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Educator Professional Standards

Information about professional standards for educators.

Teacher Standards

California Standards for the Teaching Profession (CSTP) External link opens in new window or tab. (PDF)
The CSTP were jointly developed by the Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) and the California Department of Education (CDE). These standards, which set forth the expectations for current classroom teachers, were adopted by the Commission and approved by the Superintendent of Public Instruction in October 2009.

  • California Teaching Performance Expectations External link opens in new window or tab. (PDF)
    The Teaching Performance Expectations (TPEs) describe the set of knowledge, skills, and abilities beginning teachers should have and be able to demonstrate.
  • Continuum of Teaching Practice External link opens in new window or tab. (PDF)
    California’s Continuum of Teaching Practice is based on foundational work of the CTC, the CDE, and the New Teacher Center (NTC) over the past 15 years. The 2010 Continuum of Teaching Practice is aligned with the CSTP, builds on California’s pre-service TPEs and sets forth a description of teaching that respects the diverse ways teachers pursue excellence in teaching and learning.

Administrator Standards

California Professional Standards for Education Leaders (CPSEL) External link opens in new window or tab. (PDF)
The CPSEL are the standards against which clear credential candidates are measured to indicate sufficient mastery of the clear induction program content. A full copy of the standards, their elements, and sample indicators can be found in the document.

Academic Content Standards

Content Standards & Curriculum Frameworks
Information regarding academic content standards and curriculum frameworks designed to encourage the highest achievement of every student by defining the knowledge, concepts, and skills that students should acquire at each grade level.

Questions: Teacher and Leader Policy Office | tlpo@cde.ca.gov | 916-445-7331 
Last Reviewed: Wednesday, October 18, 2023
Recently Posted in Educator Excellence