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Guidance for Credential Programs in Response to COVID-19

Please find guidance below for credential requirements due to the effects of COVID-19 and/or Governor Newson's Executive Order, N-66-20, on 5/29/2020. Additional guidance is provided for SB 820, which extended the actions in N-66-20 until August 31, 2021.  

 

Department of Teaching and Learning

Preliminary Credential Applicants

This information is for all students who have completed student teaching or a teaching internship.

Executive Order Background

Many of you have been unable to complete your remaining credential requirements (CalTPA exams and/or RICA exam) due to the effects of COVID-19 and the impact on testing centers. As a result of California Governor Newson’s Executive Order, N-66-20, on 5/29/2020 and SB 820, which extended the actions in N-66-20 until August 31, 2021, the CalTPAs and RICA exam have been temporarily suspended as a Preliminary Credential requirement for those effected by COVID-19. This means that you can apply for your Preliminary Credential if you have not completed these exams and meet the criteria outlined below.

Please know that the CalTPAs and RICA exam will still be required to receive your Clear Credential.

The Preliminary Credential is valid for 5 years. During that 5 year period, it is your responsibility to be hired into a teaching position and complete an induction program in order to receive the Clear Credential (induction programs are typically completed in the first and second year of teaching). During that 5 year period, you will also need to complete the CalTPAs and/or RICA exam that you were unable to finish due to COVID-19. Be aware that the 5-year Preliminary Credential cannot be renewed or extended so it is vital that you keep track of the requirements you have left to complete and work with your hired school district to meet them all.  

What Teacher Candidates Need to Do

Please review all credential requirements to confirm which requirements you have or have not met.

CTC has provided the following flowchart to guide candidates on who is and is not eligible for the Preliminary Credential per EO-N-66-20. This flowchart now applies to candidates enrolled in fieldwork during the 2020-2021 school year as well.

We have determined that the majority of our candidates have been able to meet most credential requirements but have been highly impacted in completing the RICA exam and the TPA exams due to COVID-19. Please see the information below based on the specific credential requirement you have been unable to meet:

I have completed all credential requirements EXCEPT for the RICA exam. (Multiple Subject or Education Specialist candidates)

If between March 19, 2020 - August 31, 2021 you were unable to complete the RICA exam due to COVID-19 related testing center closures, you are eligible for the Preliminary Credential based on CTC action and EO N-66-20 and SB 820. You can submit a credential application to the Office of Student Success for review. 

 

I have completed all credential requirements EXCEPT for the TPA exam(s). (Multiple Subject or Single Subject candidates)

In order to be eligible for the Preliminary Credential based on CTC action and EO N-66-20, you must also satisfy all of the following conditions during the 2019-2020 or 2020-2021 academic year:  

  1. 1. Was placed or employed in a local educational agency impacted by COVID-19 related school site closures;
  2. 2. Was in the process of completing the TPA;
  3. 3. Was unable to complete the TPA due solely to school closures; AND
  4. 4. Successfully completed all other preliminary teaching credential requirements.

 

If you meet ALL of the conditions, submit a credential application.

If you do not meet ALL of the conditions, EO-N-66-20 and SB 820 does not apply to you.

 

I have completed all credential requirements EXCEPT for the RICA exam and the TPA exam(s). (Multiple Subject candidates)

In order to be eligible for the Preliminary Credential based on CTC action and EO N-66-20 and SB 820, you must also satisfy the following conditions during the 2019-2020 or 2020-2021 academic year:

  1. 1. Was placed or employed in a local educational agency impacted by COVID-19 related school site closures;
  2. 2. Was in the process of completing the TPA;
  3. 3. Was unable to complete the TPA due solely to school closures; AND
  4. 4. Successfully completed all other preliminary teaching credential requirements.

 

If you meet ALL of the conditions, submit a credential application.

If you do not meet ALL of the conditions, EO-N-66-20 and SB 820 does not apply to you.

Fall 2021 Student Teaching Applicants

This information is specifically for teacher candidates who are on track to apply for fall 2021 student teaching. 

CTC Background

Due to the effects of COVID-19 and the impact on testing centers, CTC has provided flexibility for the requirements to advance to student teaching. CTC is allowing teacher candidates to advance to fall 2021 student teaching even if they have not passed all CSET exams/met the subject matter competency requirement.

Please understand that the CSET exams are NOT being waived entirely. All teacher candidates must pass all CSETs/meet the subject matter competency requirement in order to be recommended for the Preliminary Credential after student teaching. We strongly encourage you to make this a priority before/while student teaching, to the best of your ability and testing center availability, so that you can receive your Preliminary Credential in a timely manner. It is recommended that you complete your CSETs by the end of December 2021.

While this conditional waiver provides an opportunity for teacher candidates to move forward in their program without delay due to COVID-19, it presents a unique challenge. Student Teaching has always been a demanding experience. In addition to your daily responsibilities in the classroom and weekly coursework, there are additional credential exams to be completed (i.e. the CalTPAs or TPE Portfolio and the RICA exam). Those who still need to pass their CSET exams will be in the unique position of completing the CSETs in addition to these other exams. Again, we emphasize the importance of prioritizing your exams so that you can receive your Preliminary Credential at the conclusion of student teaching. 

What Teacher Candidates Need to Do

Apply for student teaching. The application for Fall 2021 student teaching is due Friday, May 14, 2021. Candidates must submit proof to the application that they were unable to complete their CSET exams prior to August 31, 2021 due to COVID-19. Proof could be documentation of exams being canceled, rescheduled, or unavailable. Proof can also be a written statement explaining how the candidate is unable to visit a testing center due to health risks for themselves or family member(s). 

Please refer to your program pathway and discuss your progress with your advisor if you are unsure what semester to apply for student teaching. 

Fall 2021 Internship Applicants

This information is for teacher candidates interested in applying to be intern eligible for Fall 2021.

Executive Order Background

As a result of SB 820 which extends California Governor Newson’s Executive Order, N-66-20, Fall 2021 Teaching Intern Applicants can become intern eligible and recommended for an intern credential without meeting subject matter competency/pass all CSET exams. 

Please understand that the CSET exams are NOT being waived entirely. All teacher candidates must meet the subject matter competency requirement/pass CSETs in order to be recommended for their Preliminary Credential. CSETs must be passed before the internship credential expires (intern credentials are valid for 2 years and cannot be renewed or extended). 

While the Executive Order provides an opportunity for teacher candidates to complete an internship without delay this fall due to COVID-19, it presents a unique challenge. Teaching Internships are immensely challenging and recommended only for teacher candidates with prior teaching experience. An internship is first-year teaching while balancing coursework and completing credential requirements. Those who still need to pass their CSET exams will be additionally challenged to pass these exams in addition to all other credential requirements (i.e. the CalTPAs or TPE Portfolio and the RICA exam) while maintaining full-time employment. Any student applying for Fall 2021 internship without their CSET exams passed must recognize the additional challenge completing their CSET exams will create. Failure to complete the CSET exams and all other credential requirements may result in an inability to continue employment in their teaching position.

What Teacher Candidates Need to Do

1. Apply for internship eligibility. Fall 2021 intern applications are currently being reviewed on a rolling basis. Once an application has been submitted, it will be reviewed within 2 weeks. Intern eligible students will be provided an intern eligibility letter to apply to jobs. It is the responsibility of the student to secure an internship. 

Candidates must submit proof to the application that they were unable to complete their CSET exams prior to August 31, 2021 due to COVID-19. Proof could be documentation of exams being canceled, rescheduled, or unavailable. Proof can also be a written statement explaining how the candidate is unable to visit a testing center due to health risks for themselves or family member(s). 

2. Find a full-time teaching position in your credential field. Intern eligible students must be hired in a full-time, public school teaching position in their credential area and notify their advisor of their position by Friday, August 27, 2021. 

Webinar & FAQs

Office of Student Success Advisors provide additional information regarding student-teaching and internship eligibility applications and requirements during the Should I Student Teach or Intern? Group Advising sessions. 

Guidance Regarding the CalTPA

CalTPA Options

Teacher candidates affected by restrictions due to distance learning are able to receive their preliminary credential without fulfilling the CalTPA requirement. However, the CalTPA requirement must be fulfilled in order to be eligible to apply for the clear teaching credential.  

General Requirements and Considerations

•All assessment requirements must be met regardless of instructional setting
•Candidates and students must be visible in the video clips
•Uploaded video clips must be continuous and unedited, with the following exceptions:
- Covering or removing student names to protect privacy is not considered a video edit
- Closed captioning may be turned on to enhance audio intelligibility
•Instruction must continue to be based on California content standards and frameworks and use content-specific pedagogy
•Candidates must be able to see and synchronously instruct and interact with students in real-time
•Candidates must teach actual students from their assigned class; candidate’s own children or neighbor children may not be used to create a mock classroom
•Candidates should adhere to all school or district guidelines for recording in online settings and continue to ensure that appropriate permissions are in place

Cycle 1 Requirements and Considerations

•Synchronous instruction is required
•A minimum of 3 students is required. If only 3 students are engaged in the lesson, the 3 students must represent the required 3 focus students
•The Getting to Know Your Students template should indicate and briefly describe the online setting
•The Lesson Plan and the Lesson Plan Rationale template should address specific instruction strategies and or adaptations applied due to the online setting
 

Cycle 2 Requirements and Considerations

•Candidates must continue to provide blank copies of the informal, student self-assessment, and formal assessments and corresponding rubrics, including definition of proficient students’ performance
•Candidates must continue to collect and submit three student formal assessment responses with feedback
•When selecting assessment strategies, candidates should take into consideration how they will deliver, collect, analyze and provide feedback either through the virtual instruction platform (e.g., Zoom) or other virtual means (e.g., email, Dropbox)
•TK-12 students using a virtual instruction platform (e.g., Zoom) to engage in content-specific learning meets the requirement for students to demonstrate use of educational technology
•The learning segment may include both synchronous instruction. However, the video clips for Steps 2 and 4 must come from synchronous segments that include teacher and student interaction
•A minimum of 3 students is required. If only 3 students are engaged, their responses may represent the range of responses across the class
•The Contextual Information template should indicate and briefly describe the online setting
•The Learning Segment template should address specific instructional strategies and/or adaptations applied due to the online setting

CalTPA Tech Tips

•If using an external camera, ensure there is no glare on the screen that would prohibit clearly viewing the video. Be sure to include clear images and audio of both the candidate AND the students.
•Candidate’s should identify themselves so that it is clear who the candidate is and who the students are, especially in a high school settings
•A resource page of online tools and tutorial links will be posted to www.ctcexams.nesinc.com
•Test technology before first recording and practice before recording for the instruction for submission
•Virtual instruction platforms (e.g., Zoom) must support the ability to record candidate instruction and student engagement for the purpose of generating the required video evidence, and/or external cameras may also be used
•Gallery view is recommended if technology has this feature

2020-21 CalTPA Submission Schedule

CalTPA 2020=21 Program Year Reporting Dates.png

How to Obtain TPA Results

Request a copy of your CalTPA Cycles 1 & 2 results

Test results are available for 2 years in your account.

From your account, you may view, print, and save your test results. Your testing history for all tests taken, reported as pass/fail status, is always available to you through your account.

After the 2-year period, you may request a copy using the reprint request form.

To request a copy of CalTPA Tasks 1-4 results

Students that completed TPA tasks 1-4 before February 2018 should contact CalTPA coordinator to request results.

Dr. Greg Hamilton

CALTPA Coordinator

greg_hamilton@redlands.edu

 

CALTPA Office hours:

Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4-5:00 pm

Meeting Link