A performance assessment of candidates that is one of the requirements for earning a teaching credential.
One measure of whether a person is ready to be a beginning teacher.
Aligned with the state adopted K -12 academic performance standards and frameworks and based on California's Teaching Performance Expectations.
Composed of tasks that measure key features of teaching - subject-specific pedagogy, planning & designing instruction, assessing student learning and one or more samples of classroom teaching
Embedded into a credential program, so that it is completed at intervals during the program.
When will the TPA happen?
By law, all candidates for a multiple or single subject teaching credential who begin their programs on or after July 1, 2008 will do a TPA.
Some candidates already do the TPA because their program is piloting a version or has adopted one.
Who takes the TPA?
Candidates seeking to earn a multiple or single subject teaching credential.
Student teachers and interns both take the TPA.
Candidates seeking a multiple or single teaching and an Education Specialist credential take a TPA.
How does the TPA work in practice?
Colleges, universities and district intern programs select one of the approved versions to use. To date there are 2 CTC approved versions:
CaTPA: California Teaching Performance Assessment
PACT.: Performance Assessment for California Teachers
FAST - Fresno Assessment of Student Teachers is in the approval process.
Depending on whom your university partners are, one could possibly encounter all of these versions in a school.
Student teachers and interns work with faculty, school mentors and classroom students as they complete activities for each task over the academic year.
Videos and/or observations of live teaching take place. Student work is analyzed. This is like what already takes place in student or intern teaching. Only students whose parents have given permission are seen on the tape.
Who benefits?
Candidates get consistent, evidence-based feedback on their teaching from trained assessors.
Programs learn about how well they are serving candidates.
Cooperating teachers and other assessors learn more about how to consider teaching and use evidence to judge performance.
BTSA/Induction programs get information that assists in planning for growth in teaching.
The general public gains assurance that new teachers are competent to work with children in California public schools.
