New law gives aspiring teachers an extra year to complete training

SACRAMENTO -- A measure signed Tuesday by Gov. Jerry Brown will let aspiring teachers pursue an additional year of training.

SB 5, sponsored by Sen. Alex Padilla, aims to ease the time crunch faced by would-be educators by extending the maximum length of graduate teaching programs to two years.

Since 1970, the state has capped the length of graduate teaching programs at one year. But completing those programs in that time frame has become more difficult over the years, as trainees have been required to take on additional subjects such as student health and instruction for English-learners.

The measure is one of a number of education-related bills Brown signed into law. AB 133, by Assemblyman Curt Hagman (R-Chino Hills), requires all textbook publishers and manufacturers who sell print textbooks to California school districts also provide those textbooks in digital format.

More California State University students are eligible to participate in governance of the Cal State system -- and the perks for doing so have been increased -- now that Brown has signed SB 325, by Sen. Marty Block (D-San Diego). The measure lets sophomores be eligible for the two student slots on the Cal State Board of Trustees (previously only students with junior standing or higher could serve).

Student trustees also will have their tuition fees waived during the duration of their tenure. The changes make the requirements and perks of the job on par to those of students serving on the UC Board of Regents.

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