Commission on Teacher Credentialing: membership.

Assembly Member Muratsuchi’s measure reconfigures the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing by allowing a teacher with a commission-issued child development permit who teaches in a state-funded preschool or prekindergarten program to be counted among the six practicing teachers, and by restructuring public representation to be replaced over time with greater emphasis on early childhood higher education voices.

Under the amended framework, the Commission would continue to consist of 15 voting members, including the Superintendent and six practicing teachers (one of whom may be a child development permit holder). It would also include one services-credentialed professional, one school district governing board member, one early childhood faculty member representing higher education who teaches in CSU/UC early childhood programs or CCC associate degree programs, three public representatives (reduced to two after the first vacancy that occurs on or after January 1, 2026), one school administrator, one certificated human resources administrator, and one college or university faculty member awarding baccalaureate degrees. Beginning with the first vacancy for a public representative after January 1, 2026, the Governor would appoint an early childhood faculty member to fill the vacancy created by the reduced public representation, with the initial appointment governed by the same cycle for the new category.

Appointment mechanics and term structure remain aligned with existing practice: the Governor would appoint members with the advice and consent of the Senate, and terms would continue in two-, three-, and four-year cycles with expirations on November 20 of the term year. The bill states that no appropriation is attached to these changes, although fiscal committee review is required.

The changes shift some governance weight toward higher education perspectives in early childhood pedagogy within the Commission, while preserving practitioner input through the child development permit pathway for practicing teachers. They also introduce a staged transition in public representation, elevating the role of early childhood higher education voices as vacancies occur after 2026.