San Francisco Unified School District and County Office of Education
Board Policy 4112.2
Certification
This Board Policy applies to the San Francisco Unified School District and the County Office of Education.
The Governing Board recognizes that the District’s ability to provide a high-quality educational program is dependent upon the employment of certificated staff who are adequately prepared and have demonstrated proficiency in basic skills and in the subject matter to be taught. The Superintendent or designee shall ensure that persons employed to fill positions requiring certification qualifications possess the appropriate credential, permit, or other certification document from the Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) and fulfill any additional state, federal, or District requirements for the position. The Superintendent or designee shall provide assistance and support to teachers holding preliminary credentials to enable them to meet the qualifications required for the clear credential.
Priorities for Hiring Based on Unavailability of Credentialed Teacher
The Superintendent or designee shall make reasonable efforts to recruit a fully prepared teacher who is authorized in the subject or setting for each assignment or, when necessary, a fully prepared teacher serving on a local assignment option. Whenever a teacher with a clear or preliminary credential is not available, the Superintendent or designee shall make reasonable efforts to recruit an individual for the assignment in the following order: (Education Code 44225.7)
- A candidate who enrolls in an approved intern program in the region of the District and possesses an intern credential.
- A candidate who is scheduled to complete preliminary credential requirements within six months and who is granted a provisional internship permit (PIP) or short-term staff permit issued by the CTC.
The Board shall approve, as an action item at an open Board meeting, a notice of its intent to employ a PIP applicant for a specific position. (5 CCR 80021.1) - An individual who has been granted a credential waiver by the CTC.
Prior to requesting that the CTC issue an emergency permit or a limited assignment permit, the Board shall annually approve a Declaration of Need for Fully Qualified Educators. The Declaration of Need shall be approved by the Board as an action item at a regularly scheduled open Board meeting, with the entire Declaration of Need being included in the Board agenda. (Education Code 44225, 44225.7; 5 CCR 80023.2, 80026, 80027, 80027.1)
The Declaration of Need shall certify that there is an insufficient number of certificated persons who meet the District’s specified employment criteria for the position(s) and that the District has made reasonable efforts to recruit individuals who meet the qualifications specified in items #1-2 above. The Declaration of Need shall also indicate the number and type of emergency permits that the District estimates it will need during the valid period of the Declaration of Need, based on the previous year’s actual needs and projections of enrollment. Whenever the actual number of permits needed exceeds the estimate by 10 percent, the Board shall revise and resubmit the Declaration of Need. (5 CCR 80026)
Whenever it is necessary to employ noncredentialed teachers to fill a position requiring certification qualifications, the Superintendent or designee shall provide support and guidance in accordance with law to ensure the quality of the instructional program.
Parental Notifications
At the beginning of each school year, the Superintendent or designee shall notify the parents/guardians of each student attending a school receiving Title I funds that they may request information regarding the professional qualifications of their child’s classroom teacher including, but not limited to, whether the teacher: (20 USC 6312)
- Has met state qualification and licensing criteria for the grade levels and subject areas in which the teacher provides instruction;
- Is teaching under emergency or other provisional status through which state qualification or licensing criteria have been waived;
- Is teaching in the field of discipline of the teacher’s certification.
In addition, the Superintendent or designee shall notify parents/guardians in a timely manner whenever their child has been assigned, or has been taught for four or more consecutive weeks by, a teacher who does not meet applicable state certification or licensure requirements at the grade level and subject area to which the teacher has been assigned. (20 USC 6312)
Please note that compare references, or “cf”, refer to CSBA model policies and do not necessarily indicate that the San Francisco Unified School District has adopted the referenced policy. These references are not intended to be part of the policy itself, nor do they indicate the basis or authority for the board to enact this policy. Instead, they are provided as additional resources for those interested in the subject matter of the policy.
State References
5 CCR 80001-80674.6 Commission on Teacher Credentialing
Ed. Code 32340-32341 Unlawful issuance of a credential
Ed. Code 35186 Complaints regarding teacher vacancy or misassignment
Ed. Code 44066 Limitations on certification requirements
Ed. Code 44200-44399.1 Teacher credentialing
Ed. Code 44250-44277 Credentials and assignment of teachers
Ed. Code 44300-44302 Emergency permit
Ed. Code 44325-44328 District interns
Ed. Code 44330-44355 Certificates and credentials
Ed. Code 44420-44440 Revocation and suspension of credentials
Ed. Code 44450-44468 University intern program
Ed. Code 44830-44929 Employment of certificated persons; requirement of proficiency in basic skills
Ed. Code 56060-56063 Substitute teachers in special education
Ed. Code 8360-8370 Qualifications of child care personnel
Federal References
20 USC 6312 Title I local educational agency plans; notifications regarding teacher qualifications
34 CFR 200.48 Parent notification regarding teacher qualifications
Cross References
0460 Local Control And Accountability Plan
1312.4 Williams Uniform Complaint Procedures
3580 District Records
4111 Recruitment And Selection
4112 Appointment And Conditions Of Employment
4112.21 Interns
4112.22 Staff Teaching English Learners
4112.23 Special Education Staff
4112.5 Criminal Record Check
4112.6 Personnel Files
4113 Assignment
4114 Transfers
4117.14 Postretirement Employment
4117.3 Personnel Reduction
4119.21 Professional Standards
4121 Temporary/Substitute Personnel
4131 Staff Development
4131.1 Teacher Support And Guidance
4161.1 Personal Illness/Injury Leave
4161.11 Industrial Accident/Illness Leave
4161.3 Professional Leaves
4161.8 Family Care And Medical Leave