Program Sponsors

PSA 24-04 Precondition Changes Related to the Subject Matter Competence Requirement for Integrated Undergraduate Teacher Preparation Programs

PSA 24-04 provides information about the Commission action taken on February 8th, 2024, to amend Preliminary Multiple Subject and Single Subject Precondition 6 and Education Specialist Precondition 3, regarding when eligible candidates in integrated undergraduate teacher preparation programs must meet the subject matter competence requirement.

PSA 24-05: Approval of Title 5 California Code of regulations Pertaining to the PK-3 Early Childhood (ECE) Specialist Instruction Credential

PSA 24-05 provides notice of approval of the PK-3 Early Childhood Education (ECE) Specialist Instruction Credential regulations by the Office of Administrative Law (OAL) and information about the implementation of this credential for Commission-approved preparation programs. These regulations were approved by the Office of Administrative Law (OAL) on February 7, 2024, with the effective date of April 1, 2024. The Commission is currently accepting proposals for new PK-3 Early Childhood (ECE) Specialist Instruction Credential programs from Commission approved sponsors. Proposals submitted prior to the regulations’ approval remain in the review process in the order in which they were received. Institutions should continue to respond to feedback and communicate with the Initial Program Review (IPR) team when they are prepared to resubmit their proposal.

Child Development Permit Workgroup

The Child Development Permit (CDP) Workgroup will hold their sixth meeting on March 26, 2024, virtually via Zoom from 9:00 am-3:00 pm. Members of the public are welcome to observe the workgroup meetings. Please register for the CDP Workgroup on March 26 by using this registration link. There will be a space for public comment during the meeting and an opportunity for public comments at the end of the meeting.

PK-3 ECE Community Circle – 4/8/24

The next PK-3 Community Circle is scheduled for Monday, April 8, 2024, from 11:00 am to 12:30 pm. In April we will be talking about PK-3 ECE Credential proposals! Those working towards developing a PK-3 ECE Credential program, and anyone from the fields of early childhood education and teacher preparation, are invited to participate. All are welcome! Please register for this event by using the registration link. This link is also the sign-in link once registered. Mark your calendars today, and we hope to see you on Monday, April 8th at 11:00!

RFP for Neuroscience, Diversity, and Learning Module Development

The UC/CSU Collaborative for Neuroscience, Diversity, and Learning is pleased to announce an RFP which seeks proposals from both the CSU and UC systems’ faculty to assist in the development of online learning materials aimed at improving P-12 educational outcomes for all students within inclusive settings. Specifically, the UC/CSU Collaborative is looking for faculty teams composed of CSU and UC faculty who collaborate in the development of online learning materials that will be used in teacher preparation programs, P-12 school district professional development, and for engaging families and caregivers of diverse learners. Proposals are due Monday, April 1st.

Committee of Credentials Vacancies

The Commission is still seeking applications to fill vacancies for the Public Member positions and all alternate positions on the Committee of Credentials. The applications and more information about the work of the Committee of Credentials can be found at the following link. The final filing date for applications is April 2, 2024.

PK-3 Early Childhood Education (ECE) Specialist Instruction Regulations Approval

The Commission is excited to announce that on February 7, 2024, the Office of Administrative Law approved the regulations for the PK-3 Early Childhood Education (ECE) Specialist Instruction credential. The regulations become effective April 1, 2024. At this time, the Professional Services Division will continue to receive and review program proposals for new PK-3 ECE programs. All PK-3 ECE programs must have approval by the Committee on Accreditation (COA) at an open public meeting prior to commencing operation. Those interested in offering a PK-3 ECE credential preparation program should refer to the following links for Initial Program Approval and the  PK-3 ECE Specialist Instruction Webpage.

The COA will begin to approve program proposals this spring, once these programs proposals are reviewed and determined to be aligned with all preconditions, Common Standards and program standards. No intern documents may be issued prior to April 1, 2024, and all intern programs must have program approval prior to recommending for the intern credential. Additionally, any Multiple Subject credential holder who wishes to apply directly to the Commission for the PK 3 ECE credential may not submit an application prior to April 1, 2024. In the coming weeks, the Commission’s certification staff will make more information available for credential analysts and programs including leaflets, credential codes, etc.  Questions related to initial program approval may be sent to IPR@ctc.ca.gov. Questions for the ECE team may be sent to ECE@ctc.ca.gov

UPDATED FAQ resource for the PK-3 ECE Specialist Instruction Credential

This UPDATED FAQ for the PK-3 ECE Specialist Instruction Credential provides responses to frequently asked questions from the field regarding the PK-3 ECE Specialist Instruction Credential program and precondition requirements. Please review this document if considering submitting a program proposal,

For additional questions and information regarding PK-3 ECE Specialist Instruction credential program, IPR and ECE office hours are available.

UPDATED Early Childhood Education Webpage

The ECE web page has been updated to provide the latest information regarding the Child Development Permit, Child Development Permit Workgroup, the PK-3 ECE Specialist Instruction Credential, and other information on the early childhood workforce.  We invite you to check out the updated webpage.

New Resource from UPK - Transitional Kindergarten Educator Workforce Requirements & Pathways

We are thrilled to share UPK's latest resource – the Transitional Kindergarten (TK) Educator Workforce Requirements & Pathways document. This comprehensive guide offers insights into the credentialing requirements and sample pathways for those interested in becoming TK teachers. Whether you're an educator, administrator, or organization dedicated to education, this resource is designed to help build a diverse and robust educator pipeline for TK classrooms in California. Download the guide here.

Please note that to complete the application, you will need to provide and upload credential/authorization numbers, literacy training certification documents, and contact information for past and present supervisors. Thank you for applying to participate!  

Yellow & Violet Cohort Preconditions Submission Reminders

A reminder that Yellow & Violet Cohort Preconditions Submissions are still due March 31^st and are not exempt from the adjustment of accreditation activities as established in the December 2023 Program Sponsor Alert (PSA 23-08). For further questions, please email us at preconditions@ctc.ca.gov. Info for bi-weekly technical assistance every other Thursday now through March 21st can be referenced here.

For those submitting Preconditions for Multiple Subject & Single Subject Programs: please make sure to refer to the Evidence Guidance Document (2023). For all linked Evidence Guidance Documents for your programs, you may refer to this link for the full list.

Request for Application (RFA): Classified School Employee Teacher Credentialing Grant Program, Round Five

The sum of $23.9 million remains from the $125 million in funding for the Classified School Employee Teacher Credentialling Program Grant Program. Grant awards of up to $4,800 per participant per year over the life of the grant, through June 30, 2026, are available to Local Education Agencies interested in securing grant funding to recruit and support classified staff who hold an associate or higher degree to complete a bachelor’s degree and/or earn a preliminary California teaching credential. The Classified Grant Program RFA is now available, and completed applications are due to the Commission by 5:00 pm, on Friday, March 22, 2024.

Request for Application (RFA): Diverse Education Leaders Pipeline Initiative (DELPI) Grant Program

The California state budget signed by the Governor in September 2023 includes $10 million from funding appropriated for the Diverse Education Leaders Pipeline Initiative (DELPI) Grant Program. One-time grant awards of up to $30,000 per participating administrator candidate are available to Local Education Agencies (LEAs) interested in securing grant funding to support eligible participants to pursue an administrative services credential. The Diverse Education Leaders Pipeline Initiative (DELPI) Grant Program RFA is available and answers to written questions about the RFA have been posted. Completed applications are due to the Commission by 5:00 pm, on Friday, April 5, 2024.

Statewide Residency Technical Assistance Center (SRTAC) Support

The work of the Statewide Residency Technical Assistance Center (SRTAC) is intended to leverage and build upon existing technical assistance offerings disseminated by local educational agencies, nonprofit organizations, institutions of higher education, and foundations throughout the state. Aligned with the grant requirements, Santa Clara County Office of Education has collaborated with other county offices to establish regional hubs. Current teacher and school counselor residency program grantees are encouraged to contact representatives from their regional hub for localized support and guidance.

Regional Hub Representative Contact Information:

• Humboldt County Office of Education (Northern Hub): Sheila Rocker Heppe (srockerheppe@hcoe.org)
• Sacramento County Office of Education (Capital Hub): Tierra Crothers (tcrothers@scoe.net)
• Santa Clara County Office of Education (Bay Area Hub): Padma Ramnath (pramnath@sccoe.org)
• Tulare County Office of Education (Central Hub): Adriana Cervantes-Gonzalez (acgonzalez@tcoe.org)
• San Diego County Office of Education (Southern Hub): Conni Campbell (conni.campbell@sdcoe.net)

CalAPA: Performance Assessment’s Digging Deeper Series: Thursday, March 14^th 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm. 

All CalAPA programs are invited to attend our re-scheduled section of our Digging Deeper:  Evidence-based Practices in Performance Assessment series.  Rubric Instruction for Performance Assessment Excellence: How to include rubric instruction in the development of candidate submissions will be held on March 14^th from 1:00 – 2:00 pm. The PASC program’s administrative team from the Los Angeles Unified School District will share best practices they have developed to help candidates understand and adequately address the assessments’ rubrics, resulting in higher assessment scores. No registration is needed for this event: click here to join the meeting.  We look forward to seeing your faculty and staff.

Literacy Performance Assessment (LPA) Pilot Office Hours

Commission Staff will host office hours for programs participating in the pilot for the LPA. Office hours will take place every Friday from 9:00-9:45 am. Please join the meeting using the following Zoom link.

Examination and Performance Assessment Fee Waiver/Reimbursement for Candidates

The 2023-24 California State Budget includes $24 million to continue to provide either a fee waiver or a fee reimbursement to candidates for examinations and performance assessments. Eligible individuals can now register for the examinations (CBEST, CSET, CTEL, RICA, CPACE) and performance assessments (CalAPA, CalTPA, EdSp CalTPA, edTPA) with fees being automatically waived.  Please register for the exams or performance assessments while finds are still available. For more information: California Exam and Assessment Fee Waiver FAQ's.

CalTPA Performance Assessment Office Hours

Performance Assessment Mailboxes Available

Please direct any questions or concerns regarding requirements, implementation, or policy to the following mailboxes. CTC staff will respond with 48 hours.

YouTube Channel Offers a Variety of Archived Webinars   

All Performance Assessment webinars are posted on the Commission’s YouTube Channel.  

• CalTPA items may be found here. 
• CalAPA items may be found here. 
• edTPA support video may be found here. 

GenEd and EdSpecialist CalTPA and CalAPA Assessor Applications

Current California teachers, administrators, and faculty who help prepare aspiring teachers or administrators are welcome to apply to join the scoring of the General Education and Education Specialist CalTPA and CalAPA for the 2023-24 academic year. New Assessor training and calibration is offered annually January through March. Visit the website pages below for California Educator Credentialing Assessments for more information and access to the General Education CalTPA, the Education Specialist CalTPA, and CalAPA assessor applications:

GenEd CalTPA Assessor Application
EdSp CalTPA Assessor Application  
CalAPA Assessor Application

Upcoming Meetings at the Commission can be found on the Meetings page. Technical Assistance Office Hours Page

The Professional Services Division, along with the Performance Assessment Team, continue to hold Technical Assistance Office Hours. Office hours provide an opportunity to assist programs and answer questions. Technical Assistance Office hours and schedule can now be found on the Accreditation Technical Assistance page. There are dedicated office hours in the following areas:

• Early Childhood Education
• Preliminary Multiple & Single Subject Programs
• Interns
• Preliminary Education Specialist Programs
• Induction
• Administrative Services Credentialing Programs
• Performance Assessments offers Office Hours for candidates, preliminary programs, clear induction programs, and field-testing programs
• Initial Program Review (IPR) Office Hours

Updating Institutional Contact Information

Maintaining current contact information for your institution, key faculty and staff members will ensure receipt of critical information from the Commission. Program Sponsor Alert (PSA) 20-01 provides step-by-step instructions on updating your institution’s contact information.

Bookmark the PSD Contact Information webpage:

The Contacting the Professional Services Division webpage includes dedicated email addresses organized by three topics: Contact Information for Topics/Areas of Work, which includes general areas of work and accreditation specific submissions; Contact Information for Program Areas; and Contact Information for Individual Cohorts, which is to be used for questions relating to accreditation-related activities. PSD Contact Information can also be accessed from the Commission’s home page by clicking the Program Sponsors tab then clicking “Contact the Professional Services Division” on the right side of the screen under Contact Info.

Can’t find what you are looking for? Check the PSD Contacts webpage to find the best email to send your question or request.

• Professional Services Division (PSD) Section of the CTC website
• Program Sponsor Alerts