(a) An internship program, established pursuant to Article 7.5 (commencing with Section 44325) of Chapter 2 or this article, that is accredited by the commission shall provide interns who meet entrance criteria and are accepted to a multiple subject teaching credential program, a single subject teaching credential program, or a level 1 education specialist credential program that provides instruction to individuals with mild to moderate disabilities, the opportunity to choose an early program completion option, culminating in a five-year preliminary teaching credential. The early program completion option shall be made available to interns who meet the following requirements:

(1) Pass a written assessment that assesses knowledge of teaching foundations, is adopted for this purpose by the commission, and includes all of the following:

(A) Human development as it relates to teaching and learning aligned with the state content and performance standards for pupils adopted by the state board.

(B) Techniques to address learning differences including working with pupils with special needs.

(C) Techniques to address working with English learners to provide access to the curriculum.

(D) Reading instruction as set forth in paragraph (4) of subdivision (b) of Section 44259.

(E) The assessment of pupil progress based upon the state content and performance standards for pupils adopted by the state board and planning intervention based on the assessment.

(F) Classroom management techniques.

(G) Methods of teaching the subject fields.

(2) (A) Pass the teaching performance assessment as set forth in Section 44320.2.

(B) An intern participating in the early completion option may take the teaching performance assessment only one time as part of the early completion option. An intern who takes the teaching performance assessment but is not successful may complete the internship program. Scores on this assessment shall be used by the internship program in providing the individualized professional development plan for interns that emphasizes preparation in areas where additional growth is warranted and waiving preparation in areas where the candidate has demonstrated competence. The intern shall retake and pass the teaching performance assessment at the end of the internship in order to be considered for recommendation by the internship program to the commission.

(3) Pass the reading instruction competence assessment described in Section 44283, if required for the intern’s credential.

(4) Meet the requirements for teacher fitness as set forth in Sections 44339, 44340, and 44341.

(b) An intern who elects to use the early completion option must first pass the assessment required pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) in order to qualify to take the teaching performance assessment required pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (a).

(c) An intern who passes the assessments described in subdivision (a) and is recommended by the internship program to the commission is eligible for a five-year preliminary multiple subject teaching credential, single subject teaching credential, or level 1 education specialist credential that authorizes instruction to individuals with mild to moderate disabilities.

(d) The commission shall issue a professional clear multiple or single subject teaching credential to an applicant whose employing school district documents, in a manner prescribed by the commission, that the applicant has fulfilled the following requirements:

(1) Holds a preliminary five-year teaching credential issued by the commission.

(2) Completes one of the following in accordance with the determination of the employing school district based upon the experience and individual needs of the applicant:

(A) A program of beginning teacher support and assessment established pursuant to Article 4.5 (commencing with Section 44279.1) of Chapter 2, including the California formative assessment and support system for teachers.

(B) An alternative program of beginning teacher induction that the commission determines, in conjunction with the Superintendent, meets state standards for teacher induction and includes the California formative assessment and support system for teachers or an alternative assessment deemed to meet the standards.

(3) As an alternative to the requirements in paragraph (2), an applicant may choose to complete the California formative assessment and support system for teachers or the equivalent at a faster pace as determined by the program of beginning teacher support and assessment established pursuant to Article 4.5 (commencing with Section 44279.1) of Chapter 2.

(Amended by Stats. 2019, Ch. 427, Sec. 13. (AB 525) Effective January 1, 2020.)