(a)
The State Department of Education shall establish minimum standards and criteria for the State Bilingual Teacher Training Assistance Program, and shall conduct appropriate training programs, or provide for training services by allocation to existing state staff development resource centers, county offices of education, public or private four-year institutions of postsecondary education, bilingual programs consortia, or cooperatives formed among two or more of these groups.
(b)
Allocations for training programs conducted under this article shall be primarily directed toward school districts with high concentrations of pupils of limited-English-proficiency and teachers on waiver under Section 52178.
(c)
In awarding allocations pursuant to subdivision (a), the department shall adopt evaluative criteria demonstrating the agency’s ability to provide appropriate training services. The adopted criteria shall include, but need not be limited to, all of the following:
(1)
Demonstrated commitment to bilingual education and bilingual teacher training.
(2)
Demonstrated capability to fully prepare candidates for bilingual certificates of competence in accordance with the criteria for assessment in language, methodology, and culture.
(3)
The availability of bilingual education staff with demonstrated experience and knowledge of bilingual education training programs.
(4)
Demonstrated management and supportive services necessary to efficiently and effectively meet the intent of this article.
(5)
District matching funds or in-kind matching resources in support of teachers participating in training programs under this article.
(d)
Agencies maintaining programs for the training of bilingual teachers on waiver shall have their programs approved for a period not to exceed three consecutive years, contingent upon all of the following:
(1)
The availability of funds.
(2)
The submission of acceptable plans and modifications thereof.
(3)
An annual evaluation that demonstrates that participants have made significant progress toward passing competency requirements leading to bilingual teachers certification. Upon the successful completion of a three-year cycle, centers shall be eligible to reapply for continued funding.
