Matters before the Commission on Teacher Credentialing.

As an adjunct to its representation of persons and business involved within the criminal justice system, members of the firm also represent California teachers and administrators whose fitness to hold a credential is being investigated by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (Commission). Public school teachers who are members of the California Teachers Association (CTA) are represented through that union's group legal services program, usually at no personal expense to the client. Teachers who are not members of the CTA and administrators are represented on a private pay basis.

To come within the Group Legal Services program, members of the CTA should, when contacted by the Commission, immediately contact their local union representative and obtain a document entitled "Group Legal Services Referral." This document names the firm as the designated attorney. This referral should be signed by both the teacher and the union representative and immediately transmitted to the firm by telefax at (916) 444-2786. Time is of the essence in such matters.

On behalf of the CTA, members of the firm have participated in the creation and amendment of Education Code statutes pertaining to teacher credential investigation and have represented the teacher's union in negotiations with the Commission and ultimate formulation of regulations which implement those Education Code provisions. Leading Appellate decisions pertaining to teacher licensing issues have been litigated by firm members.

Investigation of a public school teacher's or administrator's fitness to hold credentials is initiated by a probable cause investigation before the seven-member Committee of Credentials (Committee). The firm regularly appears before the Committee at its monthly meetings in Sacramento. Should an investigation not be resolved before the Committee, teachers and administrators then face a full evidentiary hearing prosecuted by the Attorney General's Office before an Administrative Law Judge. Administrative Law Hearings occur in the teacher's or administrator's local community and the firm regularly appears in such matters throughout California.

Teachers and administrators who are contacted by the Commission with reference to their fitness as a credential holder are urged to contact their union representatives and counsel immediately --as in all such cases, prompt intervention is critical to effective and successful representation.