Burbank Leader,CA
April 29 2006
Language credential in bill
The Assembly Education Committee on Wednesday approved Assemblyman
Dario Frommer’s legislation seeking to include the Armenian language
in the single-subject foreign language California Subject Examination
for Teachers.
California has the largest Armenian population outside of Armenia yet
there is no program for teachers who want to be credentialed in the
Armenian language, said Frommer, a Democrat who represents Burbank
and Glendale.
If the bill passes, it would better equip teachers in districts with
large Armenian populations and spur interested students to study the
Armenian language in high schools, colleges and universities, he
said.
The Glendale Unified School District reported that it had 3,904
English language learners who speak Armenian primarily, making up 49%
of the district’s total English language learner population.
Assembly Bill 2913’s expansion of the test’s single subject teaching
credential to include the Armenian language will permit high schools,
colleges and universities to offer the Armenian language as a course
in the curriculum and will guarantee that those courses will be
taught by teachers credentialed in Armenian.
The first Armenian test must be administered by Sept. 1, 2009,
according to the bill.
Riding a fast track to teaching credential
State Sen. Jack Scott, a Democrat who represents Burbank, Glendale
and La Cañada Flintridge, is urging those interested in shifting
their professional abilities into teaching by participating in a
“fast-track” teacher- credentialing exam.
One exam is scheduled for June 10 and another for Aug. 5.
The registration deadline for the June exam is May 11.
Aspiring teachers can dramatically reduce the time to earn a teaching
credential by passing the Teaching Foundations Exam also known as the
Early Completion Option. Prospective teachers must prove they have
knowledge of their subject. The exam will be conducted statewide for
candidates in math, English and other subjects.
Those who want to take the science test may only participate at a
reduced rate in order to set statistical passing scores for this
exam.
The science exam is normally $155 but the first 100 people who sign
up for June 10 will be offered a reduced rate, Scott said.
Many people would make wonderful teachers, but are discouraged by the
time and expense of teacher training, Scott said.
Taking the test can cut the time to get a credential from two years
to several months, he said.
Scott’s SB 57, which passed in 2001, included creation of the
fast-track process.
The law requires that all teacher internship programs approved by the
California Commission on Teacher Credentialing offer this early
completion option.
Would-be teachers are able to bypass most teacher education courses
by enrolling in an approved university or school district intern
preparation program.
For information on the Early Completion Option exam, e-mail Michael
McKibbin at the Commission on Teacher Credentialing: mmckibbin@
ctc.ca.gov. The Commission’s website address is
Illegal immigrants cost millions annually
Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael Antonovich, whose district
includes Glendale, Burbank and the foothills, reported that nearly
100,000 children of illegal immigrants collected nearly $23 million
in Aid to Families of Dependent Children funding in Los Angeles
County in January 2006 — or nearly $276 million annually.
Antonovich said 98,703 children of 57,458 undocumented parents
received aid in January 2006 — for a total of 156,161 immigrants. If
incorporated into a city, it would be the 6th largest city in the
county.
While legal immigration is a positive influence on our culture and
economy, illegal immigration has had a devastating impact on the
county, Antonovich said.
Antonovich made his statements while meeting with Congressional
representatives in Washington, D.C., to provide information regarding
the impact illegal immigrants have on our county, Tuesday.
Candidate forum to be held Monday
The Glendale Homeowners Coordinating Council will host a discussion
featuring the four candidates running in the June 6 primary for the
43rd District Assembly seat.
The candidates’ forum will be held at 7 p.m. in the board room at the
Glendale Unified School District’s administration center, 223 N.
Jackson St.
The four candidates in the running are Republican Michael Agbaba,
Democrats Paul Krekorian and Frank Quintero and Libertarian Steve
Myers.
Dreier honored for extradition work
Rep. David Dreier, a Republican who represents La Cañada Flintridge
and La Crescenta, was honored Sunday by Justice for Homicide Victims
Inc. for his work to bring about a change in Mexico’s extradition
policy.
Justice for Homicide Victims is the action arm of the California
Center for Family Survivors of Homicide Inc.
Dreier was presented with the Victim’s Outstanding Service Award by
Executive Director Marcella Leach.
Dreier said he was humbled by the honor.
In 2004, Dreier traveled to Mexico to meet with Mexican officials,
including the Mexican Supreme Court justices, to urge a change in
their extradition policy.
He argued that Mexico should extradite suspects accused of violent
crimes in the United States even if they face life in prison.
In November 2005, the Mexican Supreme Court reversed a previous
decision banning such extraditions.