Half of all new California teaching credentials issued in 2023 went to teachers on substandard credentials¶

Claim · All claims
Evidence · 1 study · design r2 · q2
Currency · newest study 2025 · not yet checked against its sources · not reviewed by a person

Subclaims¶

q2 i? In 2023, half of all new California teaching credentials were issued to teachers on substandard credentials, an indicator of teacher shortages. → White 2025

Evidence¶

White 2025¶

White, M., Grayson, D., Caparas, R., & Alcalá, L. (2025). Strengthening California's teacher workforce: Toward a statewide strategic framework. WestEd. https://www.wested.org/support/californias-state-educator-workforce-collaborative/

q2 · i? · design · r2

The report cites Learning Policy Institute data on California's teacher pipeline, stating that "half of all new California teaching credentials issued in 2023" went to teachers on substandard credentials such as permits, waivers, and intern credentials. No effect size is reported.

"In fact, half of all new California teaching credentials issued in 2023 were issued to teachers on "substandard credentials," according to the Learning Policy Institute."

Discussion¶

Related Claims¶

• Every surveyed district filled some vacancies with underprepared teachers, and substandard credentials nearly tripled from 2012–13 to 2019–20 — related
• Teachers on substandard credentials are unequally distributed, concentrated in districts serving more low-income students — related
• California issued more than 13,000 intern credentials, permits, and waivers in 2017–18, nearly triple the 2012–13 number — related
• New California credentials stagnated at about 11,500 per year while estimated annual hires exceeded 20,000, so demand far outpaced supply — related
• Most new special education teachers in 2015–16 entered on substandard authorizations, outnumbering fully prepared entrants 2:1 — related
• TRGP-funded residents represent a small fraction of California's teacher supply: 428 residents enrolled in 2022-23 against 14,298 substandard credentials issued — related
• Estimated teacher hires increased 43% between 2013–14 and 2017–18, outpacing growth in credential issuance — related
• The share of new math and science teachers entering on substandard credentials doubled from about 20% to 40% between 2011–12 and 2015–16 while fully credentialed entrants dropped from 3,200 to 2,200 — related
• California substandard credentials and permits tripled between 2013 and 2023 and made up more than half of new teaching authorizations issued in 2023 — possibly the same claim (merge candidate)
• BCLAD-authorized educators are in low supply in California and their assignments are often misaligned with bilingual program demand — related