California Department of Education, Special Education Division’s special
project, California Services for Technical Assistance and Training (CalSTAT)
is funded through a contract with the Napa County Office of Education. CalSTAT
is partially funded from federal funds, State Grants #H027A080116A. Additional
federal funds are provided from a federal competitively awarded State Personnel
Development Grant to California (#H323A070011) provided from the U.S. Department
of Education Part D of the Individuals with Disabilities Education act (IDEA).
Opinions expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily
represent the position of the U. S. Department of Education.
A Model for Building a Continuum for Special Education Teacher Preparation Programs; Beginning in Lower Division (Including Community Colleges) through Preliminary and Professional Credentials
Lower Division
(Including Community Colleges in Partnership with 4-Year IHE)
Candidates:
Work on breadth courses and pre-requisites:
For CSU link to: www.
For UC link to: www.
For Independent Institutions check specific web sites.
- 2 Education courses to explore the roles of teachers and to support a minimum of 30 field hours in a Special Ed placement.
- Take Health, History, and Institutions Courses.
Take CBEST
Upper Division
Candidates:
- Complete major requirements
- Integrate EDU foundation courses that connect subject matter to pedagogy.
- A mainstreaming course is suggested
- Organize coursework around CSET; Students take sections after preparation courses.
- Develop a Special Education Minor
CSET in core area or subject matter program for Single Subjects
Final Pre-BA Quarter
Candidates:
- Complete 2 courses for B.A.
- Student teach 3 days per week
- Have option for substitute teaching at same school. Same district cooperating teacher when possible. (School board and state approval may be necessary)
Subject Matter Verified
Internship Cred. (Teacher of Record)
- 3 quarters
- Intensive supervision from IHE
- Weekly cohort meeting
- Additional coursework related to K-12 classroom
- Integrated with
Option 2
Continue in Traditional 5th year Student Teaching Program to complete credential.
Preliminary Credential Awarded
Level II
Suggested Ideas:
- Give 25% non-IHE credit for BTSA, special ed support provider and use of Special Ed CFASST adaptation.
- Idea: Integrate with Master"s degree program.
- Integrate Intern Program with Level II
Ideas:
- Link community college and 4-year campus students to Blended Program by beginning a developmental electronic or paper portfolio.
- Offer Special Education credential information seminars on community college campuses as well as 4-year sites.
- Use "One Child At a Time" recruitment video in introductory courses.
- Require 6 semester units or less of Education Courses in Lower Division since 6 units is the maximum units Community College Students can transfer.
- Include a Psychology "Exceptional Children" Course and waive the upper division requirement
- Develop a way to track the Community College students interested in Special Education.