(a) The commission shall issue district intern credentials authorizing persons employed by a school district that maintains kindergarten and grades 1 to 12, inclusive, or that maintains classes in bilingual education to provide classroom instruction to pupils in those grades and classes in accordance with the requirements of Section 44830.3. The commission also shall issue district intern credentials authorizing persons employed by a school district to provide classroom instruction to pupils in special education classes, in accordance with the requirements of Section 44830.3.

(b) Each district intern credential is valid for a period of two years. A credential may be valid for three years if the intern is participating in a program that leads to the attainment of a specialist credential in special education or four years if the intern is participating in a program that leads to the attainment of both a multiple subject or single subject teaching credential and a specialist credential in special education. Upon the recommendation of the school district, the commission may grant a one-year extension of the district intern credential.

(c) The commission shall require each applicant for a district intern credential to demonstrate that he or she meets all of the following minimum qualifications for that credential:

(1) The possession of a baccalaureate degree conferred by a regionally accredited institution of postsecondary education.

(2) The successful passage of the state basic skills proficiency requirement pursuant to Sections 44252 and 44252.5.

(3) The successful completion of the appropriate subject matter examination administered by the commission, or a commission-approved subject matter preparation program for the subject areas in which the district intern is authorized to teach.

(4) The oral language component of the assessment program leading to the bilingual-crosscultural language and academic development certificate for persons seeking a district intern credential to teach bilingual education classes.

(d) The commission shall apply the requirements of Sections 44339, 44340, and 44341 to each applicant for a district intern credential.

(e) The commission shall ensure that each district internship program in California provides program elements to its interns as required by the federal No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (20 U.S.C. Sec. 6301 et seq.) and its implementing regulations.

(Amended by Stats. 2009, Ch. 316, Sec. 2. (AB 239) Effective January 1, 2010.)