ARTICLE 7.5. District Interns [44325. - 44328.]

Cal. Education Code - EDC 7.5.

in effect

Cal. Education Code - EDC § 44325. Section 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. (b) Each district intern credential is valid for a period of two years. A credential may be valid for three years if the intern is participating in a program that leads to the attainment of a specialist credential in special education or four years if the intern is participating in a program that leads to the attainment of both a multiple subject or single subject teaching credential and a specialist credential in special education. Upon the recommendation of the school district, the commission may grant a one-year extension of the district intern credential. (c) The commission shall require each applicant for a district intern credential to demonstrate that the applicant meets all of the following minimum qualifications for that credential: (1) The possession of a baccalaureate degree conferred by a regionally accredited institution of higher education. (2) The successful passage of the state basic skills proficiency requirement pursuant to Sections 44252 and 44252.5. (3) The successful completion of the appropriate subject matter examination administered by the commission, or a commission-approved subject matter preparation program for the subject areas in which the district intern is authorized to teach. (4) The oral language component of the assessment program leading to the bilingual-crosscultural language and academic development certificate for persons seeking a district intern credential to teach bilingual education classes. (d) The commission shall apply the requirements of Sections 44339, 44340, and 44341 to each applicant for a district intern credential. (e) The commission shall ensure that each district internship program in California provides program elements to its interns as required by the federal No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (20 U.S.C. Sec. 6301 et seq.) and its implementing regulations.

Cal. Education Code - EDC § 44326. Section 44326.

(a) Persons holding district intern credentials issued by the commission under Section 44325 to teach in grades 9 to 12, inclusive, or in grades 6 to 8, inclusive, in a departmentalized program, or in departmentalized bilingual classes, shall be authorized to teach in the subject area in which they have met the subject matter requirement. (b) Persons holding district intern credentials issued by the commission under Section 44325 to teach in kindergarten and grades 1 to 8, inclusive, in a self-contained program or in self-contained bilingual classes and who have met the subject matter requirement shall be authorized to teach in those grades or classes. (c) Before being assigned to teach special education pupils, persons holding district intern credentials issued by the commission under Section 44325 to teach those pupils shall meet the requirements of subdivision (b). (d) Each district intern is required to teach with the assistance and guidance of certificated employees selected through a competitive process adopted by the governing board after consultation with the exclusive teacher representative unit or by personnel employed by institutions of higher education to supervise student teachers. (e) A certificated employee who assists the district intern shall possess valid certification at the same level or of the same type of credential as the district interns they serve.

Cal. Education Code - EDC § 44327. Section 44327.

On or before July 1, 1995, the commission, in consultation with participating school districts and other affected organizations, shall revise existing standards and adopt additional standards, as necessary, related to the quality of the training, support, evaluation, and performance of district interns. The standards shall be appropriate for an alternative program of teacher recruitment, preparation, and certification. Each school district with a district intern program is responsible for maintaining appropriate records of the program so that the credit earned by each district intern is transferable to his or her academic record in the same manner as if the intern had participated in a college or university program. To the extent feasible, the standards shall also be equivalent to the standards of the commission for professional preparation programs in colleges and universities.

Cal. Education Code - EDC § 44328. Section 44328.

(a) Unless the commission determines that substantial evidence exists that a person is unqualified to teach, upon the completion of successful service as a district intern pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 44325, and upon the recommendation of the school district governing board, the commission shall award preliminary credentials to district interns in the same manner as applicants recommended for credentials by institutions that operate approved programs of professional preparation. (b) Notwithstanding paragraphs (1) and (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 44225, paragraphs (3) to (6), inclusive, of subdivision (b) of Section 44259, paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) of subdivision (c) of Section 44259, and Sections 44261, 44265, and 44335, upon recommendation by the governing board, district interns shall be issued preliminary credentials upon the completion of successful service as a teacher pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 44325, unless the governing board recommends, and the commission finds substantial evidence, that the person is not qualified to teach. Pursuant to Article 11 (commencing with Section 44380), teachers participating in an induction program pursuant to Article 4.5 (commencing with Section 44279.1) are no longer eligible for funding under the district intern program. (c) Notwithstanding Section 44261, the preliminary credential awarded to a district intern holding a district intern credential to teach bilingual education classes shall be a basic teaching credential with a bilingual-crosscultural language and academic development emphasis. Notwithstanding Section 44265, the preliminary credential awarded to a district intern who holds a district intern credential to teach special education pupils shall be a special education specialist instruction credential that authorizes the holder to teach special education pupils. (d) It is the intent of the Legislature that institutions of higher education that operate approved programs of professional preparation work cooperatively with school districts that offer district intern programs for a special education specialist credential to apply the regular education coursework and fieldwork from the special education district intern program toward earning a multiple or single subject teaching credential through the institution.

Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026