California legislators last week advanced a bill that would give transitional kindergarten teachers more time to earn teaching credentials.
The state Assembly’s Education Committee unanimously approved Assembly Bill 1555 on March 31 and sent the bill to be reviewed by the Assembly Appropriations Committee in the coming weeks.
The bill, introduced by Assemblywoman Sharon Quirk-Silva (D-Fullerton) in February, would give those who teach transitional kindergarten classes—which is the first year of a two-year kindergarten program that serves as a bridge between preschool and kindergarten—two more years to earn their teaching qualifications.
To qualify to teach transitional kindergarten, one must either complete 24 units in early childhood education, earn a child development teacher permit or early childhood education specialist credential, or prove they have adequate experience teaching preschool-age children….