Budget approves use of emergency permits for TK

Association of California School Administrators

Guest Column by Early Edge California

August 22, 2022

As Transitional Kindergarten expands to serve all of California’s 4-year-olds by 2025-26, school districts are figuring out how to staff-up to meet increasing demand.

To support staffing challenges, the 2022-23 California State Budget included a policy change that grants flexibilities to help more quickly fulfill the state’s need to hire roughly 11,900 to 15,600 additional credentialed teachers by full implementation.

Budget trailer bill AB 210 updated Section 44300 to allow the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing to issue and renew a one-year emergency specialist teaching permit in early childhood education that authorizes teaching a TK general education classroom. This is a great option for Local Education Agencies to consider if they have staff on-hand who are interested in teaching TK and have a baccalaureate degree and experience working in preschool settings.

These permits must be applied for by the local employing agency on behalf of the individual in need of an emergency permit.

How LEAs can apply

LEAs interested in applying for TK emergency permits on behalf of qualified candidates must submit justification to the CTC for approval. As part of the application, the LEA must submit documentation that it has exhausted its recruitment efforts and has been unable to recruit a sufficient number of qualified TK teachers to meet its needs. This documentation must also be adopted as a motion by the LEA’s governing board.

Educator requirements: With approval from the CTC, the LEA can then have applicants that meet the following two requirements serve as a lead teacher in a TK classroom with an emergency permit.

1) Possess a baccalaureate or higher degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher education and hold a valid commission-issued child development permit at the teacher or higher level.

2) Satisfy the subject matter requirement by one of the following options:

Complete 24 semester units of coursework in child development or early childhood education at a regionally accredited institution of higher education.
Hold a baccalaureate or higher degree conferred by a regionally accredited institution of higher education where the major is in child development, or early childhood education, or a similar major.
Commencing July 1, 2023, has three or more years of full-time lead- or primary-teaching experience in a TK setting, or preschool-age early childhood or child development program, or a combination thereof. Experience may include teaching experience in a public or private preschool or TK setting, Head Start program, or state-funded preschool program.

Renewal of emergency permits: The CTC may renew an emergency specialist teaching permit in early childhood education for one additional year, if all of the following conditions are met:

The applicant verifies current enrollment in a commission-approved teacher preparation program that will result in a credential authorizing teaching TK.
The local employing agency submits a subsequent declaration to justify the need for use of TK emergency permits.
The local employing agency verifies that the applicant continues to successfully serve in the assignment on the basis of the emergency permit.
The local employing agency verifies that continued orientation, mentoring and support shall be provided to the applicant.

While the emergency permit provision is temporary, it does create a pathway into the TK classroom for educators interested in pursuing a credential.

To receive alerts about when this permit is established and available for issuance, please subscribe to the CTC’s Certification Division eNews.

Early Edge California is a nonprofit advocacy organization dedicated to improving access to high-quality Early Learning experiences for all California children so they can have a strong foundation for future success.