Interesting Email From Human Resources Today

I had heard nothing about this until a friend at another school forwarded it to me today--and a few minutes later, my principal forwarded it to our staff:

**********************************
Teachers and Other Certificated Employees,


On September 28, 2006, the Governor signed SB 1209, an omnibus education bill with impact in thirty different provisions of the Education Code. The bill takes effect January 1, 2007. The item of interest to most teachers is the elimination of the requirement for 150 hours of professional development for credential renewal. If your credential expires after December 31, 2006, you are no longer required to attend the 150 hours before you can renew the credential. Following is the text from the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing:



Professional Growth Requirements
“Beginning January 1, 2007, the renewal of professional clear credentials will no longer be linked to professional growth requirements. This new development affects teaching and service credentials including Designated Subjects Credentials. The removal of professional growth as a credential requirement includes both the 150 hours of activities and the experience requirement. Child Development Permits will maintain a professional growth requirement for renewal.” (boldface mine--Darren)

Another change as of January 1, 2007, all credential renewals must be completed on line through the Commission’s web site at http://www.ctc.ca.gov. The District will no longer be able to assist you in renewing your credentials by submitting your renewal application.



This information will also be included in the letters we send to certificated staff to remind you to renew your credential. For further information on credentials, you are encouraged to view the Commission’s web site at http://www.ctc.ca.gov.

xxxxxx, Director

Human Resources
**********************************

I always thought the 150 hours to be nothing more than another administrative hoop to jump through, nothing more than a haze. I shed no tears over its departure, and I don't think it will affect the professionalism of California's teaching corps one iota.

Update, 11/08/06: One teacher today brought up an interesting point--if we now don't have to do anything other than teach for 6 months out of 5 years in order to renew our credential, for what are we paying the $75 renewal fee? Before, paying a fee and renewing in person at least gave the Commission an opportunity to see that we've done *something*. Now that we really don't have to do anything and must renew online, what's the purpose of the renewal and the fee? I know, it's to keep people at the CTC employed.