Employer Responsibilities for Teachers Serving on Provisional Intern Permits, Short-Term Staff Permits, and Intern Credentials

January 8, 2016

To: School District and County Office of Education Superintendents

From: Mary Sandy, Executive Director California Commission on Teacher Credentialing

Re: Employer Responsibilities for Teachers Serving on Provisional Intern Permits, and Short-Term Staff Permits, and Intern Credentials

Background

As a result of the current teacher shortage, some school districts have turned to employing individuals serving on Provisional Intern Permits (PIPs), Short-Term Staff Permits (STSPs), and Intern credentials to assure classroom staffing. While employing persons serving on these types of credentials and/or permits provides a viable solution to the problem, employers must recognize their responsibilities to provide these teachers with appropriate support and supervision. These individuals have not completed a Preliminary Preparation program and cannot teach unless the required support and supervision is provided to the individual. The required support and supervision are discussed below.

Teachers Serving on a Provisional Intern Permit (PIP)

If an employing district choses to apply for a PIP, it must verify all of the following with each request for a PIP:

• The employer will provide orientation, guidance and assistance to the permit holder.
• The employing agency will assist the permit holder in developing a personalized plan through an agency-defined assessment that would lead to meeting subject matter competence related to the permit.
• The employing agency will assist the permit holder to seek and enroll in subject matter training, such as workshops or seminars and site-based courses along with training in test taking strategies.
• The candidate has been apprised of steps to earn a credential and enroll in an intern program.
• The employing agency will ensure a notice of intent to employ the applicant in the identified position has been made to the governing body.

For more information on Provisional Intern permits see Leaflet CL-856.

Teachers Serving on a Short-Term Staff Permit (STSP)

The employing agency must verify all of the following with each request for the Short-Term Staff Permit:

• The employing agency will ensure the permit holder is placed in a position that matches the identified subject matter competency area and grade level.
• The employer will provide orientation to the curriculum and to techniques of instruction and classroom management to the permit holder.
• The employer has assigned a mentor teacher to the permit holder for the term of the STSP.

For more information on Short-Term Staff Permits see Leaflet CL-858.

Teachers Serving on an Intern Credential

Teachers hired on an intern credential must be enrolled in a Commission-approved intern program. The employing district and the Commission-approved intern program have shared responsibility for supporting and supervising the intern teacher. A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) must be in place between the Intern program and the district(s) with which it partners that outlines the specific roles and responsibilities, including financial responsibilities, of each party, consistent with the following requirements:

• The employing agency will ensure the intern is placed in a position that matches the identified subject matter competency area and grade level.
• The employer must identify a mentor or other designated individual who meets the Commission’s specified criteria (see Coded Correspondence 14-04) prior to an intern assuming daily teaching responsibilities.
• Programs must ensure that a minimum of 144 hours of general support/mentoring and supervision is provided to each intern teacher per school year, including coaching, modeling, and demonstrating within the classroom; assistance with course planning; and problem-solving regarding students, curriculum, and development of effective teaching methodologies. A minimum of two hours of support/mentoring and supervision must be provided to an intern teacher every five instructional days.
• An additional 45 hours of support/mentoring and supervision specific to meeting the needs of English learners shall be provided to an intern teacher who enters the program without a valid English learner authorization listed on a previously issued Multiple Subject, Single Subject, or Education Specialist Teaching Credential or a valid English Learner Authorization or Crosscultural, Language and Academic Development (CLAD) Certificate. The support/mentoring and supervision should be distributed in a manner that sufficiently supports the intern teacher’s development of knowledge and skills in the instruction of English learners.
• The employer and Commission-approved Intern must collaborate in tracking the hours of support and supervision provided to the intern teacher as outlined in the required MOU.
• The employer and Commission-approved Intern program must communicate and collaborate regularly to ensure that a qualified mentor is selected and appropriately trained.

Additionally, the individual holding an Intern credential must complete coursework and/or observations of credentialed teachers to continue moving toward earning a preliminary teaching credential. The following should be addressed in the required MOU:

• Potential release time from teaching responsibilities to complete necessary classroom observations of credentialed teachers. 
• Potential requirements of release time to attend classes at the teacher preparation institution.

For more information on teachers serving on an intern credential, see Coded Correspondence 14-04 and PSA 13-06