Teacher credentialing: computer science instruction: workgroup., the official text

An act to amend Section 44257.5 of the Education Code, relating to teacher credentialing.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

Existing law requires the Commission on Teacher Credentialing to establish standards for the issuance and renewal of credentials, certificates, and permits. Existing law requires the commission to issue a single subject teaching credential only in specified subjects and authorizes the commission to issue an authorization to teach a subject other than the one authorized by a single subject teaching credential if the holder of the credential meets certain requirements.
Existing law, upon appropriation by the Legislature for this purpose, requires the commission, on or before July 1, 2024, to convene a workgroup on credentialing for instruction in computer science, as provided. Existing law also requires the commission, on or before July 1, 2025, to provide a report of the workgroup’s findings and recommendations, as provided. Existing law repeals these provisions as of January 1, 2028.
This bill would extend the above-referenced deadlines by 2 years and delay the repeal date of those provisions by 2 years.

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.
Section 44257.5 of the Education Code is amended to read:
44257.5.
(a) On or before July 1, 2026, the commission shall convene a workgroup on credentialing for instruction in computer science to do all of the following:
(1) Determine which single subject teaching credentials or designated subjects career technical education teaching credentials, if any, should also authorize teaching computer science.
(2) Determine whether a single subject teaching credential in computer science should be established.
(3) Make recommendations on strategies to meet the workforce demands associated with expanding access to computer science instruction to all pupils.
(b) At least one-half of the workgroup shall be composed of current classroom teachers with experience teaching computer science at the secondary level and the workgroup shall also include representatives from:
(1) School administration.
(2) Institutions of higher education involved in the preparation of teachers to teach computer science.
(3) Content experts in the field of computer science education.
(c) On or before July 1, 2027, the commission shall provide a report of the workgroup’s findings and recommendations to the appropriate policy and fiscal committees of the Legislature.
(d) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2030, and as of that date is repealed.
(e) The implementation of this section is contingent upon an appropriation for its purposes in the annual Budget Act or another statute.