Whether hired on a permanent, temporary or substitute basis, certificated employees must have demonstrated 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. Certificated persons who were employed by another school district in a position requiring certification within 39 months of their employment in this district.
2. Persons employed solely for purposes of teaching adults in an apprenticeship program approved by the Apprenticeship Standards Division of the Department of Industrial Relations;
3. Adult education designated subject credential holders employed in a nonacademic 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 handicapped, 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 credential issued by the Commission on Teacher Credentialing who seeks an additional credential or authorization to teach;
7. Certificated personnel employed under a foreign exchange program, for a maximum period of one year;
8. A certificated teacher who has not yet been afforded the opportunity to take the test. Such a 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.
9. A teacher credentialed in another state if, at a public meeting, the Board certifies that no person who meets the credentialing requirements and who has satisfied the basic skills requirement is available to fill a needed position. The Board shall employ such a person on an emergency teaching permit in accordance with procedures specified below.
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. (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, a district proficiency test shall be required, based on criteria established by the Board for these credentials. (Education Code 44252 and 44830)
Persons holding a designated subjects special subjects credential or a vocational designated subject credential may be charged a fee to take the district proficiency test. (Education Code 44252)
Emergency Teaching or Specialist Permits
Before employing person(s) with an emergency teaching or specialist permit for more than 20 days in special education positions or for more than 30 days in other positions, the Board shall adopt a Declaration of Need for Fully Qualified Educators and submit it to the Commission on Teacher Credentialing. This declaration shall be included in its entirety on the Board agenda and adopted as a separate item (not a consent item) during a regularly scheduled public Board meeting. (5 CCR 80026)
The Board's adopted Declaration of Need for Fully Qualified Educators shall include: (5 CCR 80026)
1. The title(s) of emergency permit(s) that the district expects to request on behalf of applicants for teaching within the district, 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 cross-cultural 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 certify, assign and develop fully qualified personnel, including;
a. The names of institutions of higher education co-sponsoring internships or other certification programs with the district or a brief explanation of why there are no such programs; and
b. 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; and
4. Certification that there is an insufficient number of qualified and competent certificated persons who meet the district's specified employment criteria to fill necessary positions.
The Superintendent or designee shall provide an orientation for employees who for the first time are obtaining an emergency teaching or specialist permit. 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. (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 at least three full years of full-time classroom teaching experience. (5 CCR 80026.5)
The Superintendent or designee shall inform applicants for an emergency teaching or specialist permit that the district will provide the above orientation, guidance and assistance. They 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 permit to be renewed, they must be admitted to a professional preparation program approved by the Commission on Teacher Credentialing and must complete a minimum of six semester units, or nine quarter units, of course work for the related credential. For first-time renewals, they may instead complete 90 hours in the professional development program that fulfills the district's plan to develop fully qualified educators, if available. (5 CCR 80026.1)
Emergency 30-Day Substitute Teaching Permits
The district may employ persons with an emergency 30-day substitute permit for 30 days or less in positions requiring certification. Persons with an emergency substitute permit may be employed for 20 days or less in special education positions requiring certification. (5 CCR 80025; Education Code 56061)
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 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)
Plan to Develop Fully Qualified Educators
The district's plan to develop fully qualified educators shall describe the district's efforts to:
1. Recommend to the Commission on Teacher Credentialing the certification of personnel whom district certificated staff judge competent to serve in an assignment;
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; and
3. Provide development activities for persons who have neither training nor experience in teaching.
The plan shall offer a program through which first-time emergency permit holders may receive 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.
Regulation ALHAMBRA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
approved: September 9, 1997 Alhambra, California