AB 2206: Teacher credentialing: community college baccalaureate degrees.
<p>The bill amends California's Education Code to modify requirements for teacher credentials. It removes community colleges that confer baccalaureate degrees and are regionally accredited by specific entities from the definition of "regionally accredited." Instead, it requires these baccalaureate degrees to include specific coursework in basic reading, writing, and mathematics skills in English to satisfy credential requirements.</p> <p>The bill establishes a pilot program for designated subjects career technical education credentials at community colleges offering relevant baccalaureate degree programs. It allows the Commission on Teacher Credentialing to approve these colleges to recommend issuance of such credentials from 2027 to 2033, provided candidates complete approved preparation programs.</p> <p>The bill also requires the Legislative Analyst’s Office to evaluate and report on…
| Sep. 20, 2026 | Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 387, Statutes of 2026. |
| Sep. 20, 2026 | Approved by the Governor. |
| Sep. 04, 2026 | Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4 p.m. |
| Aug. 27, 2026 | Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 77. Noes 0. Page 6716.). |
| Aug. 27, 2026 | In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending. |
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
Section 44203 of the Education Code is amended to read:44203.
In this chapter, the following terms shall be defined as specified in this section:SEC. 2.
Section 44225 of the Education Code is amended to read:44225.
The commission shall do all of the following:SEC. 3.
Section 44227 of the Education Code is amended to read:44227.
(a) The commission may approve any regionally accredited institution of higher education other than a community college to recommend to the commission the issuance of credentials to persons who have successfully completed a teacher education program of the institution if the program meets the standards approved by the commission.SEC. 4.
Section 44252 of the Education Code is amended to read:44252.
(a) (1) The commission shall establish standards and procedures for the initial issuance and renewal of credentials.SEC. 4.5.
Section 44252 of the Education Code is amended to read:44252.
(a) (1) The commission shall establish standards and procedures for the initial issuance and renewal of credentials.SEC. 5.
Section 44252.2 of the Education Code is amended to read:44252.2.
Coursework completed at a community or junior college that is regionally accredited by an accrediting agency listed in paragraph (1) of subdivision (g) of Section 44203 or by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges may count as qualifying coursework for purposes of paragraph (10) of subdivision (b) of Section 44252.SEC. 6.
Section 44256 of the Education Code is amended to read:44256.
Authorization for teaching credentials shall be of four basic kinds, as defined below:SEC. 7.
Section 44258.2 of the Education Code is amended to read:44258.2.
The holder of a single subject teaching credential or a standard secondary teaching credential may, with the credentialholder’s consent, be assigned by action of the governing board to teach classes in grades 5 to 8, inclusive, in a middle school, if the credentialholder has a minimum of 12 semester units, or six upper division or graduate units, of coursework at a regionally accredited institution of higher education in the subject to which the credentialholder is assigned. For purposes of this section, coursework completed at a community or junior college that is regionally accredited by an accrediting agency listed in paragraph (1) of subdivision (g) of Section 44203 or by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges may count toward the 12 semester units requirement.SEC. 8.
Section 44258.7 of the Education Code is amended to read:44258.7.
(a) The holder of a standard secondary credential who, before September 1, 1989, has taught successfully in a subject within the department of the credentialholder’s academic major or minor for a minimum of three years, as verified by the employing school district, may receive a supplementary authorization in that subject upon application, payment of a fee, which shall not exceed one-half of the regular credential fee, and evidence that one of the following has been accomplished:SEC. 9.
Section 44259 of the Education Code is amended to read:44259.
(a) Except as provided in clauses (i) and (iii) of subparagraph (A) of paragraph (3) of subdivision (b), a program of professional preparation for multiple or single subject teaching credentials shall not include more than two years of full-time study of professional preparation.SEC. 9.5.
Section 44259 of the Education Code is amended to read:44259.
(a) Except as provided in clauses (i) and (iii) of subparagraph (A) of paragraph (3) of subdivision (b), a program of professional preparation for multiple or single subject teaching credentials shall not include more than two years of full-time study of professional preparation.SEC. 10.
Section 44259.1 of the Education Code is amended to read:44259.1.
(a) (1) An integrated program of professional preparation shall enable candidates for teaching credentials to engage in professional preparation, concurrently with subject matter preparation, while completing baccalaureate degrees at regionally accredited institutions of higher education. An integrated program shall provide opportunities for candidates to complete intensive field experiences, including student teaching, in public schools maintaining prekindergarten, kindergarten, or any of grades 1 to 12, inclusive, early in the undergraduate sequence. The development and implementation of an integrated program shall be based on intensive collaboration among subject matter departments and education units within regionally accredited institutions of higher education and local public elementary and secondary school districts.SEC. 11.
Section 44265 of the Education Code is amended to read:44265.
(a) Credentials for teaching specialties, including, but not limited to, bilingual education, early childhood education, and special education, shall be based upon a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher education, completion of a program of professional preparation, and any other standards that the commission may establish.SEC. 12.
Section 44269 of the Education Code is amended to read:44269.
(a) (1) The commission may issue a services credential authorizing service as a library media teacher upon completion of specialized preparation as required by the commission.SEC. 13.
Section 44300 of the Education Code is amended to read:44300.
(a) Commencing January 1, 1990, the commission may issue or renew emergency teaching or specialist permits in accordance with regulations adopted by the commission corresponding to the credential types specified in subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (b) of Section 44225, provided that all of the following conditions are met:SEC. 14.
Section 44325 of the Education Code is amended to read:44325.
(a) The commission shall issue district intern credentials authorizing persons employed by a school district that maintains kindergarten and grades 1 to 12, inclusive, or that maintains classes in bilingual education to provide classroom instruction to pupils in those grades and classes in accordance with the requirements of Section 44830.3. The commission also shall issue district intern credentials authorizing persons employed by a school district to provide classroom instruction to pupils in special education classes, in accordance with the requirements of Section 44830.3.SEC. 14.5.
Section 44325 of the Education Code is amended to read:44325.
(a) The commission shall issue district intern credentials authorizing persons employed by a school district that maintains kindergarten and grades 1 to 12, inclusive, or that maintains classes in bilingual education to provide classroom instruction to pupils in those grades and classes in accordance with the requirements of Section 44830.3. The commission also shall issue district intern credentials authorizing persons employed by a school district to provide classroom instruction to pupils in special education classes, in accordance with the requirements of Section 44830.3.SEC. 15.
(a) Section 4.5 of this bill incorporates amendments to Section 44252 of the Education Code proposed by both this bill and Senate Bill 1443. That section of this bill shall only become operative if (1) both bills are enacted and become effective on or before January 1, 2027, (2) each bill amends Section 44252 of the Education Code, and (3) this bill is enacted after Senate Bill 1443, in which case Section 4 of this bill shall not become operative.