AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY APRIL 13, 2026

AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MARCH 19, 2026

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION

95

CHAPTER 77

Statutes of 2026

[ Approved by Governor July 13, 2026. Filed with Secretary of State July 13, 2026. ]

Introduced by Assembly Member Sharp-Collins

(Coauthor: Assembly Member Patel)

February 20, 2026

An act to amend Section 44282 of the Education Code, relating to teacher credentialing.

Vote: majority   Appropriation: no   Fiscal committee: yes   Local program: no

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

Existing law requires the Commission on Teacher Credentialing to establish standards for the issuance and renewal of credentials, certificates, and permits. Existing law requires the commission to issue a single subject teaching credential only in specified subjects, including in world language. Existing law requires the commission to adopt examinations and assessments to verify the subject matter knowledge and competence of candidates for those specified single subject teaching credentials, as provided.

Existing law requires the commission to issue authorizations for a teacher to provide specific services to limited-English-proficient pupils, if certain minimum requirements are met, including the passage of one or more examinations that the commission determines is necessary for demonstrating the knowledge, skills, and language proficiency required for effective delivery of the services included in the authorization. Existing law authorizes the commission to issue an authorization for bilingual-cross-cultural competence for specified persons who will be serving English language learners and requires candidates for that authorization to demonstrate, by oral and written examination or by completing an approved program, among other things, that the person is competent in both the oral and written skills of a language other than English.

This bill would authorize a candidate for any of the above-described credentials or authorizations to fulfill the applicable subject matter examination or language requirement in a world language for which the commission does not administer a subject matter examination by successfully completing a comparable postsecondary language proficiency assessment.

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.

Section 44282 of the Education Code is amended to read:

44282.

(a) The commission shall adopt examinations and assessments to verify the subject matter knowledge and competence of candidates for the single subject teaching credentials described in Section 44257 and the concentrations described in Section 44257.2.

(b) A general subject matter examination authorizing teaching multiple subjects shall include an examination of the candidate’s knowledge of the following areas: language studies, literature, mathematics, science, social studies, history, the arts, physical education, and human development.

(c) In a world language for which the commission does not administer a subject matter examination, a candidate may fulfill, through the successful completion of a comparable postsecondary language proficiency assessment, including, but not limited to, those maintained by the ACTFL, either of the following:

(1) The subject matter requirement of subparagraph (A) of paragraph (5) of subdivision (b) of Section 44259 for a preliminary single subject teaching credential in world language pursuant to Section 44257.

(2) The language requirement for an authorization pursuant to Section 44253.3, 44253.4, or 44253.7.