Education Code section 44265.1
(a)
No later than January 1, 2028, the commission shall ensure that its standards of program quality and effectiveness for the preparation of candidates for the reading and literacy leadership specialist credential and the reading and literacy added authorization, and the teaching performance expectations for the preparation of candidates for the reading and literacy leadership specialist credential and the reading and literacy added authorization include preparation on how to deliver instruction and support teachers to deliver instruction through effective means for teaching literacy, aligned to all of the following:(1)
The English Language Arts/English Language Development (ELA/ELD) Framework, including instruction to meet the varied language development needs of English learners.(2)
Evidence-based means of teaching foundational reading skills, which shall include explicit and systematic instruction in print concepts, phonological awareness, phonics and word recognition, and fluency to all pupils, and attending to oral and written language development, vocabulary and background knowledge, and comprehension, including tiered supports for pupils with reading difficulties, English learners, and pupils with exceptional needs.(3)
The program guidelines for dyslexia developed pursuant to Section 56335.(b)
It is the intent of the Legislature that candidates for the reading and literacy leadership specialist credential and the reading and literacy added authorization are prepared to deliver instruction and support teachers to deliver instruction through effective means for teaching literacy in programs in which English learner pupils are being instructed in their primary languages.
Source:
Section 44265.1, https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=EDC§ionNum=44265.1. (updated Jan. 1, 2026; accessed Dec. 8, 2025).
