Delivering Well Prepared Teachers Policy
California requires that teacher preparation programs for
elementary teacher candidates address the science of reading. Prior to initial
licensure, candidates must satisfy the "Developing English Language
Skills" requirement, which includes a comprehensive reading instruction
course that focuses on "the systematic study of phonemic awareness,
phonics and decoding; literature, language and comprehension; and diagnostic
and early intervention techniques."
California also requires all new elementary and special education
teachers to pass a reading instruction test, the Reading Instruction
Competence Assessment (RICA).
Ensure that the state's reading assessment adequately measures skills related to the science of reading instruction.
California is commended for requiring teacher preparation programs to
address the science of reading, but some reading scholars
question the ability of the RICA test to screen out candidates who do not know the
science of reading. California should ensure that its
assessment tool is rigorous enough to adequately test elementary teacher
candidates' knowledge of the science of reading.
California recognized the factual accuracy of this analysis.