Special education teacher

Question: Is it true that there's a high demand for special education teachers? Can you give me information about salaries and how to pursue this career choice?
— Shari

Response: Although budget cuts have diminished hiring of elementary and secondary teachers, there's a shortage of special education teachers. And districts are definitely hiring those with special education credentials. Further, above average growth is projected through 2010 for this discipline.

Job Description
Special education teachers instruct physically and mentally handicapped students in basic academic and living skills.

Students' disabilities can range from hearing and blindness, cerebral palsy or other physical diseases to mental retardation, emotional or learning impairments.

Their teachers devise unique tools and techniques that meet the particular needs of their students in addition to planning curricula and preparing instructional materials. This is called an IEP or Individualized Educational Plan.

Special education teachers also prepare reports on their students' progress.

Generally, there's a high ratio of adults to students in special education classrooms, with assistant teachers and aides also available to work with students.

Salary
Salary for a special education teacher in the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) starts at approximately $41,700. Interns completing an accredited credential program within the system can work as special education teachers and can earn approximately $35,900. District interns are entitled to full medical, dental and vision benefits.

Credential Requirements
According to the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CCTC), the "Education Specialist Instruction" Credential authorizes the holder to teach in specialization areas such as mild/moderate disabilities, or moderate/severe disabilities. This credential can be broken down into two levels:

The first level to be completed is called the "Preliminary Level I" credential. For this, you must complete a CCTC approved Education Specialist Credential teaching program. Also, you must get passing scores on the California Basic Educational Skills Test (CBEST), the Reading Instruction Competence Assessment (RICA) and the Multiple Subjects Assessment for Teachers (MSAT) tests.

The second is a "Professional Clear Level II" credential. To attain this, you must complete specialty-related and employer administered coursework and have two years of work experience as a preliminary credentialed teacher. Obtaining this Professional Clear Level II credential means that you are a fully credentialed special education teacher.

Training Options and Costs
The following two universities in the Los Angeles County area offer special education credential programs. Both offer an intern program option where students can work for two years as a paid intern special education teacher while completing program coursework on a part-time basis:

California State University, Northridge (CSUN)

College of Education

18111 Nordhoff St.

Northridge, CA 91330

(818) 677-2596 - Special Education Office

www.csun.edu

The College of Education offers a three-year, 61-68 unit Education Specialist Credential program in Mild/Moderate Disabilities. Program admission requirements include completion of a bachelor's degree with a minimum GPA of 2.67, earning a passing score on the CBEST, and two letters of recommendation. Graduate tuition for a full-time semester (6 units or more) semester is $867 and for a part-time semester (6 units or less) is $504.

California State University Los Angeles (CSULA)

Division of Special Education

5151 State University Drive

Los Angeles, CA 90032

(323) 343-4400

Fax (323) 343-5605

www.calstatela.edu

Contact: Julie Seguin, Special Education Advisor

(323) 343-4342

The division offers a three-year, 69 unit Education Specialist Credential program in Mild/Moderate Disabilities. Program coursework includes Foundation of Special Education, and Advanced Issues in Mild/Moderate Disabilities. Program admission requirements include completion of a bachelor's degree with a minimum GPA of 2.75, earning a passing score on the CBEST, and two letters of recommendation. Graduate tuition for a full-time semester (6 units or more) semester is $752 and for a part-time semester (6 units or less) is $436.

Training Alternative
An alternative to getting your credential through a university would be to get it through an actual school district. While not every school district in California offers a special education credential program, the LAUSD does:

LAUSD Special Education Intern District Program

Human Resources Division

Recruitment Office

333 S. Beaudry, 15th Floor

Los Angeles, CA 90017

(213) 241-5300

certificated.lausd.k12.ca.us/teachinla/noncredentialed.html

The district offers a CCTC approved three-year, 53-unit District Intern Program that leads to a Professional Clear Level II Credential with a specialization in mild/moderate disabilities. Students are not responsible for tuition, training and registration costs but are responsible for the purchase of required textbooks.

The program involves working as a full time district intern while completing required program coursework. Classes are conducted on Thursday evenings and selected Saturdays.

After completion of the program, students are obligated to work as a LAUSD clear credentialed teacher for two years before working for another unified school district.

Admission requirements include completion of a bachelor's degree with a minimum GPA of 2.7, and passing scores on the CBEST and CSET. Candidates are also required to successfully complete an 8 unit pre-service training course for employment as a district intern.

CBEST, RICA and CSET Preparation & Costs
Both CSUN and CSULA offer CBEST, RICA, and CSET test preparation workshops ranging in cost from $185 to $295, depending on the workshop. Taking these tests costs $41 for the CBEST, $122 for the RICA and $70 for the MSAT.

Professional Resources/Associations

California Commission on Teacher Credentialing

1900 Capitol Avenue

Sacramento, CA 95814

(888) 921-2682

www.ctc.ca.gov

This commission issues credential for teachers in the State of California.

International Association of Special Education

5142 Route 22

Amenia, NY 12501

www.iase.org

This organization is comprised of professionals who work with special needs individuals. Membership benefits include field updates through a journal and a newsletter and discounts on conferences. Annual membership dues are $50.

The Council for Exceptional Children (CEC)

www.cec.sped.org

California Chapter

Michael Grimes

1962 Windward Point

Discovery Bay, CA 94514

E-mail: hgrimes@inetmail.att.net

Based in Virginia, this international professional organization is dedicated to improving the education for individuals with exceptionalities, students with disabilities and the gifted.

Membership benefits include field updates through regular journals, discounts on national and state conferences, and access to an online career center. Annual professional membership dues are $99 and annual student members are $37 for California members.

Job Search Resources

LAUSD

Human Resources Division

Recruitment Office

333 S. Beaudry, 15th Floor

Los Angeles, CA 90017

(213) 241-5300

www.teachinla.com

This web site provides information on the teacher application process. Currently, the district accepts online applications for both intern and credentialed teaching positions on an ongoing basis.

Ed-Join

www.ed-join.org

Ed-Join provides an online listing of teaching opportunities categorized by school district.

 
Susan W. Miller, M.A., is a National Certified Career Counselor, a Certified Vocational Evaluation Specialist and holds diplomate status on the American Board of Vocational Experts. She heads California Career Services, a private practice career counseling firm in Los Angeles.

E-mail career questions you'd like answered in this column to info@californiacareerservices.com or visit California Career Services at www.californiacareerservices.com.