Elementary and secondary education: omnibus

The law clarifies routes into and through teaching credentials, including special education, while adjusting rules for child-care programs serving college students and major school-district rehabilitation projects.

What the law does ​

• Allows the Commission on Teacher Credentialing to extend a district intern credential for one year upon recommendation from an approved program sponsor, and requires applicants to verify California teaching employment.
• Limits the accelerated internship completion route to interns pursuing their initial preliminary credential and applies clear-credential requirements to education specialist teachers.
• Requires the State Department of Social Services to set rules for specified child-care and development programs operated on or near postsecondary campuses.
• Lets school districts with average daily attendance of at least 250,000 approve certain no-bid changes to reconstruction or rehabilitation contracts up to 25% of the original price when delay from bidding would impede completion.

Who it affects ​

• Teacher candidates, district interns, credential preparation programs, and education specialist teachers.
• School districts, county offices of education, charter schools, and large school-district governing boards.
• Postsecondary students with children and campus child-care and preschool programs.

Breakdown ​

District Interns and Teaching Credentials ​

The bill changes who may recommend a one-year extension of a district intern credential and adds a verified in-state teaching employment requirement for applicants. It also narrows and clarifies eligibility for the early program completion option and applies clear-credential requirements to education specialist teaching credentials.

Key takeaways

• A one-year extension of a district intern credential may be granted based on a recommendation from a commission-approved program sponsor, rather than only from a school district.
• Applicants for a district intern credential must show verified employment in a teaching position with a California school district, county office of education, or charter school.
• The early program completion option is clarified as applying to interns enrolled in specified multiple subject, single subject, or education specialist credential programs.
• The early completion option is limited to eligible interns seeking their first preliminary teaching credential.
• To receive a clear education specialist teaching credential, applicants must meet the same minimum requirements described for clear multiple or single subject credentials, including holding a valid preliminary credential and completing beginning teacher induction.

Campus Child Care Programs ​

The bill requires the State Department of Social Services to work with colleges and other postsecondary schools to create rules for certain child care and development programs located on or near their campuses. This builds on the department’s responsibility for these child care-related programs after their transfer from the Department of Education.

Key takeaways

• The State Department of Social Services must develop rules and regulations for specified child care and development programs on or near postsecondary campuses.
• The department must develop these rules in cooperation with postsecondary educational institutions.
• The requirement applies to programs that are part of the child care responsibilities transferred to the Department of Social Services.

Expanded Contract Change Authority ​

This part lowers the student attendance threshold for school districts that may make certain changes to reconstruction or rehabilitation contracts without seeking new bids. Districts with average daily attendance of 250,000 or more can use this authority, rather than only districts with 400,000 or more.

Key takeaways

• The bill expands eligibility for this contract-change authority to school districts with average daily attendance of at least 250,000.
• It also applies to two or more districts governed by boards with identical members if their average daily attendance meets the threshold.
• Eligible districts may change or alter qualifying reconstruction or rehabilitation contracts without new bids when the existing conditions are met.
• The bill does not change the requirements that the change be necessary and integral to the work, cost no more than 25% of the original contract price, and avoid delays from bidding.

Coordination With AB 2206 ​

This part coordinates SB 1443 with AB 2206 if both bills become law. It makes SB 1443's additional changes to Education Code Sections 44252, 44259, and 44325 effective only if SB 1443 is enacted after AB 2206.

Key takeaways

• The bill includes additional amendments to Education Code Sections 44252, 44259, and 44325.
• Those additional amendments apply only if both SB 1443 and AB 2206 are enacted.
• The additional amendments apply only if SB 1443 is enacted after AB 2206.