The California Commission on Teacher Credentialing sets standards for teacher training programs in public colleges and universities, establishes requirements for teacher credentialing, enforces professional practices and disciplines credential holders.
The Learning Policy Institute found that fully prepared teachers mattered more than overall spending and low teacher-student ratios in raising test scores.
California was ranked 14th in access to preschool for 4-year-olds, behind Oklahoma, Vermont, Florida, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Georgia and South Carolina, among other states.
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.
The teacher shortage has worsened in recent years as state funding for education improved and districts began lowering class sizes and bringing back programs, increasing the demand for teachers, according to new studies.
The current era of discipline reform in California is putting greater emphasis on an aspect of teaching that has long gotten the short shrift in teacher credentialing programs.
