LAUSD BTSA Home Page--FAQ

What is the LAUSD BTSA Induction Program?

The LAUSD BTSA Induction Program is a State-approved program offered by our District to allow those teachers who have a Preliminary Teaching Credential to obtain a Professional Clear Teaching Credential. Probationary teachers who already possess a Professional Clear Credential may also participate in the program for professional growth.

Who is eligible for BTSA?

Teachers who have received a Ryan or SB2042 Preliminary Credential from an accredited teacher preparation program.

Any out-of-state teacher whose credential recommends completion of BTSA Induction.

Clear Credential holders in their first or second year of teaching.

I am not eligible for BTSA until after December, when I will receive my Preliminary Credential. I am working for LAUSD now. When do I start BTSA?

The registration deadline for BTSA participants is December 1, 2008. However, if you receive your credential AFTER this date and begin work in LAUSD, you should contact our office and enroll in our "Early Entry" program. This will allow you to begin some of the work required for you to complete your Induction Program and will insure that you are in compliance with State mandates regarding registration in an Induction Program.

What does the Induction Program lead to?

As per SB 2042 legislation, the LAUSD BTSA Induction Program leads to a California Professional Clear Credential (renewable every five years).

How long is the LAUSD BTSA Induction Program?

The LAUSD BTSA Induction Program is a two year program that consists of the following components:

*Year 1 Program Requirements*	*Year 2 Program Requirements*
Registration LAUSD BTSA California State BTSA (www.btsa.ca.gov)	Registration LAUSD BTSA California State BTSA (www.btsa.ca.gov)
Orientation, plus Pedagogy, English Learners and Standard English Learners (1 day)	Orientation, plus Equity for All Students, and Teaching Special Populations (1 day)
Local District Instructional Seminars (6 Hours)	Local District Instructional Seminars (6 Hours)
Standards 16, 18, & 20 Evidence of Proficiency (Standard 16 may be completed during Year 1 or Year 2)	Standards 16-20 Evidence of Proficiency--all standards evidence must be complete at final portfolio check
Formative Assessment	Formative Assessment
Portfolio Review	Portfolio Review
Online BTSA Program Survey (April-May)	Online BTSA Program Survey (April-May)
Colloquium--Local District	Colloquium--Central Office

What does the LAUSD BTSA Induction Program involve?

Participating Teachers (PTs) will attend an Orientation and Advisement session at the start of each year they are in the program. After being paired with a Support Provider, each participant will work with that Support Provider to complete a series of observations and reflective events based on their own classroom work, as they progress through a process called the Formative Assessment for California Teachers (FACT). Participants will take part in professional development for each Induction Standard: Pedagogy, Equity Healthy Environments, Teaching English Learners, and Special Populations, and show evidence of growing proficiency in each of the standard areas, as well as completing other professional development they identify for themselves based on goals set during the FACT process. Each participant will also attend 6 hours of Instructional Seminars offered by their Local District, and an end-of-year Colloquium. Evidence of the completion of all Program activities will be collected in a Portfolio that each participant will submit to their Local District Director at the completion of their participation in the LAUSD BTSA Induction Program.

What about the CLAD/CTEL?

Those PTs with an SB 2042 Credential will have their CLAD/CTEL requirements fulfilled upon completion of the BTSA Induction Program and receipt of their Professional Clear Credential.

Participants with a Ryan Credential will need to complete the CLAD/CTEL requirements independently.

How is my Support Provider assigned?

Each school receives a packet of information outlining the procedures for Support Provider selection. Support Providers must be approved by the Site Selection Committee at each school. Their names and match-up requests will be forwarded to the Teacher Support Unit, and barring any extenuating circumstances, you will be assigned to the person your school identified to support you.

I need to speak with someone about a standards class problem (i.e., a problem with one of the dates; homework assigned; date I will receive salary point credit). Who do I contact?

Please call the Teacher Support Unit main line at (323) 932-4690 or email btsa@lausd.net.

How do I know if my registration in a Standards class is confirmed?

Generally speaking, once your registration for a class has been received and a space has been reserved for you in the class, you will be sent an email confirmation. If you register for a class and do not get a confirmation at least one week prior to the event, it is your responsibility to follow up on that communication to insure that your materials were received.

Why do I need to have an LAUSD email account*?

You must have an LAUSD email account for a number of reasons:

Our program uses email to communicate with our participants on a regular basis. We need a standardized email account for each participant that will not change throughout the course of the year.
Many email service providers have blocks placed on incoming email, and with the large volume of correspondence we handle, we are unable to individually respond to each email request for verification that is sent back to us from these systems.
You must have a LAUSD email account to access areas of the LAUSDnet website, including Inside LAUSD, U.P.D.A.T.E., and the Learning Zone. Without access to these resources, you will be unable to register for LAUSD sponsored technology classes.
Possession of a LAUSD email account is a requirement in your BTSA Induction Portfolio.

Please check your LAUSD email regularly to stay up-to-date on your BTSA Induction Program!

*Alternate accommodations will be made for participants from Charter Schools.

I am unable to attend a Standards Class for which I am registered. What do I need to do to make up this class?

If you have registered for a class, it is important that you let our office know if you will NOT be attending as early as possible so that your space may be offered to another participant. You should then locate another session of the same class being offered at a time that will work for you and re-register for that class. You will be admitted on a space-available basis. It is your responsibility to follow up on a make-up session in order to complete your program requirements.

I am a teacher at a Charter School. May I join LAUSD BTSA Induction?

Teachers who are assigned to Charter Schools may join the LAUSD BTSA Induction Program. Teachers who are eligible for state funding may participate at no charge. Those who are ineligible for state funding, may participate on a fee per service basis. This means that the school or teacher must commit to paying for the program. the State for their participation. Inquiries may be directed to Peggy Taylor Presley at 323-932-4690.

I have just earned a SB 2042 Preliminary Credential and have been told that I must participate in LAUSD BTSA Induction to clear my credential. What if I decide not to participate in Induction, or wish to delay my entry into the LAUSD BTSA Induction program?

Assembly Bill 2210 states that any teacher obtaining a SB 2042 Credential ON OR AFTER August 30, 2004, must clear their credential through an Induction program if one is offered by their school district. Since LAUSD has a BTSA Induction program, you can ONLY clear your credential through this program. The LAUSD BTSA Induction Program is a State accredited program, and therefore must adhere to a set of program standards approved by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing--the organization that makes all the rules and grants/rescinds any credential in our state. Those standards require a candidate to enroll or decline enrollment in a BTSA program within 120 days of notification of their eligibility. Should an individual decide NOT to enroll in an Induction program at that time, it absolves the program (and in this case, LAUSD) from any responsibility to provide you with an Induction program.

The State Legislature of California has agreed to provide funding for the Induction program, providing that the candidate enrolls in the program for their first two years of teaching on their Preliminary Credential. For this reason, districts encourage eligible teachers to participate while the state "pays the bill". If you decline enrollment in the LAUSD BTSA Induction program during the allotted time for state funding, you will be required to personally cover the cost of the program, as the District will not receive state funding for you beyond that time and cannot run the program without the funds provided by the State. The fees you would pay would not represent a monetary penalty, but rather a recovery of costs required to provide you with the means to clear your preliminary credential.

Should you choose not to participate in the Induction program at ANY time, you will be unable to clear your Preliminary Teaching Credential. In this case, at the end of your five year renewal period, your credential would lapse and the District would be unable to renew your contract or offer you employment as a teacher in the District.