Back to menu | Back to Archives | Current Issue

 

More of Julie's Political Corner

What is education in California going to look like starting January 2003?

If you do not participate in the May and June public hearings and discussions of the Master Plan for California's K-16 Schools via online, faxed, written, and/or telephoned comments by you and other concerned citizens, then the educational system will be greatly overhauled without your input. More than 100 recommendations, if implemented, will dramatically change how California's children are educated from preschool through university.

Therefore, please participate in the public discussions regarding the Joint Masterplan for Education in California's K-University System, which is intended to be implemented by January 2003. I guarantee you'll be amazed about the recommendations the Legislature is planning for our public schools! Some of them will very negatively impact the quantity and quality of the teacher pool.

For website dialog and discussion, go to www.network-democracy.org/camp. For those without Internet access, your comments can be faxed to 916-445-4855. They can also be mailed to individual committee members at the Legislative Office Building, 1020 N Street, Room 560, Sacramento, CA 95814. You can reach the joint committee by phone at 916-324-4983 or by email at Master.Plan@sen.ca.gov.

You can also find out more information about this and other educational issues by contacting EdSource(R) on the web at: http://www.edsource.org/ or by calling them at 650-857-9604 or faxing them at 650-857-9618.

Protection rights under Assembly Bill 1307

This is the latest highlight from the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing. On October 5, 2001 Governor Davis signed AB1307 (Goldberg), making it part of the Education Code. This bill allows a grace period for candidates currently enrolled in a credential preparation program to complete requirements that were in place when they entered the program. This bill became effective January 1, 2002.

AB1307 pertains to candidates enrolled in commission-accredited credential programs including internship programs, professional preparation program, and integrated (blended) programs of professional preparation for multiple and single subject credentials.

Effective January 1, 2002, candidates who are currently enrolled in a commission-accredited preparation program will have 24 months after enrollment to complete the program. Any new requirements added by statute, regulation, or commission standard within the 24-month period will not apply to that candidate.

Furthermore, the candidate shall not be held responsible for any new requirements added once student teaching has begun. This provision will sunset (end) on January 1, 2006.

Make sure that you are on the list of candidates being allowed the extended time. Your preparation program is responsible for forwarding the names of the candidates to be included on the list and the projected program completion date for each candidate to the CCTC.

For further information, please contact the Commission's Information Services Office toll free at 888-921-2682, or by going to the CCTC's website: http://www.ctc.ca.gov/ or by emailing them at credentials@ctc.ca.gov. You may also call the SCTA office for more information about this protection at 650-552-5346.