Credit: ShutterStock

Teacher candidates in California were given more time to complete tests required to earn a teaching credential and learned what coursework could be taken to replace some tests at a meeting of the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing last week.

In July, the state budget trailer bill, which provides details for implementing new K-12 programs in the budget, gave teacher candidates who were unable to take some required tests, due to Covid-related issues, until Dec. 31 to complete the tests. It also gave the Commission on Teacher Credentialing the power to extend the deadline.

During its final meeting of the year, the commission agreed to extend the deadline for teachers to take the Reading Instruction Competence Assessment, or RICA, the California Basic Educational Skills Test, or CBEST, and the California Subject Examinations for Teachers, or CSET.

The new June 30 deadline approved by the commission gives most teacher candidates until the end of their program to take required tests, such as the CBEST, if they are enrolled by that date. There are some variations. Teacher candidates must have applied for a credential to teach in a school as an intern by that date in order to put off taking the CSET, and teacher candidates enrolled by June 30 must pass the RICA before earning a clear credential.

“The struggle is real,” said Dannette Brown, the mother of a credential candidate who spoke on behalf of the California Teachers Association. “It has been extremely challenging for her, and her classmates, to navigate the circumstances of Covid and a preparation program and a job and all the things that go with it.”

About 20% of the state’s 130 testing centers have yet to reopen, according to a report from commission staff. Fresno and Oakland are among the areas with the least access to testing for teacher candidates, although many students throughout the state are taking advantage of new online testing options.

Some board members expressed concern that the deadline extension could have a negative impact on teacher candidates.

“Now, with the flexibilities, which we absolutely need to have, I want to be sure my fellow commissioners understand now we have a CBEST, CSET and RICA that could potentially still be pending after a candidate finishes a preparation program and I want to be sure, and I’m glad to hear, that we are having conversations around who is responsible for them and how are we going to continue to support them in finishing their work,” said Tine Sloan, commission chairwoman.

The state budget trailer bill also gave teacher candidates the option to take approved coursework instead of the California Basic Skills Test, or the California Subject Examinations for Teachers, to earn a credential.

At its meeting, the credentialing commission approved emergency regulations clarifying which courses and majors can replace CSET tests and prove a teacher’s competence in the subject they plan to teach.

In the past, elementary school teachers had been required to pass three tests to earn a multiple-subject credential and middle and high school teachers earned single-subject credentials in areas such as art, biology or English by passing at least one subject exam. State legislation allows candidates to demonstrate subject-matter competency by using either tests or coursework or a combination of the two.

The emergency regulations approved last week offered further guidance in a few areas, including not requiring students who major in kinesiology to take the CSET test in physical education and allowing students majoring in any area of science to forgo the foundational-level science test in the CSET.

According to the regulations, students must earn a grade of C or higher in eligible coursework. The courses must count toward a college degree and be completed at a regionally accredited college or university. Upper division or graduate courses that require knowledge of the subject covered by the credential also would be accepted. For example, a class in upper-division math would probably be enough to prove competency in algebra.

After debating whether a kinesiology degree should be removed from the regulations as proof of physical education competency or whether ethnic studies major should be added to the regulation as proof of social studies competency, the commission voted to adopt the emergency regulations as proposed by staff and to submit them to the state Office of Administrative Law.

The commission also directed staff to assemble a working group of staff and university faculty who represent the various subject areas to take a closer look at the different tests and related classes and to refine the regulations over the next six months.

These are the latest in a series of moves by the commission, Gov. Gavin Newsom and state legislators since March 2020 to ease teacher testing, coursework and practice hours. The changes were made to ensure teacher candidates can complete teacher preparation programs as testing centers closed, teacher retirements increased and the number of teachers earning credentials declined.

“We have been doing many monumental things to address the shortage of educators in our state,” Sloan said during the meeting. “We have our Covid flexibilities that we will be talking about today. We have, in conjunction with the Legislature, made great strides in how we think about basic skills and subject matter requirements and how to meet them. We have an inordinate amount of money going into grants to support programs, new and expanding, and to help prepare more educators to be spectacular and excellent for the kids.”

To get more reports like this one, click here to sign up for EdSource’s no-cost daily email on latest developments in education.

Share Article

Comments (7)

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked * *

Comments Policy

We welcome your comments. All comments are moderated for civility, relevance and other considerations. Click here for EdSource's Comments Policy.

  1. Me 8 months ago8 months ago

    My university is forcing me to do the CalTPA and I am in a special Ed credential. I have completed all my courses am now in my internship program. Which is my last class. That said, if I don’t do complete the CalTPA and RICA they will not give me my master which I already completed and my prelim credential. Can someone help please?

  2. Nikki 1 year ago1 year ago

    Problem is schools won’t endorse completion of teacher training program that allows the preliminary credential with out these tests … Welcome to the grey area and the limbo I live in.

    Replies

    • Lyssa 1 year ago1 year ago

      Hi! Can you explain what this means? The teacher prep programs aren’t granting prelim credential without the TPA and RICA? Or schools aren’t hiring teachers with prelims that have been granted without the TPA and RICA?

  3. Alma 1 year ago1 year ago

    So does that mean if our degree is different, we will be able to take courses in the subject area we want to teach instead of the CSET?

  4. Mo 1 year ago1 year ago

    My grandchild is 2 years behind schedule for for her teaching credential. She's passed the CBEST but is struggling with the CSET Math especially but 5 or so points below passing. Is there a CA K-3 credential like the old days? She can't believe she has to show proficiency up to 8th grade when she never will teach it. Not to mention she has to pay for each retest. It is a … Read More

    My grandchild is 2 years behind schedule for for her teaching credential. She’s passed the CBEST but is struggling with the CSET Math especially but 5 or so points below passing. Is there a CA K-3 credential like the old days? She can’t believe she has to show proficiency up to 8th grade when she never will teach it. Not to mention she has to pay for each retest. It is a bottomless pit. Any suggestions.

    P.S. Do the people who want all these tests have a clue what is on them as well and the windfall the companies who give them?

  5. Tamara 1 year ago1 year ago

    I see the article lists the “teacher performance assessment” as the CalTpa to be waived until August 21, 2022. Is this the same for the EdTpa? Thank you!

  6. Jennifer 1 year ago1 year ago

    How can we find out what coursework will be eligible to waive the English CSETs?