California is issuing fewer credentials for public school nurses and other service positions, according to a report from the state Commission on Teacher Credentialing, California Watch reports.
Methodology
The report tracked credentials and employment between the 2006-2007 and 2010-2011 school years for employees in five areas:
- Administrative services;
- Clinical or rehabilitative services and speech pathology;
- Pupil personnel services, including social workers and psychologists;
- School nurses; and
- Teacher librarian services.
Report Findings
According to the report, school nurse credentials had the most significant decrease -- with only 209 credentials issued in 2010-2011, down 26.4% from 2006-2007.
In addition, the number of school nurses employed in public schools decreased by 13.3% to 2,474 during that period, the study found (Lin, California Watch, 5/16).