Teacher Credentialing for Charter Schools

Are both core and elective teachers in California charter schools required to be fully credentialed?

Yes. All charter school teachers in California are required to hold a California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) certificate, permit, or other document equivalent for the certificated assignment, including elective assignments. A non-credentialed charter school teacher who had a non-core assignment during the 2019-2020 school year may continue in that assignment, at the same charter school until June 30, 2025, however they are required to be fully credentialed on July 1, 2025 to continue in the assignment. [EDC 47605(l)(1)]

Are administrators, counselors, and librarians in California charter schools required to be fully credentialed?

No. There is no legal requirement for administrators, counselors, or librarians in California charter schools to be credentialed. However, if a charter school petition mandates full credentials for any of these positions, then the school would be held to that requirement.

Is there any accountability for a charter school that has teachers who are not appropriately assigned?

Yes. The charter school’s authorizer is required to monitor teacher assignments annually using the California Statewide Assignment Accountability System (CalSAAS). This system compares CALPADS assignment data and the CTC credential authorization data using each educator’s California Statewide Educator Identifier (SEID). Any misassignments are reported to the Commission on Teacher Credentialing for verification and public release.

Is it possible for a school to avoid having any teacher misassignments and ensure equitable access to qualified educators for all students?

Yes. There are steps each school can take to ensure appropriately assigned teachers:

• Credentials/Authorizations- Ensure the teacher for each assignment has the appropriate credentials/authorizations necessary for the educational setting, course content, grade level, service type, and scope of language instruction, as necessary
• CALPADS Reporting - Ensure the correct information is uploaded into CALPADS for the assignment
• CalSAAS Monitoring - During the monitoring cycle 60 day review period, review any exceptions and provide determinations to the Monitoring Authority (MA).
• Correct Misassignments - Correct any Misassignments within 30 days of final determination by the Monitoring Authority.

Is there support available for questions about credentialing and CALPADS reporting?

Yes. If you do not find the answers you need on this page or within the links provided, please contact Michelle Sherratt.

Are teachers of English learners in California charter schools required to have EL authorization in addition to their content credential?

Yes. Any teacher providing content instruction to English learners in a California charter school must have EL authorization in addition to their content credential. This includes teachers of core content, electives, and special education. [EDC 44253.1]

We hired a teacher for an assignment that includes English learners. He is fully credentialed, however he has not obtained an EL authorization. Can he start teaching the class while working towards an EL authorization?

No. Any teacher providing content instruction to English learners in a California charter school must have EL authorization in addition to their content credential on the first day of instruction. As the employing agency, you may request an Emergency CLAD or Bilingual Authorization (BL) on behalf of the teacher to allow him to remain in the assignment. Find more detailed information about the application process on the Emergency Permits page of the CTC website.

A teacher in our California charter school only has 1 English learner enrolled in their class. Is the teacher still required to have English learner authorization in addition to their content credential?

Yes. There is no exemption to EDC 44253.1 for a small or a particular number of ELs in a class.

Is any EL Authorization appropriate for a teacher’s assignment?

No. The appropriate authorization depends on the educational service(s) that will be provided in the assignment: Integrated ELD, Designated ELD, Integrated and Designated ELD, Departmentalized ELD, or Bilingual Instruction. This English Learner (EL) Exceptions Chart provides the allowable authorizations available for each ELD service. Please note that Certificate of Completion of Staff Development documents (S17A, S17C, S17S, S17D) are only allowable in conjunction with a Career Technical Education (CTE) credential.

We plan to hire a teacher to pull EL students out of different classrooms during the school day to provide Designated ELD. Does this require the teacher to have the same EL authorization as when the students’ classroom teacher (Teacher of Record) provides Designated ELD as a pull out within the regular classroom?

No. When students are pulled out of their regular classroom for ELD, it is considered a Departmentalized ELD setting and requires a higher level of authorization. When a classroom teacher provides Designated ELD during the school day to his/her EL students within the classroom, it is NOT considered a Departmentalized ELD setting.

When ELD is taught as a standalone class in middle and high school, is it considered Departmentalized ELD?

Yes. If ELD is offered as a standalone course, whereas there are no non-ELs assigned, the setting would be considered Departmentalized ELD. At the elementary school level, an ELD setting is considered Departmentalized when it is taught by a qualified teacher who is NOT the students’ Teacher of Record (regular classroom teacher).

Can a non-credentialed staff member provide ELD to students?

No. It is required that all ELD instruction be provided by a fully credentialed teacher, including the appropriate language authorization necessary for the instructional setting.