California § 44259.8 - For the 2026

§ 44259.8. For the 2026

(a) For the 2026–27 fiscal year, the commission shall use the funding appropriated in Item 6100–488 of the Budget Act of 2026 to enter into an agreement with a county office of education, consistent with applicable state procurement and information technology requirements, to collaborate on the design, development, and implementation of a statewide subject matter transcript review service. The selected entity shall deliver the system to the commission by July 1, 2027. The commission shall maintain and operate the service. (b) The commission shall consult with institutions of higher education, including institutions that operate commission-approved teacher preparation programs, local educational agencies, and relevant experts in developing, calibrating, and evaluating the service. (c) The service shall allow commission-approved teacher preparation programs and local educational agencies to submit candidate or employee transcripts and supporting materials to the commission for transcript review, as follows: (1) The commission may identify the supporting materials necessary to complete a transcript review, including course catalog descriptions, syllabi, or other documentation needed to evaluate alignment with commission-adopted subject matter requirements. (2) The commission shall establish a methodology for technology-supported analysis and human review to support consistent application of subject matter requirements. (3) (A) A commission-approved educator preparation program may, before the adoption of the advisory analysis process described in subdivision (e), request an advisory analysis of transcripts and supporting materials. (B) The commission shall, through the service, produce an advisory analysis in response to the request described in subparagraph (A) of the extent to which the submitted transcripts and supporting materials align with subject matter competency requirements. (C) A commission-approved educator preparation program may review, affirm, modify, or rely on the advisory analysis for purposes of making its own determination of subject matter competency consistent with clause (iii) of subparagraph (A) of paragraph (5) of subdivision (b) of Section 44259. (4) (A) A local educational agency may, upon the adoption of the advisory analysis process described in subdivision (e), request an advisory analysis of transcripts and supporting materials. (B) The commission shall, through the service, produce an advisory analysis in response to the request described in subparagraph (A) of the extent to which the submitted transcripts and supporting materials align with subject matter competency requirements. (d) The service shall comply with applicable state and federal privacy laws, security requirements, accessibility standards, and applicable artificial intelligence governance standards. (e) (1) The commission shall, at a public meeting and following an opportunity for public comment, take action to adopt formal processes for producing advisory analyses through the service and making subject matter competency determinations through the service, subject to demonstrated accuracy, consistency, and reliability. (2) The commission may adopt regulations as necessary to implement and administer this section. (f) (1) On or before January 1, 2029, the commission shall report to the Legislature, consistent with Section 9795 of the Government Code, on implementation of the service, including usage and any recommendations for future policy or statutory changes. (2) The requirement for submitting a report imposed pursuant to paragraph (1) is inoperative on January 1, 2033, pursuant to Section 10231.5 of the Government Code.