(a) The California Classified School Employee Teacher Credentialing Program is hereby established for the purpose of recruiting classified school employees to participate in a program designed to encourage them to enroll in teacher training programs and to provide instructional service as teachers in the public schools.

(b) Subject to an appropriation for these purposes in the annual Budget Act or another statute, the commission shall issue a request for proposals to all school districts, charter schools, and county offices of education in the state in order to solicit applications for funding. The criteria adopted by the commission for the selection of school districts, charter schools, or county offices of education to participate in the program shall include all of the following:

(1) The extent to which the applicant demonstrates the capacity and willingness to accommodate the participation of classified school employees in teacher training programs conducted at institutions of higher education or a local educational agency.

(2) The extent to which the applicant’s plan for the implementation of its recruitment program involves the active participation of one or more local campuses of the participating institutions of higher education in the development of coursework and teaching programs for participating classified school employees. Each selected applicant shall be required to enter into a written articulation agreement with the participating campuses of the institutions of higher education.

(3) The extent to which the applicant’s plan for recruitment attempts to meet the demand for bilingual cross-cultural teachers and teachers in shortage areas in transitional kindergarten, kindergarten, and grades 1 to 12, inclusive.

(4) The extent to which a developmentally sequenced series of job descriptions leads from an entry-level classified school employee position to an entry-level teaching position in that school district, charter school, or county office of education.

(5) The extent to which the applicant’s plan for recruitment attempts to meet its own specific teacher needs.

(c) An applicant that is selected to participate pursuant to subdivision (b) shall provide information about the program to all eligible classified school employees in the school district, charter school, or county office of education and assistance to each classified school employee it recruits under the program regarding admission to a teacher training program.

(d) (1) An applicant shall require participants to satisfy both of the following requirements before participating in the program:

(A) Pass a criminal background check.

(B) Provide verification of one of the following:

(i) Has earned an associate or higher level degree.

(ii) Has successfully completed at least two years of study at a postsecondary educational institution.

(2) An applicant shall certify that it has received a commitment from each participant that he or she will accomplish all of the following:

(A) Graduate from an institution of higher education under the program with a bachelor’s degree.

(B) Complete all of the requirements for, and obtain, a multiple subject, single subject, or education specialist teaching credential.

(C) Complete one school year of classroom instruction in the school district, charter school, or county office of education for each year that he or she receives assistance for books, fees, and tuition while attending an institution of higher education under the program.

(e) The commission shall contract with an independent evaluator with a proven record of experience in assessing teacher training programs to conduct an evaluation to determine the success of the program. The evaluation shall be completed on or before July 1, 2021. The commission shall submit the completed evaluation to the Governor and the education policy and fiscal committees of the Assembly and Senate.

(f) On or before January 1 of each year, the commission shall report to the Legislature regarding the status of the program, including, but not limited to, the number of classified school employees recruited, the academic progress of the classified school employees recruited, the number of classified school employees recruited who are subsequently employed as teachers in the public schools, the degree to which the applicant meets the teacher shortage needs of the school district, charter school, or county office of education, and the ethnic and racial composition of the participants in the program. The report shall be made in conformance with Section 9795 of the Government Code.

(Amended by Stats. 2016, Ch. 319, Sec. 1. (AB 1624) Effective September 13, 2016.)