Sharing a message from our friends at California Dance Education Association (CDEA):

Dear CDEA Members and Supporters,
We are writing to you with important information to help support the development of dance credential programs and the field of dance education in California. 

CDEA will partner with university programs around CA that offer a Dance Credential. These university programs reach out to the organization to help with placement of Student Teachers (interns) in CA public schools. CDEA maintains this list of willing and qualified educators who are open to hosting student teachers in their dance classrooms.

Filling out this form does not guarantee that you will participate as a cooperating teacher; it simply indicates your interest and willingness to be contacted by university programs should an appropriate possible student teacher arise in your geographic location. Universities will engage in their own screening process for possible cooperating teachers, including potentially contacting your site administration.

Sincerely,
Kim Hoj and Jessy Kronenberg
CDEA 

The Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) is seeking participants to field test items for California Subject Examinations for Teachers® (CSET®) Dance and Theatre. Each field test form consists of either a set of multiple-choice questions or two to three constructed-response (essay) items.  Field tests are administered during a 75-minute or 90-minute field test session.

Advantages of Participation

• For each acceptably completed field test form, participants will have the choice of either a $75 test registration voucher that can be applied toward future California certification test registration fees or a $50 Amazon eGift Card. Eligible participants may complete up to two (2) field test forms per field. Please allow up to six weeks for processing.
• Vouchers may be applied toward registration fees for a future California credentialing examination, including the CSET, California Basic Educational Skills Test™ (CBEST^®), California Preliminary Administrative Credential Examination (CPACE), California Teacher of English Learners^® (CTEL^®) or Reading Instruction Competence Assessment^® (RICA^®). Test registration vouchers are transferable and expire one year from date of issue. More than one voucher may be used toward a single test registration.
• An Amazon eGift Card is valid for use until balance is consumed.
• Participants have the opportunity to gain valuable practice in computer-based testing.
• Participants have the opportunity to provide input on the development of the examination.

Who is Eligible to Participate?

• Candidates of the California Single Subject Teaching Credential in English, Dance, Physical Education, and Theatre or are currently preparing to take the CSET: English, CSET: Dance, CSET: Physical Education or CSET: Theatre examination in fulfillment of credentialing requirements are eligible to participate.
• Newly credentialed public-school educators providing Dance and Theatre instruction with less than 3 years of experience are eligible to participate.

Field Test Dates
Testing will be held at Pearson Professional Centers and authorized test centers across the state starting April 5, 2021 through May 14, 2021.

How to Get Involved
Go to www.pearsonvue.com/espilot to schedule a field test appointment and select a convenient date, time, and location for you. Please let eligible candidates know about this field testing opportunity. If you have questions about this field test, contact Evaluation Systems at ES-CSET@pearson.com.

NOTE:  Field test results will be analyzed as group data only and will be kept confidential. Score information will not be provided to participants and performance on a field test will not affect a candidate’s certification status.

On September 4th, Governor Newsom signed AB2257 which modifies AB5 and creates several exemptions from the stricter requirements around independent contractors and employees. Read the full bill here. What does this mean for artists? Check out Californians for the Arts resource page.

Dance artists across the country are collaborating to reimagine a more equitable and ethical dance world. Be a part of the conversation! Join the Creating New Futures facebook group, check out their in-progress working document and watch their Real Talk forum reflecting on their process.

Sometimes we need help talking to school administrators and other leaders about the value of arts education. Create CA offers a few resources here, including a short video to share to help you advocate for what you do.

Advocating for dance can just take a minute – it doesn’t always have to be a big action, and it certainly doesn’t need to feel intimidating.

The National Dance Education Organization (NDEO) has been filming 1 minute advocacy videos as mini pep talks for all of us. Take a peek here for some inspiration!

Check out Create CA’s School Leader Flyer and start a conversation with education leaders in your community and school. It’s a free step-by-step, data-driven guide to help you support the creation of a strategic arts plan.  Print it out and share it with your principal, school board members, and superintendent.