California drops two tests to become a teacher

There is now some relief for those aspiring to become teachers, as a new state budget reduces the requirements for two of the tests required to earn a degree.

This decision is a game-changer for districts and those who wish to become educators.

Teacher candidates no longer have to take the California Basic Skills Test (CBEST) or the California Subject Matter Exams (CSET) to earn a degree. However, this does not mean that anyone can become a teacher.

These tests can only be bypassed if candidates are taking approved courses.

CBEST tests for reading, math and writing skills. The CSET tests a candidate’s skills in the subject they will be teaching.

Instead of the CBEST, teacher candidates must prove that they have mastered the necessary subjects by obtaining a B or higher in college courses.

For the CSET, a teacher candidate who follows accredited courses and obtains a diploma in the subject he wishes to teach, no longer has to take the test.

Joe Hyde, assistant superintendent of personnel services for the Desert Sands Unified School District (DSUSD), said there has been a shortage of teachers in California for at least six years.

The shortage became more noticeable during the pandemic as testing centers closed. According to officials from the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing, teacher retirements have increased and the number of teachers graduating has declined.

DSUSD said it hasn’t had much of a problem hiring its teachers, but for subjects like physics and speech therapy it does.

Now that this barrier has been lifted, she hopes it will make it easier to find more teachers for these specific subjects.

Faculty at Cal State University San Bernardino are currently studying the new policy and plan to discuss its implications for their teacher education courses soon.