TITLE

District Intern Certificate

HISTORY

Legislation passed in 1983 originally authorized the program for secondary school teachers only; the first interns were in place in 1984. The law was changed in 1987 to expand the program to include bilingual and elementary teachers and again in 2002 to include special education teachers.

MOTIVATION

Teacher supply and demand, but available in all grades and subject areas.

GRADE LEVELS AND/OR SUBJECT AREA(S) COVERED

Originally for secondary only; later expanded to include bilingual and elementary and then special education teachers.

WHO OPERATES

LEA

REQUIREMENTS TO ENTER

A bachelor's degree.

A passing score on the CBEST basic skills test

Subject matter competence demonstrated by completing an approved program of study (secondary only), or passing appropriate subject area portions of the state-approved subject matter exam.

Bilingual classroom teachers must pass oral language component of state exam.

Knowledge of U.S. Constitution.

Character Fitness (Fingerprints)

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The school district must employ persons to provide guidance and assistance. Each intern must be supported by at least one mentor or other designated support person.

The school district must develop a professional development plan for intern -- including training (120 clock hours or equivalent pre-service component in child development and methods of teaching), and ongoing teacher preparation over two years, support and assistance, and annual evaluation.

The intern will be eligible for a preliminary credential with the school district's recommendation and two years of successful teaching.

NUMBER OF CREDIT HOURS TO COMPLETE

120 clock hours of professional development training and a two-year professional development program (approximately 360 additional clock hours). Special education has an additional 120 clock hour requirement.

WHO EVALUATES

LEA evaluates candidates; state evaluates LEA programs.

LENGTH OF TIME

The Intern Credential is valid for two years of teaching and may be extended.

OTHER

28 percent of the state's Intern teachers are teaching as district interns. Of these, about 60 percent are in Los Angeles Unified School District.

Four county offices of education have developed consortium programs for multiple districts in their respective service areas. There are five urban single district programs. $38 million has been allocated in the state's budget act for alternative certification (both University and District Intern and Pre-intern programs). More than 8,500 Interns (both University and District) are teaching in 760 districts through 78 funded programs.

The retention rate of participating District Interns is approximately 91 percent after 3 years in the classroom and 85 percent after 5 years.

Interns receive full beginning teacher's salary and benefits.

The total number of District Interns in classrooms in 2002-03 was 1,800.

2003 Legislative deleted the 2 year service requirement and instead requires all programs to meet same standards and performance requirements as all teacher preparation programs in California .