Almost half of California’s potential teachers quit the profession before they even start because they can't pass one or more of the tests required for them to earn a credential, making it more difficult for the state to put a dent in a persistent teacher shortage.
San Juan Unified is one of the California school districts making investments in its teacher evaluation system. The district adopted a System of Professional Growth in 2016 that focuses on feedback and mentoring of teachers who are being evaluated.
Linda Darling-Hammond, chair of teacher credentialing commission, calls the state assessment out of date and not a good predictor of classroom performance.
A new report from the Learning Policy Institute says new state initiatives to recruit and retain teachers will take three to five years to yield results.
Los Angeles Universal Preschool, also known as LAUP, launched a new certificate program called the "Exceptional Populations Certification" for 32 college students across LA who will gain experience working with high-needs early learners such as children who may have developmental delays or emotional and behavioral needs due to trauma.
School employees in 25 school districts or county offices of education who want to become teachers are eligible to receive annual grants of up to $4,000 as part of an effort to add more teachers to the workforce.
