CBEST Deferral and the Basic Skills Requirement (BSR)
Updated: December 8, 2020
This document has been updated with guidance related to Executive Order N-66-20 and SB 820 (Committee of Budget and Fiscal Review). Full details of the Executive Order and SB 820 flexibilities can be found the guidance document posted on our COVID page.
Q1. Who is eligible for the CBEST deferral and who is not?
A1. Candidates eligible for the CBEST deferral are those who: a) have never taken any section of the CBEST, or b) have taken not more than two sections of the examination regardless of whether the section was passed or failed. The chart below illustrates the eligibility criteria for the CBEST deferral.
CBEST Deferral Eligibility Chart
Educator/Candidate Action | Passed/Failed | Eligible for Basic Skills Deferral |
Attempted zero sections of CBEST | N/A | Yes |
Attempted one section of CBEST | Passed or failed | Yes |
Attempted two sections of CBEST | Passed or failed either | Yes |
Attempted all three section of CBEST (reading, writing, math) | Passed | N/A |
Attempted all three sections of CBEST (reading, writing, math) | Failed one or more | No |
Attempted any other exam to meet the Basic Skills | N/A | Yes |
Q2. Does the deferral waive the CBEST requirement?
A2. No, the deferral does not waive the CBEST requirement. The deferral is a one-year deferral and the educator will need to meet the Basic Skills Requirement (BSR) requirement within one year of the issuance date of the deferral. Candidates may use any of the available BSR options, including the CBEST, to meet the BSR.
Q3. I believe it was just said that the Basic Skills deferral is only for candidates completing? What about incoming candidates?
A3. The BSR deferral applies to all candidates who meet the deferral eligibility requirements as indicated in the table in response #1 above, and who have not met the BSR through one of the additional available options. Executive Order N-66-20 released on May 29, 2020 and SB 820 (Committee of Budget and Fiscal Review) signed on September 18, 2020 suspend the basic skills requirement for candidates entering educator preparation programs between March 19, 2020 and August 31, 2021. This includes Teacher Intern programs. The Basic Skills requirement must be met prior to recommendation for the Preliminary credential unless the candidate has a CBEST deferral.
Q4. Now that there is an Executive Order suspending the CBEST requirement, would anyone still need the CBEST deferral?
A4. Yes. The CBEST deferral allows a program completer from a Pupil Personnel Services, Speech-Language Pathology or other educator preparation program to be recommended for the credential, without having satisfied the CBEST requirement. The BEST deferral can also be used for individuals applying for substitute permits, STSPs or PIPs. The CBEST Deferral might also be used by an out-of-state or out-of-country teacher who was required to meet the Basic Skills requirement but was unable to take the assessment due to the closure of the testing centers.
Q5. What is the CBEST deferral actually deferring? Can someone without having met the BSR (because testing centers have been closed) student teach this fall?
A5. The CBEST deferral gives an individual a year to satisfy the Basic Skills requirement. Executive Order N-66-20 and SB 820 (Committee of Budget and Fiscal Review) allow a candidate to enter an educator preparation program prior to satisfying the Basic Skills requirement. However, candidates who meet/have met one of the other available BSR options will not need a Basic Skills deferral.
Q6. For the Basic Skills requirement, will the Commission be tracking if candidates have attempted and failed CBEST or does the program need to do this?
A6. It is a program responsibility to track candidates CBEST attempts. The Commission will not be tracking candidate attempts at CBEST.
Q7. For preparation programs who have applicants without their BSR completed: many of our applicants plan to use CSET: Writing Skills to meet BSR. Do the same guidelines mentioned in PSA 20-04 for CBEST apply to other avenues of meeting BSR?
A7. The CBEST deferral is deferring the timeline to meet the requirement. A candidate who is just starting their preparation may now begin the program without having met the BSR based on the Executive Order. The Commission does not need to track program enrollment where BSR is waived based on the EO/SB 820. However, the candidate must meet the BSR through one of the available options, including the CBEST, prior to completing their Preliminary program and being recommended for the Preliminary credential.
Q8. For candidates in our program currently, can they student teach this summer and fall without having passed the BSR?
A8. The BSR must be met prior to recommendation for the preliminary teaching credential. A candidate does not need a deferral prior to beginning student teaching. Please see the answer to question #1 above for eligibility criteria for the BSR deferral.
Q9. Does the applicant need to apply for the deferral or is the deferral application just for completing candidates?
A9. A deferral is only in effect once the Commission has been notified. If the individual is applying for or being recommended for a document, the request for the BSR deferral should be included in the application. If the individual is not being recommended for a document or applying for any authorization, the Commission-approved educator preparation program must notify the Commission by sending the individual’s name and date of birth to the Commission (credentials@ctc.ca.gov). Note that as of May 29, 2020, the Governor has waived the CBEST requirement for enrollment in a preparation program by Executive Order. This waiver was extended one year by SB 820 (Committee of Budget and Fiscal Review) The Commission does not need to be notified when the EO/SB 820 authority is applied for purposes of program enrollment.
Q10. Why can't the CBEST deferral be used for those students who have attempted and not passed CBEST? They are also impacted by the crisis and the closure of testing sites.
A10. Ed Code 44252.2 specifies that candidates who have failed all sections of the CBEST are not eligible for a deferral.
Q11. Can you speak more about the requirement for reporting the CBEST deferral if it is applicable to the teacher preparation program? Of the groups listed below, for whom do we need to submit requests?
A11. Executive Order N-66-20 and SB 820 (Committee of Budget and Fiscal Review) suspend the requirement that applicants for educator preparation programs take CBEST prior to admission and that teacher preparation programs use the data from the CBEST to support the candidate. The CBEST Deferral is still needed for any candidate who has not satisfied the BSR and is beginning daily whole class instruction.
Group A: Candidates who did not have any opportunity to take any parts of the CBEST
These candidates are eligible for the deferment as specified in Education Code Section 44252.
Group B: Candidates who attempted and failed all parts of the CBEST or failed one or 2 subtests but did not have opportunity to attempt the final subtest
See the candidate eligibility table in question #1 above.
Lastly, for Fall 2020 cohort, what is the timeline to submit these requests to the CTC?
Requests may be submitted beginning March 19 for the fall 2020 cohort.
Q12. Would a BSR deferral request need to be sent in if a newly admitted student is starting a credential program in the summer or fall but will not complete the program until spring/fall 2021?
A12. No, Executive Order N-66-20 released on May 29, 2020 and SB 820 (Committee of Budget and Fiscal Review) signed on September 18, 2020 suspend the requirement that an applicant take the CBEST prior to program admission.
Q13. Can you clarify when the year would start/end for applicants to teacher preparation programs that are taking advantage of the CBEST deferral?
A13. The CBEST deferral is valid for one year from the date of request. If the deferral is requested on May 15 of this year, it will expire on May 15, 2021. If the deferral is requested on August 15, it will expire on August 15, 2021.
Q14. What if students don't plan to take the CBEST to meet BSR? Does this mean all candidates should plan to take the CBEST to meet BSR?
Q15. Is there timeline for when teacher preparation program should submit the CBEST deferral requests? Can programs wait until August 31, 2021 to submit these requests to the CTC because some candidates are still attempting to take the CBEST in June and July?
A15. The deferral requested must be submitted between March 19 and August 31, 2021. However, credential analysts at charter schools, districts, counties, and Commission-approved professional preparation programs have 90 days to submit an application that includes a request for CBEST deferral if the issuance date requested is no later than August 31, 2021. In such cases, the CBST deferral will begin on the date of issuance. If an application is received more than 90 days past August 31, 2021, then no deferral can be granted.
Q16. What would happen after one year if the candidate is still enrolled and could not meet BSR?
A16. The program sponsor would not be able to recommend the candidate for their intended teaching or services credential until the BSR requirement has been satisfied. The program sponsor should maintain an affiliation with the candidate and help to support them in this process so that they can move forward and earn their credential.