New California Standards for the Teaching Profession
Prioritize Family Engagement and Socio-Emotional Learning!
Dear PON & CA-FEN Members, Partners, and Supporters:

We’re excited to share some groundbreaking news regarding the proposed 2024 California Standards for the Teaching Profession (CSTPs) and the advocacy efforts behind these improvements! After years of collaborative work by the Parent Organization Network (PON), California Family Engagement Network (CA-FEN), and staff from the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC), CTC Commissioners unanimously approved updated standards on February 8th, 2024.

What are the CSTP’s?
As CTC explained, “these standards describe the set of knowledge, skills, and abilities characteristic of accomplished professional practice at the level expected of effective veteran teachers” (CTC, 2024-02-4B, p EPC 4B-1). “The CSTP provide a set of interrelated guideposts for teachers across the professional continuum (pre-service, induction, and beyond) to examine their practice, seek support and resources for continuous improvement, and affirm their talents and accomplishments in support of California's children and our nation's future.” (2009 CSTPs, p 4).

What important changes were made?
The updated 2024 CSTP’s aim to balance instructional goals with teaching methods. Specifically, they prioritize:
  • Student and family engagement: The new standards emphasize two-way communication between teachers and families, listening to parents, and building partnerships to support student success. This is a pivotal shift from previous one-way teacher communication.
  • Student socio-emotional development: The standards have a broader focus on supporting complex student social-emotional needs.
  • Culturally/linguistically responsive teaching: There is more guidance for teachers on reaching diverse students through inclusive materials and methods.
 
These substantive updates reflect learnings from the COVID-19 pandemic experience which underscored deficiencies in family partnerships and socio-emotional support. They also are a direct result from years of advocacy work by groups like PON and CA-FEN to incorporate such priorities into the teaching standards.
*This is the version reviewed and approved with minor modifications by CTC on 2/8/2024. An official final version of the document will be available later on the CTC website.
IMPACT
Background
“California has a two-tiered credentialing system for teachers. Preliminary programs prepare candidates to obtain an initial teaching credential through successful completion of required coursework, fieldwork, and a performance demonstration of their knowledge, skills, and abilities. The second tier of preparation is a two-year job-embedded individualized induction program that is focused on extensive support and mentoring to new teachers in their first and second year of teaching.” (CTC Website)

Why should we celebrate this victory?
The CSTPs will directly impact all induction programs which must be updated to include the new changes by 2025-2026. The timeline may be extended in the final version of the document as the CTC commissioners strongly recommended staff to re-consider providing additional time to phase in the changes.  
 
All preliminary teacher preparation programs will feel the impact as well. These programs include multiple and single-subject credentials, special education, early childhood education, bilingual education, and more. The overarching standards for teacher preparation have been overhauled and each program update in the future will integrate family engagement in this same game-changing way.

Education agencies and statewide initiatives providing professional development should consider the new standards as well and re-examine if their services are aligned to support teachers in engaging all families and fostering reciprocal relationships and collaborative partnerships to better support students.
WHAT'S NEXT?
We plan to leverage this victory to ring in an era where educators and families work together to support individual and collective student learning and success. We will do so in the following ways:
 
  • Continue to provide input on further guidance for how teachers can meaningfully and effectively engage with families. This includes classroom-level partnerships between teachers and parents as well as school site-wide collaboration. Preparing teachers for productive two-way partnerships is key.

  • Communicate with families that these new standards will require more family engagement. Many parents have been advocating for this change and will welcome greater collaboration. However, we must be sensitive to families who are uncomfortable with more school interaction for any reason. Communication should emphasize the benefits of partnerships while being cognizant of parent hesitancy.
HOW CAN YOU HELP? JOIN US!
Are you a university professor that collaborates with parent groups or a nonprofit that collaborates with universities to include families in teacher training? Contact us!

We will be uplifting theories, evidence-based practices and models so universities, county offices of education, and school districts can integrate these standards into their preliminary, induction, or professional development programs.
"California now has a clear constellation of statewide policies and initiatives requiring current and future educators to learn more authentic and effective ways of engaging families in their students’ education. Children need teachers and parents to trust each other and work together to address their socio-emotional needs, reduce chronic absenteeism, and infuse joy into the learning process. This collaboration will ensure the improvement of reading and math proficiency.” Araceli Simeón, PON Executive Director
"Buildings are constructed one brick at a time. While much has been done, this is a work in progress, and our building is not yet complete. We all must join together in achieving the shared goal of making family engagement an integral part of our education system." Dr. Shulamit N. Ritblatt Professor Emerita, delibrainy Founder CEO
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

A sincere thanks to CA-FEN and PON members and partners who signed on to the letter and provided public testimony on such a short turnaround time. We couldn’t have done it without your trust and support!