Teacher credentialing: dual credentialing: workgroup.

Assembly Member Patel's dual credentialing initiative directs the Commission on Teacher Credentialing to examine pathways for teachers to obtain both general education and special education credentials, responding to California's ongoing shortage of education specialists and push for more inclusive classrooms.

The legislation requires the Commission to convene a workgroup by July 2026 to develop recommendations for two key pathways: enabling teacher candidates to simultaneously pursue multiple subject or single subject credentials alongside education specialist credentials, and creating routes for current teachers to add special education certification. The workgroup, comprised of at least 50% classroom teachers plus representatives from school administration and teacher preparation programs, must analyze existing credentialing processes, identify opportunities to streamline requirements through shared "common trunk" coursework, and study dual credentialing models from other states.

By December 2026, the workgroup must submit recommendations to the Legislature regarding statutory changes and other measures to facilitate dual credentialing. The provisions establishing the workgroup would expire in January 2029, and implementation depends on securing dedicated funding through the state budget process. This temporary authorization allows for evaluation of the workgroup's proposals before any permanent policy changes.

The measure builds upon recent reforms to California's credentialing system that established common preparatory requirements across general and special education programs. According to the bill's findings, this shared foundation creates opportunities to develop more efficient paths to dual certification while maintaining rigorous standards for teacher preparation.