8/6/2019 JLAC letter on Teacher Credentialing Commission

1/2

05/1l/2011 I4:2E F,1X Sl631S2l50STATE CAFITOLP.O. BOX 942849' SAGHAMENTO, CA 94249.0137(916) 31S.3300FAX (916) 3ts-2382

ASI'l_Rica rdo_La ra

flslifrrnia SegislufursE 002,/003

CHlEF CONEULTANTCAMERON VALDENFAMACOMMITTEE gECFETARYKATAFIINA TARFI

JOINT LEGISLATTVE AUDIT CSMMITTf,E,RICARDO IJ-RA, CHAIRMay 17.2011

Honorable Jerry Brown, GovernotState of Californiasrate capitoi, suite 1173Sacramento, CA 95814Dear Govemor Brorryn:

Last week. ths Joint Legislative Audit Committee held and informatior'ral hearing to review StateAuditor Elaine Howle's receiltly released report on the Commission or: Teacher Credentialing(Commission). Regretfully, the report revealed several serious conceil^H that warrant immediateaction.According to the Commission, the major purpose of the agency is to scrwe as a state standardsboard for educator preparation for the public sshools of California. the;licensing andcredentialing of professional educators in the State, the enforcement CIliprofessional practices ofeducators, and the discipline of credential holders in the State of Califc.rnia. In implementing itsrole, the Commission is required to issue teasher oredentials and revok$ credentials when ateacher has engaged in misconduct that tlreatens the safety and well-b,.ring of Califomia's schoolchildrer.State Auditor Howle's report found that the Cornmission has been grot Ely mismanaged withlittle regard for the security of children or teachers. Specifically, it has.had an ongoing backlogof around 5,000 cases to review since 2005. These cases of misconduc,i range from distributingpornography to students to kidnapping and rape. Over the years, the C'rmmission's managementhas done nothing to address the backlog and has even lied about its exi';tence.Furthermore, according to the audit findings the majoriry of the Commission's stafffearsretaliation. The roport forrnd that 43Yo of the employees fear retaliatio:, and 40% believe thatfamilial relationships threaten hiring practioes and promotions. Out of approximately onehrurdred and sixty Commission employees, at least twenty-four are relt.ted or were at one timerelated. The management at the Commission has allowed it beoome a ,ort of fratemity, whiohhas led to its oomplete dysfrrnotion,At this time, immediate action is nccessary to restore trust with the put,tic and ensure that theCommission is operating in the best interest of teachers and children. I request that you consideryour appointments to the Commission. Specifically, I re quest the dism issai of the Chair of theCommission, Ting Sur, and staffmanagement - Dale Janssen, the Exe;utive Director, and Ms.

.&..sEEEtlltrlD I d-qeFined w Baovdcd Peoet

8/6/2019 JLAC letter on Teacher Credentialing Commission

2/2

05/11/2011 14:26 FflI 91831S2150 AStl Eicardo Lara

Mary Armstrong, Director of the Division of Professional Practices. '-heir leadership hascontributed to the mynad of problems afld theatens the safety of our r,uost vulnerabli - ourschool ehildren.

E 003/003

Thflflk you for your consideratiou ofthis request.pleare feel free to contact me at (916) 319,3300,trust and efficiency at theFor mote informatit.n or to disouss this issue,I look forward to wc'rking with you to restoreCredentialing.

CARDO LARA, ChairJoint Legislative Audit CommitteeAssembly Member, 50u District