Existing law establishes a system of public elementary and secondary schools in this state and authorizes local educational agencies throughout the state to operate schools and provide instruction to pupils in kindergarten and grades 1 to 12, inclusive. Existing law establishes various programs for the recruitment of teachers. Existing law establishes the Bilingual Teacher Professional Development Program, administered by the State Department of Education in consultation with the Commission on Teacher Credentialing, for teachers seeking to provide instruction in bilingual and multilingual settings.

This bill would require the department, in consultation with the commission, to establish an online database for purposes of connecting the preparation, credentialing, and long-term retention of teachers seeking to provide instruction in bilingual and multilingual settings and require the database to, among other things, track local educational agencies, as defined, capable of employing teachers seeking to provide instruction in bilingual and multilingual settings, as provided. The bill would state the Legislature’s intent to build a statewide bilingual teacher pipeline for specified purposes, including, among other purposes, for purposes of using eligible grant programs to address the bilingual teacher shortage.