In 1992, California established the Beginning Teacher Support and Assessment Program (BTSA) as a pilot project to support first and second year teachers. In 1998, the Fresno Unified School District joined the ranks of school districts who were seeing a rise in the retention rates of their new teachers as a result of the BTSA program. From the beginning, BTSA has been a changing, growing program. As a reuslt of the lessons learned from the BTSA programs, the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing sponsored legislation to restructure the credentialing system in California. The result was a passage of SB 2042, creating multiple, standards-based routes to teacher credentialing and new requirements calling for the completion of a two-year induction program of support and formative assessment in order to obtain a professional clear credential.

The BTSA program

*  Provides effective trasitions into teaching

*  Prepares teachers to be recommended for a professional clear credential

*  Promotes the success and retention of new teachers

*  Individualizes support for participating teachers

*  Promotes collaboration between educators in our district

*  Provides intensive learning experiences through the Formative Assessment System

* Supports teachers in effectively meeting the needs of all students

* Increases the teaching effectiveness and motivation of experienced and new teachers

* Supports professionalism and positive attitudes