers | California Watch:


State considers shorter service for under-prepared teachers

Under proposals the state's teacher credentialing agency is set to consider today, school districts would need to show on a case-by-case basis that no fully credentialed teachers are available before they resort to less-qualified educators, and under-prepared teachers could serve a maximum of three years instead of five.
The Commission on Teacher Credentialing is weighing the changes after expressing concern that under-prepared teachers disproportionately serve students who are living in poverty and learning English.
"Until that changes, we need to tighten up our process a little bit," Commissioner Kathleen Harris said at a September commission meeting, where possible regulatory changes for under-prepared teachers were first discussed.
California grants emergency permits to credentialed teachers so they may instruct English language learners,