SECTIONS 44280-44298 - California Statutes

EDUCATION CODE

SECTION 44280-44298

44280. The adequacy of subject matter preparation and the basis for
assignment of certified personnel shall be determined by the
successful passage of a subject matter examination as certified by
the commission, except as specifically waived as set forth in Article
6 (commencing with Section 44310) of this chapter. For the purpose
of determining the adequacy of subject matter knowledge of languages
for which there are no adequate examinations, the commission may
establish guidelines for accepting alternative assessments performed
by organizations that are expert in the language and culture
assessed. The commission shall submit an expenditure plan for the
development of a subject matter examination in the Filipino language
to the Department of Finance no later than January 8, 2006. Upon
approval of the expenditure plan by the Department of Finance and the
Secretary for Education, and subject to an appropriation in the
Budget Act of 2006 for this purpose, the commission shall contract
with another entity for that entity to develop, for certification by
the commission, a subject matter examination in the Filipino
language, to be administered no later than September 1, 2008.

44281. The commission shall select, administer, and interpret
subject matter examinations, which shall be a prerequisite for
assignment to assure minimum levels of subject matter knowledge by
all certified personnel regardless of the pattern and place of
preparation.

44282. (a) The commission shall adopt examinations and assessments
to verify the subject matter knowledge and competence of candidates
for the single subject teaching credentials described in Section
44257 and the concentrations described in Section 44257.2.
(b) A general subject matter examination authorizing teaching
multiple subjects shall include an examination of the candidate's
knowledge of the following areas: language studies, literature,
mathematics, science, social studies, history, the arts, physical
education, and human development.

44282.1. (a) In carrying out its duties prescribed by subdivision
(h) of Section 44225, the commission shall not develop a new health
science subject matter examination, but shall instead employ an
existing health science subject matter examination for the purpose of
certifying single subject instruction in health science.
(b) It is the intent of the Legislature that no funds be
appropriated from the Teacher Credentials Fund, or any other fund,
for the purpose of development of a health science subject matter
examination by the commission.

44283. (a) The Legislature hereby recognizes that teacher
competence in reading instruction is essential to the progress and
achievement of pupils learning to read in elementary and secondary
schools. It is the intent of the Legislature that the commission
develop a reading instruction competence assessment to measure the
knowledge, skill, and ability of first-time credential applicants who
are not credentialed in any state who will be responsible for
reading instruction.
(b) The commission shall develop, adopt, and administer a reading
instruction competence assessment consisting of one or more
instruments to measure an individual's knowledge, skill, and ability
relative to effective reading instruction. The reading instruction
competence assessment shall measure the knowledge, skill, and ability
of first-time credential applicants who are not credentialed in any
state that the commission determines to be essential to reading
instruction and shall be consistent with the state's reading
curriculum framework adopted after July 1, 1996, and the Reading
Program Advisory published by the State Department of Education in
1996. The commission shall perform the following duties with respect
to the reading instruction competence assessment:
(1) Develop, adopt, and administer the assessment.
(2) Initially and periodically analyze the validity and
reliability of the content of the assessment.
(3) Establish and implement appropriate passing scores on the
assessment.
(4) Analyze possible sources of bias on the assessment.
(5) Collect and analyze background information provided by
first-time credential applicants who are not credentialed in any
state who participate in the assessment.
(6) Report and interpret individual and aggregated assessment
results.
(7) Convene a task force to advise the commission on the design,
content, and administration of the assessment. Not less than
one-third of the members of the task force shall be classroom
teachers with recent experience in teaching reading in the early
elementary grades.
(8) Prior to requiring successful passage of the assessment for
the preliminary multiple subject teaching credential, certify that
all of the teacher education programs approved by the commission
pursuant to Section 44227 offer instruction in the knowledge, skills,
and abilities required by the assessment.
(c) Commencing on the earliest feasible date, as determined by the
commission, the requirements for issuance of the preliminary
multiple subject teaching credential, as set forth in subdivision (b)
of Section 44259, shall include successful passage of one of the
following components of the reading instruction competence
assessment:
(1) A comprehensive examination of the knowledge and skill
pertaining to effective reading instruction of the credential
applicant.
(2) An authentic assessment of teaching skills and classroom
abilities of the credential applicant pertaining to the provision of
effective reading instruction.
(d) The reading instruction competence assessment is subject to
the provisions of Sections 44235.1 and 44298.

44283.2. (a) Commencing on January 1, 2000, prior to the initial
issuance of a specialist teaching credential in special education
pursuant to Section 44265, except as provided in subdivision (b) a
first time credential applicant who is not credentialed in any state
shall be required to demonstrate that he or she passed the reading
instruction competence assessment developed pursuant to Section
44283.
(b) This section shall not apply to an applicant for an Early
Childhood Special Education Certificate or Early Childhood Special
Education Credential, which authorizes the holder to provide
educational services to children from birth through prekindergarten
who are eligible for early intervention special education and related
services.

44284. Examinations authorizing advanced or specialist teaching
service may be authorized by the commission. Such examinations shall
conform to the guidelines established by this chapter.

44288. The commission shall create subject matter advisory panels
to advise in the selection, administration, and interpretation of
examinations. The subject matter advisory panels shall consist of
recognized leaders in the subject matter fields to be examined and
shall be composed primarily of full-time public school classroom
teachers, and full-time college or university classroom teachers.
Experts and authorities in the field of examination design,
interpretation, and analysis may be included in the subject matter
panels or may be separately employed by the commission.
Members of the examination panels shall serve without
compensation, but may be reimbursed for actual and necessary
expenses.
The approved examinations shall provide for flexibility and
variety in patterns of subject matter preparation.

44289. The commission shall set passing scores with the objective
of assuring an adequate level of subject matter preparation.
The examination shall report at least relative and absolute scores
to facilitate comparison and interpretation, if practicable.
The individual candidate's score on any examination shall be a
matter of record, but shall not be posted on the front of the
credential or be made available to the public; the teaching or other
credential shall identify by name those examinations successfully
passed.
Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit research,
evaluation, analysis, or interpretation of test scores so long as
individual confidentiality is maintained.

44290. The commission, before the adoption of any examination,
shall provide an opportunity to the public and teaching profession to
present their viewpoints with respect thereto in open hearings.

44291. The approved examinations shall be instruments whose purpose
is to measure achievement and shall be used solely to measure
objective knowledge of subject matter.

44292. Insofar as is reasonable and practicable, the commission
shall adopt examinations which are nationally administered on a
regular basis.

44293. In selecting subject matter examinations, the commission
shall consider the importance of timely and expeditious processing
and the desirability and convenience of machine scoring.

44294. The commission may approve more than one examination with
passing scores appropriate to each examination for any of the
categories to be examined as required by this chapter.

44295. In the selection, adoption and interpretation of
examinations, the commission shall analyze and account for any
cultural, class, or social bias which may arbitrarily and unfairly
work to the disadvantage of any group of examinees, and shall assess
and report upon the extent to which, if any, the passing score may
adversely affect any group of prospective or actual examinees due to
social, cultural, or ethnic factors.

44296. The commission may collect various data, including the
ethnic background of examinees, age, sex, the college or university
attended, degrees held, teaching experience, and other factors which
may pertain, in the judgment of the commission, to examination
performance.

44297. No limit may be placed on the number of times an examinee
may take the approved examinations.

44298. Fees charged for the examinations shall be sufficient to
furnish the full cost of the examination system, except as these
funds may be augmented from designated appropriations by the
Legislature from the Teacher Credentials Fund.