TITLE

Early Completion InternOption

HISTORY

Legislation passed and signed by the governor in 2001.

MOTIVATION

Provides fast-track options for:
a) Private school teachers who want to become public school teachers;
b) Well-qualified individuals who can demonstrate that pedagogical preparation or supervised field experience is unnecessary for them through passage of the Foundations in Teaching exam.

GRADE LEVELS AND/OR SUBJECT AREA(S) COVERED

Multiple and Single Subject (K-12) teachers. Exams currently available in Multiple Subject, and in four single subject areas: Math, Science, English and Social Studies.

WHO OPERATES

District and University Internship Programs.

REQUIREMENTS TO ENTER

Early Completion Internship
1. Baccalaureate degree
2. Subject matter content proficiency (exam or coursework)
3. Character fitness (fingerprints)
4. Written assessment of teaching knowledge and subject matter pedagogy in the areas of:
     a. Special needs students and learning differences
     b. English learners
     c. Classroom management
     d. Subject matter pedagogy
     e. Assessment of pupil progress

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

Individuals who complete the prerequisites -- including the Foundations in Teaching exam -- may enter the Early Completion Option if they are offered a teaching position and are accepted into the internship program.

Once admitted into the Early Completion Internship Option, a candidate completes the California Teaching Performance Assessment or other authorized assessment of classroom performance. The candidate's performance is demonstrated with his or her students in the classroom. If the candidate passes all sections or elements of the performance assessment and other district requirements, he or she is eligible for a preliminary credential.

If the candidate does not pass all sections of the performance assessment, he or she continues in the intern program and receives an individualized program of study, based on the assessment results and any district or intern program requirements. Early Completion Option interns, as well as all interns, must pass the Teaching Performance Assessment at the end of the internship to be recommended for a preliminary credential. Candidates for a multiple-subject credential must also pass the Reading Instruction Competency Assessment for credential recommendation.

NUMBER OF CREDIT HOURS TO COMPLETE

No set number of credit hours. Completion is determined by the candidate successfully passing the exam and perfomance assessment.

WHO EVALUATES

California Commission on Teacher Credentialing and participating internship program and districts.

LENGTH OF TIME

No time limit, but could be completed in as little as one semester.

OTHER

In addition to the Early Completion Option, the statute also allows private school teachers to achieve California credentials, and has an option for challenging the induction portion of teacher preparation.

The private school option allows teachers with six years of full-time teaching experience in a regionally accredited private school and two years of rigorous performance evaluations to seek a preliminary credential. The evaluations must address the effectiveness areas in the California Standards for Teacher Profession.

Private school teachers with three years of successful teaching and two years of successful evaluations under the same conditions as above may waive teacher preparation fieldwork.
Private school applicants also must demonstrate knowledge of basic skills, reading, the U.S. Constitution, and subject matter, and have fingerprint clearance.

The statute also requires development of a fast track method to complete the formative assessment of teaching performance portion of the professional clear teaching credential.