EAP now satisfies Basic Skills Requirement (CBEST) for Teacher Credential
The bill has three provisions:
1) Four options to satisfy the Basic Skills Requirement (BSR) have been added. However, two of these options, the SAT Reasoning and the ACT Plus Writing examination options, cannot be implemented at this time.
2) The hiring priority for local employing agencies when a suitable fully prepared teacher is unavailable has been changed to focus first on recruitment of an individual enrolled in an approved internship program.
3) The Commission must assure that local employing agencies provide orientation, guidance, and assistance to candidates for specific documents.
Key Provisions:
Basic Skills Requirement for Certification
Satisfying basic skills in reading, writing, and math is required to earn most documents issued by the Commission. In addition to the current options of passing the California Basic Educational Skills Test, an out-of-state basic skills exam, or the California Subject Examination: Multiple Subjects Plus Writing, individuals who achieve sufficient scores, as established by California State University, on the following will satisfy the BSR for certification purposes:
1) English and Mathematics sections of the California State University (CSU) Early Assessment Program (EAP) or
2) CSU English Placement (EPT) Test and the Entry Level Mathematics (ELM) Test.
A chart with information on the two new options for the BSR including passing scores is attached to this correspondence. The CSU System accepts a number of examinations to meet the CSU admission and CSU English and math placement Coded Correspondence 09-03: Implementation of Senate Bill 1186 Concerning the Basic Skills Requirement, Recruitment of Fully Prepared Teachers, and Orientation, Guidance and Assistance for Permits and Waivers requirements; however, only passing scores on the two specific examinations noted above (CSU EAP and EPT/ELM) may be used to satisfy the BSR.
In order to implement the additional options for meeting the BSR included in SB 1186, the option must align with the CBEST and include reading, writing, and mathematics. While the SAT Reasoning (taken after 2005) and the ACT Plus Writing examinations include a writing section, there are no scores established by the CSU System for the writing section of these examinations as required in SB 1186. The Commission is in contact with the legislature concerning this issue.
EAP Placement Exams
The EAP Placement Program, administered by the Educational Testing Service (ETS), was established to measure a student’s readiness for college-level English and mathematics in the eleventh grade of high school. Included in the eleventh grade California Standardized Testing and Reporting (CA STAR) is a set of questions that are part of the CSU’s EAP Program. In addition, the EAP for English includes a writing section.
If students opt to take the optional questions, their scores may be used to satisfy the BSR as long as the score is at a level that is sufficient to waive the English placement examination and the entry level mathematics examinations administered by the CSU. Students who participate in EAP will receive their status on the CA STAR Grade 11 Student Report. (See scores below.)
CSU Placement Tests
The CSU Placement Tests are administered by ETS. The CSU System requires new students to be tested in English (EPT) and mathematics (ELM) as soon as possible after they are admitted and before enrolling at a CSU campus. The EPT consists of sections in reading skills, composing skills, and writing. (See scores below.)
Score Reports
An individual must submit score reports when using one of the new options to satisfy the BSR.
1) English and Mathematics sections of the CSU EAP showing status as ‘College Ready’ or ‘Exempt’ OR
2) The English Placement Test (EPT) with a score of 151 or higher and the Entry Level Mathematics (ELM) with a score of 50 or higher.
Original score reports must be submitted with an application. Applications filed through the Commission’s online application process or by a local employing agency may be submitted with a verified true copy of the score report, as applicable. Information on how to obtain additional score reports for each type of examination may be found in the Reference section of this correspondence. Score reports cannot be sent separately to the Commission.
There is no mixing and matching of different sections of examinations that satisfy the BSR (new and previously approved). For example, an individual cannot combine passage of the mathematics section of the EAP, with the reading section of the California Basic Educational Skills Test (CBEST), and the Writing section of the California Subject Examination for Teachers (CSET): Multiple Subject Plus Writing examination nor can an individual use passage of the English section of EAP, ELM section of the CSU Placement Tests, and the writing section of CBEST. The Commission’s Information Leaflet on the BSR has been updated with all available options. A link to the leaflet may be found in the Reference section.
Exemption from the Basic Skills Requirement for Certification
One exemption from the BSR for credential purposes was included in the legislation. An applicant for a state-issued Eminence Credential pursuant to Education Code (EC) §44262 is exempt from the BSR. A link to the Eminence Information Leaflet may be found in the Reference section.
Basic Skills Requirement for Employment
The BSR employment section in EC §44831 was also amended. This section contains a local assignment option for individuals to provide speech and language services. The amendment removes the BSR for individuals who qualify for this local assignment option. The Commission’s Administrative Assignment Manual will be updated to reflect this change. Additional sections of SB 1186 deleted and amended sections of the Education Code that focus on the basic skills proficiency as an employment requirement which do not fall within the purview of the Commission.
Recruitment of Fully Prepared Teachers and Orientation, Guidance and Assistance to Permit and Waiver Holders
The bill amends EC §44225.7(a) regarding the hiring priority for employing agencies when a suitable, fully prepared teacher is unavailable and the employing agency opts to apply for a Short-Term Staff Permit, Provisional Internship Permit, Emergency Permit such as CLAD or BCLAD, or Variable Term Waiver. The new language requires employing agencies to first recruit a candidate who is qualified to participate in and enroll in an approved internship program in the region of the employing agency; and, secondly a candidate who is scheduled to complete preliminary credential requirements within six months. The Declaration of Need (DON), the annual requirement if a local employing agency plans to request emergency or limited assignment permits which also includes information on recruitment has been updated to include the new recruitment language. The Commission’s Waiver Handbook has also been updated with the information.
In addition, language was added to require the Commission to assure that the employer provides orientation, guidance, and assistance to holders of a Short-Term Staff Permit, Provisional Internship Permit, emergency permit, or Variable Term Waiver. Verification of orientation, guidance and assistance is required for renewal of permits and is already on the appropriate renewal form for these permits. Additional language has been added to the Commission’s Waiver Request form to verify this information.
Important Date:
January 1, 2009 – Implementation date for provisions of SB 1186
Background:
SB 1209 (Chap. 517, Stats. 2006) was signed by the Governor on September 28, 2006. One of the changes in the legislation added five new options to satisfy the basic skills requirement, in addition to passage of the CBEST. Three of the options, passage of the ACT Plus Writing, the GRE (Graduate Record), and the SAT Reasoning examinations, required passing scores to be set by the Superintendent of Public Instruction by July 31, 2007. As announced in Coded Correspondence 07-11 in July 2007, passing scores were not set. SB 1186 deleted the requirement that the Superintendent establish passing scores for these examinations.
Source: Education Code §§44225.7, 44252, 44252.5, 44262, and 44831
References:
Commission References
Basic Skills Requirement Information Leaflet: http://www.ctc.ca.gov/credentials/leaflets/cl667.pdf
Eminence Information Leaflet: http://www.ctc.ca.gov/credentials/leaflets/cl504.pdf
Declaration of Need Form: http://www.ctc.ca.gov/credentials/cig/CIGLEAFLETS/CIG-LEAFLETS/cl500.pdf
Commission Waiver Handbook: http://www.ctc.ca.gov/credentials/cig/HANDBOOKS/WaiverHandbook.pdf
Examination References
EAP, ELM, and EPT exams:
General Information and Ordering Score Reports for All Three Tests:
Contact Information:
Commission’s Information Services Unit by telephone at 1-888-921-2682, Monday through Friday between 1:00 pm to 4:45 pm or by email at credentials@ctc.ca.gov.