Administrative Regulation

AR 4113

Certificated Personnel

Assignment

Procedures for Verifying Subject Matter Knowledge

With the involvement of appropriate subject matter specialists, the Superintendent or designee shall develop and employ procedures for verifying the subject matter knowledge of teachers assigned to teach in departmentalized classes outside their credential authorization pursuant to Education Code 44258.3. For the purposes of these procedures, subject matter specialists are mentor teachers, curriculum specialists, resource teachers, classroom teachers certified to teach a subject, staff to regional subject matter projects or curriculum institutes or college faculty. (Education Code 44258.3)

Procedures to be used for this purpose shall specify: (Education Code 44258.3)

1. One or more of the following ways in which subject matter competence shall be assessed:

a. Observation by subject matter specialists

b. Oral interviews

c. Demonstration lessons

d. Presentation of curricular portfolios

e. Written examinations

2. Specific criteria and standards for verifying subject matter knowledge by any of the above methods. These criteria shall include, but need not be limited to, evidence of the individual's knowledge of the subject matter to be taught, including demonstrated knowledge of the appropriate curriculum framework and the specific content of the district's course of study for the subject at the grade level to be taught.

Whenever a teacher is assigned to teach departmentalized classes pursuant to Education Code 44258.3, the Superintendent or designee shall notify the exclusive representative of the district's certificated employees. (Education Code 44258.3)

(cf. 4140/4240 - Bargaining Units)

Committee on Assignments

When establishing a committee to consider possible assignments of teachers to elective courses outside their credential authorizations, the Superintendent or designee shall submit to the County Superintendent of Schools a plan which shall include at least all of the following: (Education Code 44258.7)

1. Statements signed by the Superintendent or designee and the Board of Education president, approving the establishment of the committee on assignments

2. Procedures for selection of committee membership

3. Terms of office for committee members

4. Criteria for determining teachers' qualifications for assignments

The committee on assignments shall include an equal number of teachers, selected by teachers, and school administrators, selected by school administrators. (Education Code 44258.7)

The committee on assignments may approve the assignment of any teacher to an elective course outside his/her credential authorization for a maximum of one school year and may subsequently extend the assignment when the teacher and principal apply for extension. Elective courses are courses other than English, mathematics, science or social studies. All assignments and extensions require approval before the beginning of the semester in which they occur. (Education Code 44258.7)

Regulation PALOS VERDES PENINSULA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT

approved: February 8, 2001 Palos Verdes Estates, California