SACRAMENTO, CA – The Assembly Education Committee passed SB 614 by Sen. Susan Rubio (D-Baldwin Park) on Monday that will ensure teacher candidates are prepared with proven methods to teach diverse student populations how to effectively read.

SB 614 requires the state’s Commission on Teacher Credentialing to certify that all approved teaching performance assessments (TPAs) assess candidates of multiple subject and education specialist credentials for competence in instruction in foundational reading skills. The teaching performance expectations will align to the Commission’s current English language arts/English language development curriculum framework adopted by the State Board of Education and phase out Reading Instruction Competence Assessment (RICA) by 2024.

“As a public school teacher for 17 years, who took and passed the RICA, I personally know that the test did nothing to help me learn how to teach reading and literacy to my young students, including those with disabilities,” said Sen. Susan Rubio. “Over its 24-year, RICA has not been shown to predict effectiveness in the classroom. However, the TPAs is the gold standard for candidate assessment according to research.”

“The RICA does not serve California students or their teacher workforce. Pre-RICA, 88% of states had higher reading scores than California, and after 10 years of implementation, 87% of states still outperformed us. This is unacceptable and I thank Senator Rubio for bringing this critical measure forward,” said Rigel Massaro from Public Advocates, an educational justice organization.

The bill passed out of Assembly Education Committee with a 5-2 vote.

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