Notwithstanding any other law:

(a) It is the intent of the Legislature that both of the following occur:

(1) That this section provide flexibility to enable school districts to recruit credentialed elementary, secondary, and special education teachers prepared in countries other than the United States to relocate temporarily or permanently to this state.

(2) That any and all teachers prepared in countries other than the United States who are granted a California teaching credential pursuant to this section fully meet the requirements of this state.

(b) Coursework, programs, or degrees completed at an institution of higher education outside of the United States are acceptable toward certification when the commission or an evaluating agency approved by the commission determines that the institution’s coursework, programs, or degrees are equivalent to those offered by a regionally accredited institution in the United States. The commission reserves the right to accept or reject an approved evaluating agency’s determination. Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, the commission shall issue a five-year preliminary multiple subject teaching credential authorizing instruction in a self-contained classroom, a five-year preliminary single subject teaching credential authorizing instruction in a departmentalized classroom, or a five-year preliminary education specialist credential authorizing instruction of special education pupils to a teacher prepared in a country other than the United States who meets all of the following requirements:

(1) The teacher holds or is eligible for a credential from another country that required a baccalaureate or higher degree determined to be equivalent to those offered by a regionally accredited institution in the United States and completion of a professional preparation program approved by the appropriate agency in the country where the program was completed that requires the teacher to meet requirements equivalent to the multiple or single subject teaching credential requirements in Section 44259 or the special education credential requirements described in Section 44265. The commission shall determine the area of concentration for the California education specialist credential based on the special education program completed out of country.

(2) The teacher successfully completes a criminal background check conducted pursuant to Sections 44339, 44340, and 44341 for credentialing purposes.

(c) A teacher prepared in a country other than the United States who has been issued by the commission a five-year preliminary multiple subject, single subject, or education specialist teaching credential shall pass the state basic skills proficiency test, administered by the commission pursuant to Section 44252, within one year of the issuance date of the credential in order to be eligible to continue teaching pursuant to this section.

(d) The commission shall issue a clear multiple subject, single subject, or education specialist teaching credential to a teacher prepared in a country other than the United States who has met the requirements in subdivisions (b) and (c) and who meets the following requirements:

(1) Demonstration of subject matter competence pursuant to paragraph (5) of subdivision (b) of Section 44259.

(2) Completion of a course, or for multiple subject and education specialist credentials, a course or an examination, on the various methods of teaching reading pursuant to paragraph (4) of subdivision (b) of Section 44259. Completion of coursework in another state or country determined by the commission to be comparable and equivalent shall meet this requirement.

(3) Completion of a course or examination on the provisions and principles of the United States Constitution pursuant to paragraph (6) of subdivision (b) of Section 44259. Completion of coursework in another state or country determined by the commission to be comparable and equivalent shall meet this requirement.

(4) Completion of the study of health education pursuant to paragraph (3) of subdivision (b) of Section 44259. Completion of coursework in another state or country determined by the commission to be comparable and equivalent shall meet this requirement.

(5) With the exception of the education specialist credential, completion of study and field experience in methods of delivering appropriate educational services to pupils with exceptional needs in regular education programs. Completion of coursework in another state or country determined by the commission to be comparable and equivalent shall meet this requirement.

(6) Completion of the study of computer-based technology through demonstration by course or examination of basic competence in the use of computers in the classroom, and study of advanced computer-based technology including the uses of technology in educational settings pursuant to paragraph (3) of subdivision (b) of Section 44259. Completion of coursework in another state or country determined by the commission as comparable and equivalent shall meet this requirement.

(7) Completion of a beginning teacher induction program pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (c) of Section 44259.

(e) (1) A teacher holding a specialist credential pursuant to this section shall complete the requirements for nonspecial education pedagogy and a supervised field experience program in general education pursuant to Section 44265.

(2) A teacher holding a specialist credential pursuant to this section shall complete a program for the Professional Level II credential accredited by the commission.

(f) Notwithstanding subdivisions (b) to (e), inclusive, the commission shall issue a multiple subject, single subject, or education specialist teaching credential to a teacher prepared in a country other than the United States who has earned a valid corresponding elementary, secondary, or special education teaching credential in another state and who meets the requirements set forth in Section 44274.2. A corresponding elementary, secondary, or special education teaching credential earned in another state shall be deemed to satisfy the teacher preparation program requirements specified in paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 44274.2.

(Amended by Stats. 2019, Ch. 427, Sec. 10. (AB 525) Effective January 1, 2020.)