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POLITICAL LANDSCAPE:
Scott’s bill targets sexual predators
The state Senate unanimously approved a bill by state Sen. Jack Scott, whose district includes Glendale and Burbank, that aims to close loopholes in the teacher-credentialing process in order to protect children from sexual predators.
Under the legislation — Senate Bill 1110 — the Commission on Teacher Credentialing would be required to suspend a teacher’s credential if another state has revoked the teacher’s credential for serious misconduct. The credential would remain suspended as the commission investigated the ruling.
The bill also requires revocation of the credential if a teacher has a criminal conviction that results in a court order prohibiting contact with minors.
Such orders are most often tied to cases where a credential holder has been convicted of a sexual assault crime where probation includes a no-contact-with-minors provision, Scott’s office said.
“[Senate Bill] 1110 ensures that educators who have engaged in serious misconduct are quickly removed from the schools, while at the same time allowing the [commission] to determine their fitness to maintain a valid California credential,” Scott said in a statement. “The measure has been crafted to protect our students and protect the due process rights of the credential holder.”
The legislation came in response to an Associated Press report in November that found more than 2,500 cases of sexual misconduct across the country by teachers over a five-year span.
The same report found that between 2001 and 2005, more than 300 California educators had their credential suspended or revoked for sexual misconduct, Scott’s office said.
Lawmaker looks to expand programs
The Assembly Education Committee on April 18 approved a bill authored by Assemblyman Anthony Portantino, whose district includes a portion of Montrose, that aims to greatly increase the availability of teacher education programs throughout the state.
If approved by the Legislature and signed by the governor, the legislation would allow school districts, county offices of education and community-based organizations to develop teacher education programs after approval by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing, Portantino’s office said.
Currently, only traditional institutions of higher education are able to provide teacher education programs, with few exceptions, Portantino’s office said.
According to Portantino’s analysis of the bill, 92 teacher preparation programs are available statewide.
“Over the next decade, the state is expected to lose more than 100,000 teachers to retirement. This amounts to one-third of the teacher workforce disappearing,” Portantino, who is carrying the bill on behalf of the governor’s office, said in a statement.
“Many people want to become teachers, but many more cannot afford to attend a [state university] or private university to complete a credential program. . . . In these uncertain economic times, many Californians cannot afford to forfeit their income while they complete their credential requirements as a full-time student.”
The Governor’s Commission on Education Excellence, a report on kindergarten- through 12th-grade education reform released in March, endorsed the proposal.
The legislation will be heard next by the Assembly Committee on Appropriations, whose primary responsibility will be to analyze the potential costs of the legislation.
Bob Margett will help lead committee
State Sen. Bob Margett, whose district includes La Crescenta, was appointed last week to serve as vice chairman of the Senate Public Safety Committee.
Margett was appointed by recently appointed Senate Republican Leader Dave Cogdill. Cogdill, whose district is rooted in Fresno, took the post on April 15 and will replace Sen. Dick Ackerman, is being forced out by term limits.
“It is an honor to have been chosen the vice chair of Senate Public Safety Committee,” Margett said in a statement.
“I plan to work hard to ensure our local public safety officials have the tools they need to keep our streets safe and continue their fight against all criminal wrongdoings.”
As a result of his new position, Margett will no longer serve as the vice chair of Senate Natural Resources and Water committee, but he will remain a member of the committee.
Under the legislation — Senate Bill 1110 — the Commission on Teacher Credentialing would be required to suspend a teacher’s credential if another state has revoked the teacher’s credential for serious misconduct. The credential would remain suspended as the commission investigated the ruling.
The bill also requires revocation of the credential if a teacher has a criminal conviction that results in a court order prohibiting contact with minors.
Such orders are most often tied to cases where a credential holder has been convicted of a sexual assault crime where probation includes a no-contact-with-minors provision, Scott’s office said.
“[Senate Bill] 1110 ensures that educators who have engaged in serious misconduct are quickly removed from the schools, while at the same time allowing the [commission] to determine their fitness to maintain a valid California credential,” Scott said in a statement. “The measure has been crafted to protect our students and protect the due process rights of the credential holder.”
The legislation came in response to an Associated Press report in November that found more than 2,500 cases of sexual misconduct across the country by teachers over a five-year span.
The same report found that between 2001 and 2005, more than 300 California educators had their credential suspended or revoked for sexual misconduct, Scott’s office said.
Lawmaker looks to expand programs
The Assembly Education Committee on April 18 approved a bill authored by Assemblyman Anthony Portantino, whose district includes a portion of Montrose, that aims to greatly increase the availability of teacher education programs throughout the state.
If approved by the Legislature and signed by the governor, the legislation would allow school districts, county offices of education and community-based organizations to develop teacher education programs after approval by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing, Portantino’s office said.
Currently, only traditional institutions of higher education are able to provide teacher education programs, with few exceptions, Portantino’s office said.
According to Portantino’s analysis of the bill, 92 teacher preparation programs are available statewide.
“Over the next decade, the state is expected to lose more than 100,000 teachers to retirement. This amounts to one-third of the teacher workforce disappearing,” Portantino, who is carrying the bill on behalf of the governor’s office, said in a statement.
“Many people want to become teachers, but many more cannot afford to attend a [state university] or private university to complete a credential program. . . . In these uncertain economic times, many Californians cannot afford to forfeit their income while they complete their credential requirements as a full-time student.”
The Governor’s Commission on Education Excellence, a report on kindergarten- through 12th-grade education reform released in March, endorsed the proposal.
The legislation will be heard next by the Assembly Committee on Appropriations, whose primary responsibility will be to analyze the potential costs of the legislation.
Bob Margett will help lead committee
State Sen. Bob Margett, whose district includes La Crescenta, was appointed last week to serve as vice chairman of the Senate Public Safety Committee.
Margett was appointed by recently appointed Senate Republican Leader Dave Cogdill. Cogdill, whose district is rooted in Fresno, took the post on April 15 and will replace Sen. Dick Ackerman, is being forced out by term limits.
“It is an honor to have been chosen the vice chair of Senate Public Safety Committee,” Margett said in a statement.
“I plan to work hard to ensure our local public safety officials have the tools they need to keep our streets safe and continue their fight against all criminal wrongdoings.”
As a result of his new position, Margett will no longer serve as the vice chair of Senate Natural Resources and Water committee, but he will remain a member of the committee.
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