Genesee also spoke of two other UC Davis activities. One is a partnership between the university and schools in the greater Sacramento region to assist in enhancing the UC eligibility of underrepresented students. The other, in addition to its regular credential program, UC Davis' Division of Education this month is beginning a partnership with CSU Sacramento to prepare 60 elementary school teachers who will graduate in the summer of 1999. Currently 11 per cent of the state's 240,000 teachers have emergency credentials or credential waivers. About half of these teachers quit after the first year.
Attrition is mainly due to poor teacher preparation, according to research.
In addition, Merino said, the population of limited English proficient students has increased from 431,000 in 1982 to 1.4 million in 1997. Today's total student population of 5.6 million is expected to increase to at least 6.6 million by 2005. Merino commended 45 schools in 17 districts for collaborating in the education of the graduates by providing student teaching and internship positions under the guidance of cooperating teachers and principals. Dean of Graduate Studies Christina Gonzales and Executive Associate Dean of Graduate Studies Jeffrey Gibeling represented their division of UC Davis. She was a high school teacher in her native Spain.