Special Education Glossary 

Term used to describe an additional authorization added to a special education credential earned by completing additional content through a Commission approved program sponsor.

Six Added Authorizations in Special Education may be added to special education credentials (autism spectrum disorders, deaf-blind, emotional disturbance, orthopedic impairment, other health impairment, and traumatic brain injury). There are also Added Authorizations in Early Childhood Special Education, Adapted Physical Education, and Resource Specialist. See a list of approved programs at: http://www.ctc.ca.gov/educator-prep/specialeducation-docs/approved-Sp-Ed-Added-Auth-progs.pdf.

This term ‘Added Authorization’ is replacing the term ‘Certificate’ for special education authorizations.

Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) causes severe and pervasive impairment in thinking, feeling, language and the ability to relate to others.

ASD content is included in all new and transitioned preliminary Education Specialist Teaching Credential programs in all specialty areas except Moderate/Severe Disabilities and Early Childhood Special Education as these two specialty areas already include autism. This results in an ASD authorization for individuals who complete the revised program. The preliminary credential will authorize the holder to provide autism instructional services to students within the specialty area(s) of their credential. The additional ASD authorization is included in the program for California prepared special educators only.

Individuals may earn a separate Added Authorization in Special Education in Autism Spectrum Disorders (see definition above) through a Commission approved program sponsor. See the list of approved programs at http://www.ctc.ca.gov/educator-prep/special-education-docs/approved-Sp-EdAdded-Auth-progs.pdf.

The Certificate verifies that the individual has met all the academic requirements to hold the Level I Education Specialist Credential. The Certificate allows the individual to actively seek employment in a special education assignment in the specialty area(s) listed.

The Certificate has no expiration date and may not be used for employment purposes. When an individual wishes to activate their Certificate of Eligibility to be issued a Level I Education Specialist Credential, an application and half the current application fee may be submitted directly to the Commission. No extra forms are required. 

The Certificate of Eligibility is an option for the California-prepared Level I teacher to request following completion of the Level I program. There is no requirement that the Certificate of Eligibility be automatically issued even if the individual is not employed. The program sponsor may request either a Level I or a Certificate of Eligibility using the online recommendation process. The Certificate of Eligibility is not available for candidates completing the preliminary Education Specialist Credential program.

For holders of a Level I or Preliminary Education Specialist Credential, a clear Education Specialist Induction Program consists of completion of a Commission-approved Education Specialist Induction Program through a Commission-approved program sponsor.

Level I Education Specialist Credential holders may have additional content to complete. The approved program will detail what must be completed. This is a different program than the Level II Education Specialist Program. See the list at: http://134.186.81.79/fmi/xsl/CIG_apm/PPPM_EdSp.xsl. Select “Education Specialist from the pop down list and see the columns at the far right.

Effective June 26, 2010, this is the advanced Education Specialist Credential issued for five years following completion of a Commission-approved induction program for holders of Level I or Preliminary Education Specialist Credentials. See the list of approved programs at http://www.ctc.ca.gov/educator-prep/special-education-docs/Approved-ClearEd-Sp.pdf.

Level I Education Specialist Credential holders also have the option of completing the Level II Education Specialist Program (see definition below).

Participants in an Education Specialist Induction Program (Level I or preliminary Education Specialist Credential holders) must have an IIP based on a Transition Plan that is developed cooperatively with the candidate and the support provider in order to guide the professional development of the beginning teacher during the induction period.

The IIP must be completed by the special education teacher, the employing agency, and the program sponsor within 60 days of employment or, in the case of an individual who is not employed prior to beginning the supported induction program, to allow the teacher the maximum time to complete the clear credential requirements. A support provider, who holds a valid California special education teaching credential in the specialty area of the teacher or has sufficient professional background and experience in the specialty area, must be assigned to the teacher within 30 days of employment.

Effective June 26, 2010, individuals may earn a Clear Education Specialist Credential by completion of a Commission-approved Education Specialist Induction Program.

It is one option to earn a clear multiple or single subject credential if the individual was enrolled in the program prior to 1/1/2004. It is required for all individuals who earn their initial preliminary multiple or single subject credential on or after 8/30/2004 based on completion of an SB 2042 teacher education program.

Beginning Teacher Support and Assessment (BTSA) is a state-funded program designed to support the professional development of general and special education beginning teachers.

Preliminary Education Specialist Credential requirements include alignment of the subject-matter competence requirement to the Federal NCLB core academic subject areas (English, reading/language arts, mathematics, science, foreign language, civics/government, economics, arts, history, geography, and elementary level).

This allows candidates to meet the subject-matter competence requirement by passage of the appropriate examination(s) for the multiple subject teaching credential, or passage of the appropriate examination(s) or subject-matter program for the single subject teaching credential in the areas of art, English, foreign language, mathematics including foundational-level mathematics, music, social science, or science including foundational-level general science and specialized science.

See additional options in the Subject-Matter Competence definition.

An induction program sponsor is an institution or agency that operates a Commission-approved induction program and is responsible for the recommendation for a credential when the approved program is completed. All induction programs participate in the Commission’s accreditation system. Induction programs may be approved for:

1. general education only,
2. special education only,

or both general and special education.

Required for either the Level I or Preliminary Education Specialist Credential. It may be met by passage of examination(s) as appropriate for the multiple subject credential or for the single subject credential OR by completion of a subject matter program for the single subject credential.

Both Level I and Preliminary Education Specialist Credential candidates are exempt from meeting the subject-matter competence requirement if the candidate has already met the subject-matter competence requirement by earning a California general education credential. This includes holders of general education Ryan, General, and Standard Teaching Credentials. In addition, candidates for the Education Specialist Credential in Early Childhood Special Education are not required to complete subject-matter competence as the credential authorization is for birth to pre-kindergarten.

Alignment of the subject-matter requirement to the NCLB core academic subject areas is only for candidates earning the preliminary Education Specialist Credential and does not apply to candidates for the Level I Education Specialist Credential. Level I candidates may continue to meet the subject-matter requirement by passage of examinations or completion of subject-matter programs for the multiple subject teaching credential and in all single subject teaching credential subject areas.

See the chart at: http://www.ctc.ca.gov/educator-prep/special-educationdocs/Subject-Matter-Chart.pdf for additional information.