Administrative Regulation

AR 4112.2

Certificated Personnel

Certification

Registration

Each person employed by the district for a position requiring certification qualifications shall, within 60 days after beginning employment, register with the county office of education a valid credential authorizing the person to work in that position. Certificated employees also shall register renewed credentials within 60 days after the renewal. (Education Code 44330, 44857)

All certificated personnel are personally responsible for the renewing of their credentials and for keeping them valid. A teacher whose credential is not valid cannot be paid for the time service is rendered under such conditions.

Each credential activity used by the certificated employee must be registered with the Office of the Los Angeles County Superintendent of Schools. This is the certificated employee's responsibility.

Basic Skills Proficiency Test

Prior to being hired by the Board of Education, all certificated persons, whether hired on a permanent, temporary or substitute basis, shall demonstrate basic skills proficiency in reading, writing and mathematics unless exempted from this requirement by the provisions of law. (Education Code 44830)

The state basic skills proficiency test shall not be required of the following: (Education Code 44830)

1. A certificated person who was employed in a position requiring certification in another school district within 39 months of his/her employment in this district

2. A person employed solely for purposes of teaching adults in an approved apprenticeship program

3. The holder of an adult education designated subject credential for nonacademic subjects employed in an instructional setting for 20 hours or less per week

4. The holder of a child care permit or a permit authorizing service in a development center for the disabled, as long as the permit holder is not required to have a baccalaureate degree

5. The holder of a credential to provide service in the health profession, as long as this person does not teach in the public schools

6. The holder of a vocational designated subject credential when the proficiency test is not administered at the time of hiring, on the condition that he/she will take the test at its next local administration

7. The holder of a vocational designated subject credential who does not pass the basic skills proficiency test, as long as he/she retakes and passes the test within one year

8. A credential holder who seeks an additional credential or authorization to teach

9. For a maximum period of one year, a certificated person employed under a foreign exchange program

10. A certificated teacher who has not yet been afforded the opportunity to take the test, in which case the person shall then take the test at the earliest opportunity and may remain employed by the district pending the receipt of his/her test results

Certificated persons who have not held a position requiring certification within 39 months of employment and who have not taken the state basic skills proficiency test may be hired as temporary employees, provided they pass a basic skills proficiency test developed and administered by the district. Such employees shall subsequently take the state test within one year of employment. (Education Code 44830)

(cf. 4121 - Temporary/Substitute Personnel)

Persons holding a designated subjects special subjects credential or vocational designated subject credential shall not be required to take the state basic skills proficiency test unless their specific credential requires the possession of a baccalaureate degree. Instead, these persons shall be assessed with district proficiency criteria established by the Board for these credentials, which shall be at least equivalent to the district test required for graduation from high school. (Education Code 44252, 44830)

Persons holding a designated subjects special subjects credential or a vocational designated subject credential shall be charged a fee to take the district proficiency test.

Out-of-State Credentials

The district may employ a teacher who holds a credential from another state if all of the following conditions are met: (Education Code 44275.3)

1. The teacher holds a valid credential from another state which has requirements equivalent to the multiple and single subject credential requirements in Education Code 44227, or the California special education credential requirements in Education Code 44265.

2. The out-of-state credential is valid at the time the teacher begins to provide instructional services for the district.

3. The teacher successfully completes a criminal background check pursuant to Education Code 44332.6.

(cf. 4112.5/4312.5 - Criminal Record Check)

Teachers employed under these conditions must pass the state basic skills proficiency test described above within one year of teaching in the district. Before completing their fourth and fifth years of teaching, they must also meet requirements for subject matter competence, course completion and examinations in accordance with law. (Education Code 44275.3)

Alternative Means for Preliminary Credential

The Board may recommend that the Commission on Teacher Credentialing issue a preliminary credential to any person who displays knowledge and expertise in a subject area as demonstrated by all of the following: (Education Code 44259.8)

1. Possession of a postbaccalaureate or graduate degree in a subject specified in Education Code 44257 from a regionally accredited institution of higher education

2. Five or more full-time equivalent years of practice in the field for which the postbaccalaureate or graduate degree was awarded

3. Basic skills proficiency as measured by the state's basic skills proficiency test

If the Board elects to recommend a person for a California Preliminary Credential, it shall: (Education Code 44259.8)

1. Enroll candidates in a preservice training program for a minimum of 40 hours of pedagogical training which is aligned with the California Standards for the Teaching Profession and which includes preparation in classroom management and organization; grade-level curriculum content and instructional models and strategies; student assessment practices; literacy development in the subject to be authorized on the credential; equity, access and diversity training; and appropriate instructional strategies for English language learners and students with special needs

2. Develop an individual program of professional preparation consisting of at least 150 hours of study for each candidate to pursue professional development in all areas specified in #1 above

3. Require each credential recipient to complete the preservice training program and preparation program specified in #1 and #2 above

Emergency Substitute Teaching Permits

The district may employ persons with an emergency 30-day substitute permit for 30 days or less for any one teacher during the school year. Persons with an emergency substitute permit may be employed for 20 days or less in special education positions requiring certification, unless an extension has been approved by the Superintendent of Public Instruction. (Education Code 56061; 5 CCR 80025, 80025.4)

Before employing such persons, the Superintendent or designee shall prepare and keep on file a signed statement of need. The statement of need shall describe the situation or circumstances that necessitate the use of a 30-day substitute permit holder and state either that a credentialed person is not available or that the available credentialed person(s) do not meet the district's specified employment criteria. (5 CCR 80025)

Emergency Teaching or Specialist Permits

Before employing persons with emergency teaching or specialist permits for more than 20 days in special education positions or for more than 30 days in other positions, the Board shall document that it has made a diligent search for, but has been unable to recruit, a sufficient number of certificated teachers, including teacher candidates pursuing full certification through internships or other alternative programs. (Education Code 44300, 5 CCR 80026)

The district shall submit to the Commission on Teacher Credentialing a declaration of need for fully qualified educators which shall be adopted by the Board as a separate agenda item, not a consent item, during a regularly scheduled public Board meeting. (Education Code 44300; 5 CCR 80026)

The Board's adopted declaration of need for fully qualified educators shall include: (5 CCR 80026)

1. The title(s) and number of each type of emergency permit that the district estimates it will need during the year. This will be based on previous year actual needs and enrollment projections, including each subject to be listed on emergency single subject teaching permits and the target language on emergency multiple subject or single subject teaching permits with bilingual crosscultural emphasis.

2. A brief description of efforts the district has made to locate and recruit individuals who hold the needed credentials.

3. A description of efforts the district has made to establish alternative training options, including:

a. The names of institutions of higher education cosponsoring internships or other certification programs with the district or a brief explanation of why there are no such programs.

b. An estimate of the number of pre-internship or internship programs, if any, that the district expects to employ during the year.

c. A statement of whether the district has considered developing a plan to develop fully qualified educators in cooperation with other education agencies in the region pursuant to 5 CCR 80026.4, or a brief explanation of why the district has not considered such a plan.

4. Certification that there is an insufficient number of certificated persons who meet the district's specified employment criteria to fill necessary positions.

(cf. 0510 - School Accountability Report Card)

For any assignment for which a suitable fully prepared teacher is not available, the district shall make reasonable efforts to recruit an individual in the following priority order: (Education Code 44225.7)

1. A candidate who is scheduled to complete initial preparation requirements within six months

2. A candidate who is qualified to participate in an approved internship program in the region of the district

If a suitable person who meets these priorities is not available, the district may, as a last resort, request that the Commission on Teacher Credentialing approve the assignment of a person who does not meet the above criteria. (Education Code 44225.7)

The Board shall certify by an annual resolution that it has made reasonable efforts to recruit a fully prepared teacher for the assignment. (Education Code 44225.7)

The Superintendent or designee shall provide an orientation for employees who are obtaining emergency teaching or specialist permits for the first time. This orientation shall include at least an overview of the curriculum that the teacher is expected to teach and effective techniques of classroom instruction and management at the teacher's assigned level. (Education Code 44300; 5 CCR 80026.5)

Whenever possible, the orientation shall occur before the teacher begins his/her teaching assignment. The Superintendent or designee shall also assign an experienced educator to guide and assist the teacher. This person shall be a certificated district employee or a certificated retiree of a California school district or county office of education and must have completed at least three full years of full-time classroom teaching experience or the equivalent. (Education Code 44300; 5 CCR 80026.5)

The Superintendent or designee shall inform applicants for emergency teaching or specialist permits that the district will provide the above orientation, guidance and assistance. Applicants shall be given the name or position of the person responsible for providing this guidance and assistance. They shall also be informed that in order for their permits to be renewed, they must complete a minimum of six semester or nine quarter units of course work for the related credential. For the first reissuance, applicants must be participating in a professional development program, and must complete the equivalent of the district's plan to develop fully qualified educators, if available. (5 CCR 80026.1)

Plan to Develop Fully Qualified Educators

The district's plan to develop fully qualified educators shall describe the district's efforts to: (5 CCR 80026.4)

1. Recommend to the Commission on Teacher Credentialing the certification of personnel who, by virtue of education, training or experience, have been judged by district certificated staff as competent to serve in an assignment but who are not yet certified to do so

2. Support and assist persons who have training and experience in teaching, but neither training nor experience in the area to which they will be assigned

3. Provide development activities for persons who have neither training nor experience in teaching

For persons granted an emergency permit for the first time who are in the first year of development, the plan may propose alternatives to enrollment in a preparation program accredited by the Commission on Teacher Credentialing. Such alternatives shall provide 90 hours of professional development equivalent to at least six units of course work offered for such individuals by a college or university with a preparation program approved by the Commission on Teacher Credentialing. The plan shall also describe how the performance of applicants will be evaluated for the renewal of their emergency permit. (5 CCR 80026.4)

Regulation PALOS VERDES PENINSULA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT

approved: February 8, 2001 Palos Verdes Estates, California