Clear Reading and Literacy Leadership Specialist Credential Checklist for Reading Specialists Prepared in Another State

• You must have a basic teaching credential issued by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing that is valid (not expired). The following would be considered acceptable prerequisite basic teaching credentials:
  • Preliminary or Clear teaching credentials that required a baccalaureate degree and a program of professional preparation, including student teaching, in order to obtain.
  • Clear Designated Subjects Teaching credentials, provided the holder also possesses a bachelor’s or higher degree from a regionally-accredited college or university. (A bachelor’s degree satisfies both the degree requirement and the Basic Skills Requirement beginning 6/29/2024.)
• It is not necessary to attach anything as proof, since the Commission will already have this information if you were issued a document satisfying this requirement.

• You must possess a California English Learner Authorization.

Transcripts

• Transcripts must show completion of ALL of the following:

 A bachelor's degree or higher.

 Completion of a post baccalaureate professional preparation program comparable to a program accredited by the Committee on Accreditation for the RLLS Credential, including successful of supervised field experience, but taken in another state.

• The colleges or universities must be regionally accredited.

• The supervised field experience listed on the transcript must be passed with a grade of C or better (Pass, Credit, or Satisfactory grades will also be accepted).

• If you earned any degrees outside of the U.S., you cannot provide the official transcripts. You must obtain a foreign transcript evaluation from an approved agency.
• Submitting paper transcripts or foreign transcript evaluations: 
  • Upload a scan of the original, official paper transcripts or foreign transcript evaluation. Clear photographs will also be accepted. All pages, front and back, must be included in the upload. 
• Submitting electronic transcripts or foreign transcript evaluations.
  • Upload the original file sent to you by the college, transcript service provider, or foreign transcript evaluation agency.

• Experience may be in any grades preschool through adult, but may not include student teaching, intern teaching, or teaching while holding an emergency or teaching permit.
• Only experience earned in public schools or private schools of equivalent status located in California and/or another state will be accepted.
• Experience must be full-time and indicate beginning and ending dates of hire. Full-time teaching is defined as a minimum of four hours a day, unless the minimum statutory attendance requirement for the students serviced is less. Experience must be on a daily basis and for at least 75% of the school year. Experience may be accrued in increments of a minimum of one semester. No part-time experience will be accepted.
• Signed by Superintendent, Asst. Superintendent, Director of personnel, or Director of HR.
• The letter must be a scanned copy of an original letter or an electronic PDF. If the letter is a scanned copy, the original letter that was scanned must be signed with a wet ink signature. If the letter is an electronic PDF, it must be signed with an acceptable electronic signature. Screenshots are not acceptable.
• Must be on official school or district letterhead.
• Service record forms will also be accepted in lieu of a letter, as long as they contain all the required information.

• Scanned copy, image, or screenshot of your full, professional-level Reading Specialist certification from another state.
  
• If you were not issued a Reading Specialist certification but are eligible for it, you may provide a letter of eligibility instead.
  • The letter must be from the institution where you completed your Reading Specialist preparation program or the state agency responsible for issuing the certification.
  • The letter must be a scanned copy of an original letter or an electronic PDF. If the letter is a scanned copy, the original letter that was scanned must be signed with a wet ink signature. If the letter is an electronic PDF, it must be signed with an acceptable electronic signature. Screenshots are not acceptable.
  • Must be on official letterhead of the school where you completed the program or the state agency that issues the certification.