FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                   CONTACT:   Eduardo Martinez

April 18, 2008                                                                                                                         (916) 319-2044

 

Legislation to Promote Teacher Credentialing Approved by Assembly Education Committee

As California faces a severe shortage of teachers, bi-partisan bill allows more educational institutions to offer teacher education programs that meet state’s rigorous teaching standards

 

SACRAMENTO, CA – The Assembly Education Committee today approved AB 2517, legislation authored by Assembly Higher Education Chairman Anthony Portantino (D-La Cañada Flintridge) that will greatly increase the availability of teacher education programs throughout the state.  If approved by the Legislature and signed by the Governor, AB 2517 will allow school districts, county offices of education, and community-based organizations to develop and offer teacher education programs after approval by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing.

 

“Over the next decade, the state is expected to lose more than 100,000 teachers to retirement.  This amounts to one-third of the teacher workforce disappearing,” said Portantino.  “Many people want to become teachers, but many more cannot afford to attend a UC, CSU, or private university to complete a credential program – while more have no options in their region of the State.  In these uncertain economic times, many Californians cannot afford to forfeit their income while they complete their credential requirements as a full-time student.  Baby boomers in particular ought to be given expanded access to teaching opportunities to ensure we can educate all our children and meet the needs of our growing population.”

 

Currently only traditional institutions of higher education are able to provide teacher education programs with few exceptions.  This results in many areas of the state not being able to meet the growing need for teachers because prospective teacher education students cannot afford or cannot access those institutions.  According to an analysis of AB 2517, there are only 92 teacher preparation programs statewide, with many underserved areas with growing student enrollment.  

 

The Governor’s Commission on Education Excellence, a highly anticipated report on K 12 education reform released in March, endorsed the proposal contained in AB 2517, stating the state “should expand alternative teacher and administrator training programs to develop high-quality candidates.”  Assemblymember Portantino is authoring the legislation on behalf of the Administration.

 

“I am proud to author this bi-partisan legislation where we make educating all our children a primary importance.  The Governor is right that increasing teacher training opportunities to address our teaching workforce needs will go a long way to helping to educate our children and I am very pleased to be carrying this legislation on his behalf,” Portantino continued.  “Without the options in AB 2517, otherwise talented individuals, many of whom have specialized skills in selected subject areas, may be dissuaded from pursuing a career in teaching.”

 

AB 2517 now must be approved by the Assembly Committee on Appropriations, whose primary responsibility will be to analyze the potential costs of the legislation.

 

Assemblymember Anthony Portantino was elected to serve the 44th Assembly District in November of 2006. The district encompasses Altadena, Duarte, La Canada Flintridge, Pasadena, South Pasadena and Temple City.  It also includes portions of Arcadia, Monrovia, Mayflower Village and the Northeast Los Angeles neighborhoods of Glassell Park, Hermon, Highland Park, Mount Washington and Eagle Rock. 

 

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