Many classified school employees serving as aides and assistants in classrooms have significant potential to be excellent teachers.
They have the experience and knowledge of teaching in the classroom environment and have often developed the skills, knowledge and disposition needed to succeed as a teacher. Many come from diverse backgrounds and are fluent in the languages of their students, enabling them to teach effectively in bilingual or multilingual classrooms.
The
California Classified Employee Teacher Credentialing Act of 2016 provides support for classified employees to obtain a bachelor’s degree and teaching credential. The program was established to recruit classified school employees who have completed their community college coursework; it helps support them in earning their bachelor’s degree and a teaching credential through grants of $4,000 per year per candidate.
Enrolling these candidates and supporting their successful degree and credential completion is a priority for the CSU system and its campuses.