(a) The commission shall establish standards for a restricted reading certificate to enable holders of a teaching credential to provide the early development of reading and language arts skills and the early correction of a pupil’s reading difficulties.
(b) (1) The standards and qualifications for the restricted reading certificate shall include demonstrated knowledge of both of the following:
(A) Current and confirmed research in teaching basic reading skills that train the candidate for the restricted reading certificate in ongoing, diagnostic techniques that inform teaching and assessment.
(B) Teaching techniques for basic reading skills that include direct instruction in phonemic awareness, systematic, explicit phonics, and comprehension skills.
(2) The candidate shall also demonstrate knowledge of early intervention techniques, and shall receive guided practice with all of the aforementioned skills within a clinical setting. For the purposes of this section, “direct, systematic, explicit phonics” means spelling patterns, direct instruction in the relationships among sounds and symbols, and practice in connected, decodable text.
(c) The commission shall be authorized to issue a restricted reading certificate to holders of a teaching credential who meet the commission’s standards.
(Added by Stats. 1996, Ch. 1067, Sec. 6. Effective January 1, 1997. See similar Section 44254 (added by Stats. 1996, Ch. 1068), as amended by Stats. 1997, Ch. 17.)