The Assembly Education Committee is considering a CTA-backed measure that would remove unfair and unnecessary hurdles that are keeping some disabled candidates from securing preliminary teaching or services credentials.
AB 49 by Assembly Member John Benoit (R-Palm Springs) would require the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CCTC) to issue these credentials to pre-lingually deaf candidates who otherwise meet the requirements but have not passed the California Basic Education Skills Test (CBEST).
The measure would instead require the commission to develop criteria so that school districts could use a three-person panel to verify the proficiency of these new teachers. The accommodation for teacher candidates with these challenges is vital, particularly to the students with hearing and other disabilities that these teachers often instruct.
As a general policy, CTA believes that alternatives to paper and pencil tests should exist for all teachers, because the exams alone cannot predict success in teaching strategies, classroom discipline, diagnostic techniques, and other instructional skills. Specifically in relation to these teachers, CTA has supported a number of proposals to provide appropriate accommodations.
A vote on the bill was pending in the Assembly Education Committee. If approved by that panel, AB 49 would head next to the Assembly Appropriations Committee.
CTA Members:
Urge members of both the Assembly Education and Assembly Appropriations Committees to approve AB 49 (Benoit).