§ 78275

(a) The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:

(1) There is a significant teacher shortage in California and the nation.

(2) The teacher shortage is exacerbated by the lack of minority teacher candidates.

(3) In California, it is estimated that there will be a shortfall of between 260,000 and 300,000 teachers during the first decade of the 21st century. Nationwide, the teacher shortfall is estimated to be between 2,000,000 and 2,200,000 during that same timeframe.

(b) It is, therefore, the intent of the Legislature to create a larger pool of potential teachers in California by establishing a teacher preparation curriculum in the California Community Colleges, expanding financial incentives for community college students who wish to become teachers, and guaranteeing the transfer of students who successfully complete the community college teacher preparation curriculum to appropriate status in teacher preparation programs of the California State University.

(Added by Stats. 2001, Ch. 714, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 2002.)