For the purposes of this article, unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

1. (a) “Applicant” means a school district, charter school, or county office of education applying for program funds under the California Classified School Employee Teacher Credentialing Program.
2. (b) “Institutions of higher education” means the California Community Colleges, the California State University, the University of California, and private not-for-profit institutions of higher education that offer a commission-approved teacher preparation program.
3. (c) “Participant” means a classified school employee who elects to participate in the California Classified School Employee Teacher Credentialing Program.
4. (d) “Program” means the California Classified School Employee Teacher Credentialing Program.
5. (e) “Classified school employee” means a noncertificated school employee currently working in a public school.
6. (f) “Teacher training program” means an undergraduate or graduate program of instruction conducted by a teacher preparation program approved by the commission that includes a developmentally sequenced career ladder to provide instruction, coursework, and clearly defined tasks for each level of the ladder, and that is designed to qualify students enrolled in the program for a teaching credential authorizing instruction in kindergarten and grades 1 to 12, inclusive.