After the California Reading Initiative passed in 1996, the California department of education mandated that certain categories teachers in California pass an examination in reading instruction. The RICA teachers' knowledge of pedagogy and reading instruction; it aims to ensure that teachers in the CA education system can impart reading skills and assess students' abilities.
Currently, two types of teachers must take the RICA exam: multiple-subject teachers and special education teachers. There are several exceptions; for instance, teachers who hold a bachelor's degree and have completed a student teaching program may not have to take the RICA, nor do teachers who received a valid certification in another state (so long as the other state has thorough requirements).
Though the RICA has undergone several revisions, the basic test content has remained the same. Currently, teachers can take the RICA in one of two formats, written or video. Regardless of format, teachers are assessed in five domains:
- Planning, Organizing, and Managing Reading Instruction Based on Ongoing Assessment: Teachers must demonstrate that they can create and teach a reading and language arts curriculum that conforms to California's standards, has both breadth and depth, and is accessible to students of varying abilities and learning styles. This domain also focuses on teachers' ability to assess students' reading skills and take appropriate action to bring remedial students up to speed.
- Word Analysis: This domain tests teachers on their ability to make students aware of the phonological and phonemic properties of words. Teachers must be able to impart knowledge of word and letter recognition, spelling patterns, phonics, and pronunciation.
- Fluency: Teachers must understand how fluency affects reading skills and reading comprehension. This section of the RICA tests teachers' competency in improving students' fluency and general knowledge of factors that affect fluency.
- Vocabulary, Academic Language, and Background Knowledge: Teachers are assessed on their understanding of factors that affect students' vocabularies and level of background knowledge. They must also understand how vocabulary and knowledge affect reading skills, and how gaps in knowledge can be mitigated.
- Comprehension: Teachers must understand the different types of comprehension (literal, inferential) and what factors help and hinder students' reading comprehension. The RICA tests a teacher's ability to assess comprehension levels, and teach students techniques to better understand written material.
If teachers elect to pass the written version of the RICA, they must complete one section of 70 multiple-choice questions and one section of 5 essay responses. The written RICA is offered 6 times a year during even-numbered months; registration deadlines are one month in advance. The fee is $130.
Video Submission RICA
If a teacher submit a video of their instructional skills, she must include 3 videos, each of which includes these 3 sections:
(i) Introduction and context for the video, including a description of the lesson plan and the students.
(ii) 10 minute video of the teacher providing reading instruction
(iii) Reflection and appraisal, in which the teacher offers suggestions for alternative strategies and similar information.
Video 1 must demonstrate teaching a whole class, Video 2 must demonstrate small group teaching, and Video 3 must show the teacher in one-on-one instruction. The total cost of submitting the video assessment is $130, and the submission deadlines are in November, March, and June.
RICA Scoring
Both versions of the exam are scored on a scale of 100 to 300, with 220 as the minimum passing score.
For more information on the RICA, visit the official RICA website.
