Helpful Resources
How to Become a Teacher in California
- The California Commission on Teacher Credentialing is
an agency in the Executive Branch of California State Government and serves as a
state standards board for educator preparation for the public schools of
California, the licensing and credentialing of professional educators in the
State, the enforcement of professional practices of educators, and the
discipline of credential holders in the State of California. Extensive
information can be found on the CCTC web-site and key areas include:
- Out of State Certification Information
- Individuals Prepared Outside of the United States
- - Information and Approved Agencies
- The California Department of Education (CDE) oversees the state's diverse and
dynamic public school system that is responsible for the education of more than
seven million children and young adults in more than 9,000 schools. The CDE and
the State Superintendent of Public Instruction are responsible for enforcing
education law and regulations; and for continuing to reform and improve public
elementary school programs, secondary school programs, adult education, some
preschool programs, and child care programs. The CDE's mission is to provide
leadership, assistance, oversight, and resources so that every Californian has
access to an education that meets world-class standards. The CDE is committed to
working in partnership with local schools to improve student achievement.
Information related to teacher shortage, career exploration, college resources,
financial support, teacher quality improvement initiatives can be found via the
following links:
- TEACH
California is a Web site administered by the California Department of Education
(CDE). With the understanding that California faces a great shortage of special
educators, the site is designed to explain the teacher preparation process,
assist prospective teachers in creating their plan to become credentialed
teachers, and offer links to important resources.
- The U S.
Department of Education is the agency of the federal government that establishes
policy for, administers, and coordinates most federal assistance to education.
It assists the president in executing his education policies for the nation and
in implementing laws enacted by Congress. The Department's mission is to serve
America's students -- to ensure that all have equal access to education and to
promote excellence in our nation's schools. Helpful links include:
- The
California Student Aid Commission (CSAC) provides financial assistance for
students pursuing a teaching career and to "make education beyond high
school financially accessible to all Californians." A helpful link
includes:
Helpful Resources: How to Find a Job
- EdJoin is a portal to thousands of teaching and other
education job openings and to a broad range of job placement and training
services for job seekers.
Helpful Resources: Substitute Teaching Opportunities
Opportunities to substitute teach may be available to you. Minimum
requirements to obtain an Emergency 30-Day Substitute Teaching Permit can be
found through this ;
this permit allows you to substitute teach for no more than 30 days (general
education assignment; 20-day limitation in special education assignments) in
the same assignment in any Santa Clara School district. You may contact our Credential
Services Unit for more information in addition to
obtaining further information here.
Please be aware that you will be required to submit an official application
for employment and be processed for substitute employment by each individual
school district.
If you are interested in working with special education and at-risk student
populations, you may wish to consider substitute teaching with Santa Clara
County Office of Education. For more information regarding substitute teaching
opportunities, please refer to the following links:
You may also want to consider classified opportunities at Santa Clara
County Office of Education. Our Classified
Personnel Services is responsible for the
recruitment of classified (non-credentialed) substitutes in non-teaching areas
of need.
Other certificated and classified vacancies may be listed on .
