BTSA Beginning Teacher Support and Assessment Board of Education April 21, 2015 Lisa Kotowski Sheree Flemmer

Background 1988SB 148, The Bergeson Act, examined alternative models for supporting and assisting the professional induction of first-and second-year teachers. 1992Legislature authorized Beginning Teacher Support and Assessment (BTSA) and recommended a re-structuring of the teacher preparation process, including BTSA. 1997The California Standards for the Teaching Profession (CSTP) and the Standards of Quality and Effectiveness for BTSA Programs were developed.

Background continued 1998SB 2042 was passed establishing a two-tier structure for granting general education teaching credentials. Teacher preparation programs (colleges) grant preliminary credentials; and District or county offices grant the professional clear credential 2010The Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) published standards for clearing the Professional Credential for Special Education teachers The first year of induction program to grant Professional Clear Credential for Mild/Moderate and Moderate/Severe Preliminary credential.

Lodi Unified School District’s BTSA Program Lodi delivered CTC approved BTSA program for general education teachers. 2009Lodi BTSA program ceased due to budget reductions in Lodi contracted with San Joaquin County Office of Education (SJCOE) and/or Stockton Unified School District (SUSD) to provide BTSA to new teachers.

Lodi Unified School District’s BTSA Program 2009SBX3 was signed by Governor Schwarzenegger. This provided spending flexibility with certain categorical programs. BTSA was one of the programs included in SBX3. Even though new teachers still needed to clear their credentials, some districts and counties stopped providing BTSA programs and others began to change their programs. LUSD continued to provide services to new teachers through SJCOE or SUSD.

Lodi Unified School District’s BTSA Program BTSA program returned to LUSD by reinstating the original (2004) plan. The Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) legislation eliminated any funding for BTSA.

Next Steps Submitted LUSD’s revised program to include clearing Professional Clear Credential for Mild/Moderate and Moderate/Severe Preliminary credential is pending approval. AB 141 passed. By the school year, a school district or county office of education that hires a beginning teacher shall provide that beginning teacher with a program of beginning teacher induction. Once standards to be met are determined, LUSD will apply for approval for an “Induction Program” under the new standards. SB 2042 Induction Programs will replace traditional BTSA programs.