Any teacher assigned to serve students with disabilities shall possess a credential that authorizes him/her to teach the primary disability of the students within the program placement recommended in the students' individualized education programs (IEP). (5 CCR 80046.5)
Special education teachers who teach core academic subjects shall possess the qualifications required by the No Child Left Behind Act. (20 USC 1401, 6319, 7801; 34 CFR 200.55-200.57, 300.18; 5 CCR 6100-6126)
The Superintendent or designee shall ensure that caseloads for special education teachers are within the maximum caseloads established by law, collective bargaining agreement, and/or the comprehensive plan of the Special Education Local Plan Area (SELPA) in which the district participates.
Resource Specialists
The Board of Education shall employ certificated resource specialists to provide services for students with disabilities which shall include, but not be limited to: (Education Code 56362)
1. Providing instruction and services to students whose needs have been identified in an IEP and who are assigned to regular classroom teachers for a majority of the school day
A student shall not be enrolled in a resource specialist program for a majority of a school day without approval by the student's IEP team.
2. Providing information and assistance to students with disabilities and their parents/guardians
3. Providing consultation, resource information, and material regarding students with disabilities to their parents/guardians and regular education staff members
4. Coordinating special education services with the regular school programs for each student with disabilities enrolled in the resource specialist program
5. Monitoring student progress on a regular basis, participating in the review and revision of IEPs as appropriate, and referring students who do not demonstrate sufficient progress to the IEP team
6. At the secondary school level, emphasizing academic achievement, career and vocational development, and preparation for adult life
The district's resource specialist program shall be under the direction of a resource specialist who possesses: (Education Code 56362)
1. A special education credential or clinical services credential with a special class authorization
2. Three or more years of teaching experience, including both regular and special education teaching experience
3. The demonstrated competencies required for a resource specialist as established by the Commission on Teacher Credentialing in 5 CCR 80070.8
No resource specialist shall have a caseload which exceeds 28 students. As necessary and with the agreement of the resource specialist, the Board may request a waiver from the State Board of Education to increase the caseload to no more than 32 students, provided that an individual resource specialist does not have a caseload exceeding 28 students for more than two school years and has the assistance of an instructional aide at least five hours daily during the period of the waiver. (Education Code 56362, 56362.1; 5 CCR 3100)
Resource specialists shall not simultaneously be assigned to serve as resource specialists and to teach regular classes. (Education Code 56362)
Teachers of Students with Autism
A teacher whose preliminary Level I education specialist credential or other previously issued credential authorizes him/her to provide instruction to students with mild and moderate disabilities may be assigned to provide instruction to students with autism, provided that the teacher consents to the assignment and satisfies either of the following criteria prior to the assignment: (Education Code 44265.1)
1. The teacher has provided full-time instruction for at least one year prior to September 1, 2007, in a special education program that serves students with autism in accordance with their IEP and received a favorable evaluation or recommendation from the district or school to teach students with autism.
2. The teacher has completed a minimum of three semester units of coursework in the subject of autism offered by a regionally accredited institution of higher education.
The Superintendent or designee shall report teachers assigned under the above conditions to the county office of education as part of the annual assignment monitoring pursuant to Education Code 44258.9. (Education Code 44265.1)
The Superintendent or designee may employ and assign a teacher to provide instruction to students age 3-4 who are diagnosed with autism if the teacher holds a valid preliminary Level I or clear Level II education specialist credential, is authorized to provide instruction to students with autism, and satisfies either of the criteria listed in items #1 and 2 above, except that the prior service shall have been with autistic students age 3-4 or the completed coursework shall have been in the subject of special education related to early childhood education. (Education Code 44265.2)
Verification of experience or coursework for any teacher of autistic students shall be maintained on file in the district or school office. (Education Code 44265.1, 44265.2)
Legal Reference:
EDUCATION CODE
44250-44279 Credentials, especially:
44256 Credential types, specialist instruction
44258.9 Assignment monitoring
44265-44265.99 Special education credential
56000-56865 Special education, especially:
56195.8 Adoption of policies
56361 Program options
56362-56362.5 Resource specialist program
56363.3 Average caseload limits; language, speech, and hearing specialists
CODE OF REGULATIONS, TITLE 5
3051.1 Language, speech and hearing development and remediation; appropriate credential
3100 Waivers of maximum caseload for resource specialists
6100-6126 Teacher qualifications, No Child Left Behind Act
80026 Declaration of need for fully qualified educators
80027.1 Special education limited assignment teaching permit
80046-80046.1 Adapted physical education specialist
80046.5 Credential holders authorized to serve students with disabilities
80048-80048.7 Credential requirements and authorizations
80070.1-80070.8 Resource specialist certificate of competence
UNITED STATES CODE, TITLE 20
1400-1482 Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, especially:
1401 Definition of highly qualified special education teacher
6319 Highly qualified teachers
7801 Definitions, highly qualified teacher
CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS, TITLE 34
200.55-200.57 Highly qualified teachers
300.8 Definition of autism
300.18 Highly qualified special education teachers
300.156 Special education personnel requirements
Management Resources:
CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION PUBLICATIONS
Handbook on Developing and Implementing Early Childhood Special Education Programs and Services, 2001
COMMISSION ON TEACHER CREDENTIALING CODED CORRESPONDENCE
09-16 Approval of Additions to Title 5 Regulations Pertaining to Added Authorizations in Special Education, July 23, 2009
09-15 Approval of Amendments to Title 5 Regulations Pertaining to General and Special Education Limited Assignment Teaching Permits, July 23, 2009
08-13 Alternative Route to Provide Special Education Services to Students with Autism Ages Three and 4, October 9, 2008
08-10 Alternative Route to Provide Special Education Services to Students with Autism, July 7, 2008
COMMISSION ON TEACHER CREDENTIALING PUBLICATIONS
Standards of Quality and Effectiveness for Education Specialist Credential Programs (including University Internship Options) and Clinical Rehabilitative Services Programs, 1996
WEB SITES
California Association of Resource Specialists and Special Education Teachers: http://www.carsplus.org
California Department of Education, Special Education: http://www.cde.ca.gov/sp/se
California Speech-Language-Hearing Association: http://www.csha.org
Commission on Teacher Credentialing: http://www.ctc.ca.gov
Regulation ALAMEDA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
approved: August 25, 2009 Alameda, California