CalTPA Background Questions and Answers

This webpage provides an overview of the background questions you will be required to answer during the CalTPA registration process. You may return to your account and modify your responses to any of these background questions at any time prior to submitting your cycle. Once you have submitted, you can no longer change your background question responses.

Providing accurate and complete background information about yourself is important. All of the information that you provide will be kept confidential. The information will be analyzed only as grouped data, not as individual data. It may be used for statistical and research purposes and will not be used, in whole or in part, to make a determination about any individual.


Ethnicity

What is your race or ethnicity?

[Select from the answer choices provided.]


Sexual Orientation

Why are you being asked this question?

The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Disparities Reduction Act (AB 677) opens in a new window requires specific state departments, including the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC), to collect voluntary self-identification information pertaining to sexual orientation. It is the goal of the state government, in collecting this data, to gather accurate information in order to enhance and improve public services for all Californians with a particular focus on addressing health disparities. Information pertaining to sexual orientation will not be publicly disclosed or otherwise used to identify the identity of individuals who provide this information voluntarily. You are not required to answer this question.

Do you consider yourself to be:

  • Heterosexual/Straight
  • Gay/Lesbian
  • Bisexual
  • Other
  • Not sure
  • Decline to state

Language

What language(s) were you fluent in as a child?

  • English only
  • English and one or more other languages
  • One or more languages other than English

Field Specialty / Language of Instruction

If you are a Multiple Subject or Single Subject candidate who is in a Bilingual Placement and are providing instruction that is delivered not in the English language, please select the language of instruction you are using. If you are a Multiple Subject or Single Subject candidate providing instruction that is delivered in the English language, please select "English". If you are a World Language candidate, please select from the list the language in which you are providing instruction. The submission will be scored by a subject area expert fluent in the language of the placement for the language you select.

[Select from the answer choices provided.]

Please note: Candidates of the Preliminary Multiple Subject and Single Subject Teaching Credential who are concurrently earning a Bilingual Authorization must adhere to the additional requirements outlined in the CTC's Bilingual Candidates and the CalTPA guidelines opens in a new window.

English Translations are NOT required for the following:

  1. concurrent Bilingual Authorization candidates who are in a placement where a language other than English is exclusively used for instruction, or who are in a placement where both English and another language are used for instruction
    NOTE: Analysis and reflection narratives must be primarily in English
  2. candidates registered for the World Languages assessment
  3. candidates using American Sign Language (ASL) in a classroom setting with students who are deaf or hard of hearing

For all other candidates who are not in a Bilingual Authorization placement, any evidence in a language other than English must be accompanied by a translation.


Preparation Program

Indicate the preparation program in which you are enrolled at the time you complete the CalTPA. Your scores will be reported to this program. (NOTE: if you are a candidate who is in Induction at the time you complete the CalTPA, please select: California candidate enrolled in a Commission-Approved Teacher Induction Program. Information on induction programs can be found here: https://www.ctc.ca.gov/educator-prep/teacher-induction opens in a new window.)

[Select from the answer choices provided.]

IMPORTANT: Candidate scores will be reported to the one program explicitly selected by the candidate. Candidates will be asked to reverify they have selected the correct program to which they wish to have their scores reported prior to submission.


Program Length

Which of the following best describes the length of your educator preparation program?

  • Less than 12-month program
  • 12-month program
  • 18-month program
  • 24-month or longer program

Program Type

Which of the following best describes the type of your educator preparation program?

  • District Intern
  • University Intern
  • University Student Teaching Program
  • University Private School Program
  • Residency Program

Placement Setting

Which of the following best describes the setting of your teaching placement?

  • City
  • Suburban
  • Town
  • Rural

Placement School

Which of the following best describes the type of school of your teaching placement?

  • Public
  • Public Charter
  • Private

Placement Length

Which of the following best describes the ENTIRE length of your teaching placement?

  • Less than 6 weeks
  • 6–12 weeks
  • 13 weeks to 6 months
  • Longer than 6 months

Placement Grade Level

Which of the following best describes the grade level of your teaching placement? If your classroom contains multiple grades, select the grade that most closely corresponds to the majority of students with whom you are working.

[Select from the answer choices provided.]


Credit Hours

At the end of this semester/grading period in which you are submitting this CalTPA cycle, how many units will you have completed in your teacher preparation program?

  • 1–6 credit hours/1–9 quarter units
  • 7–15 credit hours/10–23 quarter units
  • 16–24 credit hours/24–36 quarter units
  • 25 or more credit hours/37 or more quarter units
  • None