Introduction
In 1998 the governor of California signed Senate Bill 2042 which changed the credentials process for all teacher candidates in both multiple and single subject preliminary credential programs. These changes required all candidates attending fifth year, intern, or blended teacher preparation programs to pass a Teaching Performance Assessment (TPA). The assessment tasks are designed to inform teacher candidates as they develop and refine their knowledge of teaching skills and abilities during their teacher preparation program.
The TPA tasks are embedded in the coursework in each phase of the teacher preparation program. The assessment is both a formative and a summative evaluation of the candidate's progress. The TPA links to the California state-adopted academic content standards for students and the Frameworks along with the California Standards for the Teaching Profession. Under SB 2042 the credentialing process is a three-year cycle of growth and development. During the initial year the candidate in a teacher preparation program is expected to take and pass the TPA, in order to be recommended for a Preliminary Teaching Credential. The other two years the candidate participates in a state approved Induction program. During Induction a candidate's skills are assessed through a state approved formative assessment system.
Materials and information necessary for teacher candidates to complete the CA TPA will be
available on the web and through the appropriate student teacher handbook. Teacher candidates will
have opportunities to review the tasks and rubrics before they take the assessment. Teacher
candidates are encouraged to confer and collaborate with instructors and peers while completing each
task.
TPA Overview
Purpose
The California Teaching Performance Assessments is used to assure the education community and the public that teachers prepared at California State University, Bakersfield meet the high professional standards set by the state of California and that they are able to positively impact student learning.
The performance assessments provides each candidate the opportunity to demonstrate his/her skills, linked to the Teaching Performance Expectations (TPE), to others as he/she integrates information, content, and skill during the teacher preparation program.
TPA Provides
The TPA provides both formative and summative assessment data on each teacher candidate, to be used by the candidate and the university program in which they are enrolled.
- Formative Assessment data is provided to the candidate during their teacher preparation experience. The data assists the candidate in documenting the quality and growth of their professional skills. It also provides ongoing detailed feedback in areas where the candidate will need further support
- Summative Assessment data is used to gage the candidate's readiness for a preliminary teaching credential. Candidates must complete all TPA tasks with a passing score of '3' or better to be recommended for licensure in the state of California. The scores are documented in the student's file and on the Transfer to Induction form that is provided to the candidate as they exit the teacher preparation program. The candidate is encouraged share this form with the employing district's induction program.
Administration and Scoring
The TPA coordinator is responsible for ensuring that a trained assessor scores each task; the score is recorded in the student's file, and also reported to each teacher candidate. All tasks are blind scored, with 15% being double scores. Students will receive a letter from the coordinator with their score indicated, if the score falls below a '3' the letter will also inform the student of next steps. A student may contest a score by contacting the TPA coordinator in writing. The coordinator will then send the task to an additional reader.
If a student receives a score below a '3' and fails to seek remediation the score will stand and the student will have to step out of the program. The candidate who does not pass the TPA must enroll in a remediation course in the following Intersession/Summer and retake the task. Once the score of '3' or better is obtained the candidate may apply for readmission to the program.
It is the responsibility of the teacher preparation program to review the quality of the scoring process to ensure that it is fair and equitable to all student candidates. The university has an obligation to maintain a pool of trained assessor for each of the tasks.
Resources
The TPA has four performance tasks. Each task is intended to measures the candidates proficiency against the Teaching Performance Expectation. The first task is a measure of the student's knowledge of Developmentally Appropriate and Content Specific Pedagogy and is completed prior to the teacher preparation fieldwork. The other three tasks require the candidate to base their responses on the needs of real students. The Culminating Experience combines all elements of the TPEs and requires both a written and video tapped response.
Blank Task Templates
- Subject Specific Pedagogy
- Designing Instruction
- Assessing Learning
- Culminating Teaching Experience
Rubrics
Student Resources
The Candidates Handbook is designed to help you understand and move successfully through the
California Teach Performance Assessment (CA TPA).
Release Forms