General Preconditions

General Statement Applicable to all Preconditions for all Educator Preparation Programs
Pursuant to Education Code Section 44227 (and 44265 where applicable for Education Specialist Program) each program of professional preparation that leads to a teaching or services credential shall adhere continually to the following requirements of California State Law or Commission Policy. Each institution must respond to the general preconditions as well as all other applicable program specific preconditions
Precondition 1 - Approval of Sponsorship
Precondition Language Evidence Guidance Evidence
Precondition 1 for Institutions of Higher Education
(a) Accreditation and Academic Credit.The program(s) must be operated by (a) Institutions of higher education: A college or
university that (i) is fully accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges or another of the six regional accrediting associations, and (ii) grants baccalaureate academic credit or post baccalaureate academic credit, or both. An institution approved to offer educator preparation in California must notify the Commission within 30 days if its regional accreditation status changes.		 Examples of Acceptable Evidence
• Copy of most recent letter from WASC Senior or one of the other
federally recognized accrediting bodies.		 Not applicable
Precondition 1 for School Districts or Other Non-Regionally Accredited Entities
(b) School districts or other non-regionally accredited entities: The Superintendent or CEO of the district or entity shall submit verification of the governing board’s approval of sponsorship of the program.		 Examples of Acceptable Evidence
• A letter from the Superintendent noting that the Governing Board
has approved sponsorship of the Program;
OR
• A Letter from the Board President; OR
• Copy of Adopted Meeting Minutes at which an agenda item was discussed and action took place to approve sponsorship of program.		 The Contra Costa County Office of Education has approved the sponsorship of the Preliminary Administrative Services Credential Program, as is evidenced by this letter of assurance from Superintendent, Lynn Mackey.
Precondition 2 - Enrollment and Completion
Once a candidate is accepted and enrolls in an educator preparation program, the approved program sponsor must offer the approved program, meeting the adopted standards, until the candidate: i. completes the program; ii. withdraws from the program;
iii. is dropped from the program based on established criteria; or iv. is admitted to another approved program to complete the
requirements, with minimal disruption, for the authorization.
In the event the program closes, a teach out plan, which includes individual transition plans for each candidate as well as a plan for candidates and graduates to access their student records would need to be developed.		 Examples of Acceptable Evidence
• A statement of assurance by Unit Head (Dean, Superintendent)
that the institution understands that once it enrolls candidates that candidates must be able to complete the program even if the program plans to close. The statement should include an assurance covering all language in i-iv.
AND
• A copy of or link to the institution’s teach out plan in the event the programs would close or a description of the teach- out plan (sufficiently specific) about how the institution will provide for candidates needs and ability to complete a program.		 CCCOE is committed to the candidates in the PASC program. If, for some unknown reason, the program needed to close, CCCOE would partner with a neighboring county program in order to ensure completion for its candidates. Prorated funds would be transferred to the partnering county office. CCCOE would work closely with candidates to participate both face to face and online with a neighboring county in the Bay Area that has a Preliminary Administrative Services Credential program and is most able to accommodate. This Teach-Out Plan would include the development of individual transition plans for each candidate, including information regarding accessing student records, which will be housed in the CCCOE Human Resources Department. Our letter of assurance from Superintendent Lynn Mackey is evidence of our commitment to supporting all candidates in the completion of the program.
Precondition 3 - Responsibility and Authority
the entity shall provide the following information:
(a) Identify the position within the organizational structure that is responsible for ongoing oversight of all educator preparation programs offered by the entity (including educator preparation programs offered by an extension division, if any).
(b) Provide a description of the reporting relationship between the position described in (a) and the individual(s) who coordinate each educator preparation program offered by the entity. If a reporting relationship is indirect, describe the levels of authority and responsibility for each educator preparation program. Include an organizational chart for the institution as well as the division(s) within the institution responsible for the oversight of educator preparation programs; include any parent organization, outside organization(s), or partner(s) who will be involved in the oversight of the educator preparation unit and/or responsible for any aspect of program delivery.
(c) Provide policies to ensure that duties regarding credential recommendations are provided solely by persons who are current employees of the Commission approved institution.		 Examples of Acceptable Evidence
(a) Title of the person responsible for oversight of all educator preparation programs (Unit Head). Name of the current occupant of that position is helpful but not required. Program Directors/ Coordinators are not the unit head unless that person is also institutional leadership, has oversight of all credential programs offered by the institution, and authority to designate institutional resources for all programs.
AND
(b) An organization chart largely addresses this requirement. Please review the organization chart to make sure it is representative of all of the credential programs offered by the institution, the positions responsible and the reporting relationships between key individuals. If any aspect of the program is delivered by an outside organization or individuals, please ensure that they are included in the information provided. Lines of authority must be clear.
AND
(c) An assurance that no one other than employees of the approved institution will submit credential recommendations accompanied with copies or links to policies that indicate who is responsible for all credential recommendations to the Commission and that any individual who is recommending will always be a current employee of the approved institution.
Examples of Insufficient Evidence (one or more of the following): (a) Lack of title of person responsible for oversight or the
person/title listed is the person with day to day operational responsibilities but clearly not at a level within the institution to have oversight responsibilities.
OR
(b) An organizational chart or other material where the reporting relationships are unclear or any parent/outside organizations are not included in the materials/org chart.
OR
(c) Submission of the name and/or title of person who will/does the actual recommendation process to the Commission alone without also an assurance that any and all persons who will be doing the recommendation process will be employees of the Commission approved institution.		 a) Contra Costa County Office of Education's Senior Director of Educational Services will be responsible for the ongoing oversight of the Preliminary Administrative Services Credential Program. The Senior Director reports directly to the Superintendent of CCCOE. Contra Costa County Office of Education's Coordinator - ELA/ELD, Administrative Leadership Program, will coordinate the Preliminary Administrative Services Credential Program. This Program Coordinator is directly supervised by the Senior Director identified above in part a. b) This CCCOE Organizational Chart shows our Senior Director reporting to the Superintendent. This CCCOE Ed Services Organizational Chart shows the Program Coordinator reporting to the Senior Director. c) All duties regarding credential recommendations will be completed by employees of CCCOE, specifically from the CCCOE Credentialing department. Here is a link to our CCCOE Credentialing Department website within the Human Resources Department. We have also provided a letter of assurance from our Superintendent.
Precondition 4 - Lawful Practices
To be granted continuing accreditation by the Committee on Accreditation, a program of professional preparation must be proposed and operated by an entity that makes all personnel decisions without unlawful discrimination. These decisions include decisions regarding the admission, retention or graduation of students, and decisions regarding the employment, retention or promotion of employees. Links or copies to documents that include non-discrimination language related to employment such as employee handbooks, recruitment materials, job postings, etc.
AND Links or copies to documents that includes non-discrimination language related to candidates in the program – admissions, retention, graduation and so forth. These are typically in candidate handbooks or candidate recruitment materials.		 Contra Costa County Office of Education's Non-Discrimination Statement is on the front of the human Resources Webpage, and can be found here. This statement is also included in the CCCOE PASC Handbook and will be included on all recruitment and admission materials.
Precondition 5 - Commission Assurances
To be granted continuing accreditation by the Committee on Accreditation, the program sponsor must: (a) assure that the sponsor will fulfill all of the applicable standards of program quality and effectiveness that have been adopted by the Commission, (b) assure that all candidates participating in public school-based field activities hold a Certificate of Clearance from the Commission, (c) assure that the approved program sponsor will cooperate in an evaluation of the program by an external team or a monitoring of the program by a Commission staff member, and (d) assure that the approved program sponsor will participate fully in the Commission’s accreditation system, including the timely submission of documents required for accreditation. Assurance statement by institutional leadership (unit head) that
agrees and includes language pertaining to a-d.		 Attached is a letter of assurance from CCCOE's Superintendent Lynn Mackey agreeing to the Commission Assurances.
Precondition 6 - Requests for Data
To be granted continuing accreditation by the Committee on Accreditation, the entity must identify a qualified officer responsible for reporting and responding to all requests from the Commission for data including, but not limited to, program enrollments, program completers, examination results, including performance assessments, and state and federal reporting within the time limits specified by the Commission. Institutional contact information must be updated annually. • Identification of the person (name and title) for reporting and
responding to all requests from the Commission for data.
• Assurance statement that the institution understands that it is its
responsibility to check the contact information listed on the Commission’s approved programs page and to make any necessary updates at least on an annual basis.		 Julie Dooley, Contra Costa County Office of Education's Coordinator - ELA/ELD, Administrative Leadership Program, will be responsible for reporting and responding to all requests from the Commission for data. This letter of assurance from CCCOE's Superintendent states that CCCOE understands that it is their responsibility to check the contact information listed on the Commission's approved programs page and make any necessary updates on an annual basis.
Precondition 7 - Veracity in all Claims and Documentation Submitted
To be granted continuing accreditation by the Committee on Accreditation, the entity must positively affirm the veracity of all statements and documentation submitted to the Commission. A statement signed by institutional leadership (Unit Head) that all
statements, documents, and information provided to the Commission by the institution is accurate and truthful.		 This letter of assurance states that all
statements, documents, and information provided to the Commission by CCCOE is accurate and truthful.
Precondition 8 - Grievance Process
To be granted continuing accreditation by the Committee on Accreditation, the approved program sponsor must have a clearly delineated grievance process for candidates and applicants. The grievance process information must be accessible to all candidates and applicants and the institution must be prepared to provide documentation that candidates have been informed of the grievance process and that the process has been followed. Copies of or links to the institution’s grievance process for
candidates and applicants.
• The grievance process needs to be easily accessible so
information about where a candidate obtains this information is critical – Provide website URL to where the grievance process is housed.
• Evidence that demonstrates how candidates are informed of the existence of the grievance process – orientation materials or meeting agendas where it is clear that the grievance process was discussed.		 This document outlines the Grievance Process that will be utilized for CCCOE's Preliminary Administrative Services Credential Program. Information pertaining to the Grievance Process will be included in the CCCOE PASC Handbook, on the PASC webpage, as well as on application forms. The Grievance Process will also be reviewed at the Program Orientation.
Precondition 9 - Faculty and Instructional Personnel Participation
All faculty and instructional personnel employed by colleges and universities who regularly teach one or more courses in an educator preparation program leading to a credential, shall actively participate in the public school system at least once every three academic years, appropriate to their credential area. Faculty who are not in the Department, School or College of Education are exempt from this requirement. Reference: Education Code Section 44227.5 (a) and (b).
This precondition applies only to colleges and universities. Local Education Agencies do not need to address this precondition.		 Does not apply
Precondition 10 - Communication and Information
To be granted continuing accreditation by the Committee on Accreditation, the approved program sponsor must provide easily accessible and accurate information to the public, prospective educators, and enrolled candidates about the requirements for admission and successful completion for all its educator preparation programs. URL to the approved program sponsor website that does not
require individuals to provide information to the entity, having to create a log in and password, or any other barrier to accessing information about the institution and the program.
AND The website must include information about admissions requirements, course and fieldwork requirements, and completion requirements.		 The PASC Communication and Information Process will be utilized for CCCOE's Preliminary Administrative Services Credential Program.
Precondition 11 - Student Records Management, Access, and Security
To be granted continuing accreditation by the Committee on Accreditation, the sponsor must demonstrate that it will maintain and retain student records in accordance with the institution’s record retention policy. Institutions will provide verification that: (a) Candidates and graduates will have access to and be provided with transcripts and/or other documents for the purpose of verifying academic units and program completion. (b) All candidate records will be maintained at the main institutional site or central location (paper or digital copies). (c) Records will be kept securely in locked cabinets or on a secure server located in a room not accessible by the public. A statement of assurance that student records will be maintained and retained in accordance with the institution’s record retention policy
(a) a description of how the program provides candidates with access to their transcripts and other student records, including how candidates will have access to their records after they graduate or transfer and how they will be notified if records are scheduled for destruction.
AND
(b) an assurance/description that student records will be maintained at a central location or designated/main institutional site.
AND
(c) an assurance or description that indicates that the location in which the student records are housed are secured (locked cabinets or secure server) and not accessible by the public.		 The Contra Costa County Office of Education (CCCOE) serves as the local agency approved by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CCTC) to process the credentials applications and temporary county certificates of certificated staff hired by county school districts for positions requiring administrative, teaching, service and special education credentials as well as other permits and certificates. The documents and transcripts of the PASC Program will be maintained in the same manner, which is overseen by the Credentialing Department, within the Human Resources Department. All documents are kept confidential and locked for security purposes. Information regarding how candidates can access records is provided in the CCCOE PASC Handbook under Policies and Procedures, provided on the PASC webpage, and is currently provided on the Human Resources webpage. This letter of assurance affirms that student records will be maintained and retained in accordance with the CCCOE's record retention policy.
Precondition 12 - Disclosure
Institutions must disclose information regarding any outside organizations that will be providing any direct educational services as all or part of the educator preparation programs sponsored by the institution and identify the type of services the outside organization will provide. Please note: This precondition relates to direct educational services to candidates. It is not necessary to include entities that may provide other important services but are not directly related to the program offerings such as coursework, curriculum or fieldwork. Examples of these other services that do not need to be identified under the disclosure precondition include portfolio or student data systems such as Task Stream or Live Text or other similar technology, assessment companies, and others. 1) an assurance statement that the institution does not use any outside entity to provide direct educational services to
candidates. OR 2) A list of the outside organizations and what their role is in providing direct services to candidates. This may include partner institutions that are not approved program sponsors, pre- packaged curriculum providers, and other individuals or entities that the approved institution gives all or partial responsibility to providing all or partial educational services to candidates, including but not limited to coursework/curriculum, field supervision, advisement, and/or admissions.		 CCCOE will provide all coursework and services for the PASC Preliminary Credential Program. Candidates have the option to work with National University to receive units for their coursework and/or to pursue a Master's Degree, which is outside the direct educational services provided in the PASC program through CCCOE. This letter of assurance affirms our partnership with National University.
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