District Intern
New Education Specialist Program
Background
New preliminary Education Specialist Teaching Credential Program Standards and Teaching Performance Expectations (TPEs) were adopted at the August 2018 Commission meeting as part of the comprehensive effort to strengthen and streamline the Commission’s accreditation system including a stronger focus on program outcomes. These six standards replace the current sixteen base standards that were originally designed for all preliminary Education Specialist programs. In addition, TPEs were developed for each of the five preliminary Education Specialist credential areas for which there were program standards previously. This webpage provides information to partnering districts and charter schools on the updates to District Intern program requirements based on the 2018 Education Specialist Standards and TPEs.
Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
When do the requirements for the new Education Specialist program take place?
July 1, 2022
Do Education Specialist candidates have to complete the TPA (Teaching Performance Assessment)?
Yes
What are the new credential authorization areas?
Mild to Moderate Support Needs (MMSN), Extensive Support Needs (ESN), Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE), Visual Impairments (VI), Deaf Hard of Hearing (DHH)
What new credential authorization areas does LACOE provide?
Mild to Moderate Support Needs (MMSN), Extensive Support Needs (ESN), and Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE)
What's new in the authorizations?
Both Mild to Moderate Support Needs (MMSN) candidates and Extensive Support Needs (ESN) candidates will be prepared to work with students identified with a range of disabilities instead of prepared to work only with certain Federal Disability categories. Additionally, Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) credential holders will now be able to serve in a Kindergarten classroom.
What is the difference between Mild to Moderate Support Needs and Extensive Support Needs?
Definition of Mild to Moderate Support Needs (MMSN) for use in New Authorization Statements: Mild to Moderate Support Needs (MMSN) includes providing specially designed instruction to access grade level California Content Standards in the Least Restrictive Environment. The education specialist provides instruction and supports in one or more of the following domains: academics, communication, gross/fine motor, social-emotional, behavioral, vocational, and learning environment access skills. The supports may also include health, movement and sensory support. Mild to Moderate Support Needs (MMSN) practices may include lower student to educator ratio.
Definition of Extensive Support Needs (ESN) for use in the New Authorization Statements: Extensive Support Needs (ESN) include providing specially designed instruction to access grade level California Content Standards in the Least Restrictive Environment. The education specialist provides intensive instruction and supports in two or more of the following domains: academics, communication, gross/fine motor, social-emotional, behavioral, vocational and adaptive/daily living skills. The supports also often include health, movement and sensory support. Extensive Support Needs (ESN) practices include lower student to educator ratio.
Who decides (and how) what "intensive" means to differentiate Extensive Support Needs (ESN) from Mild to Moderate Support Needs (MMSN)? Will there be further guidance from CTC when districts are looking at assigning caseloads?
CTC is working with CDE about providing guidance around the definitions for Mild to Moderate and Extensive Support Needs as it relates to the IEP meeting and determining the best placement for a student as that is more under their purview…more information to follow.
When do districts redesign caseloads as Interns will be on an intern credential under the new authorizations, but currently credentialed employees are under current authorizations?
CTC advises districts to hold off on redesigning caseloads until 2024 since the majority of teachers will have the current Mild to Moderate Disabilities / Moderate to Severe Disabilities authorizations. In the interim, Interns will have an expanded authorization and will be able to teach any of the same classes and students that a Mild to Moderate Disabilities / Moderate to Severe Disabilities teacher currently does.
If I hold an Education Specialist Credential with the Mild to Moderate Disabilities, Moderate to Severe Disabilities, or Early Childhood Special Education authorizations, can I earn the new Education Specialist authorizations?
LACOE BTP will offer a Bridge Authorization Program to begin Fall 2023.
As the employer, what impact does the new credential authorization areas have on hiring?
There is a new release time requirement of 10 days in year 1 of the District Intern program.
If a district intern works for a high school district, is there any guidance or advice on scheduling that candidate to have experience at the elementary or middle school level?
The interns should have experience outside of their own classroom. The general education hours are at a different grade level and are outside of the grade levels they are currently working with. Please work with neighboring districts or contact LACOE to create observation partnerships.
July 1, 2022
Do Education Specialist candidates have to complete the TPA (Teaching Performance Assessment)?
Yes
What are the new credential authorization areas?
Mild to Moderate Support Needs (MMSN), Extensive Support Needs (ESN), Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE), Visual Impairments (VI), Deaf Hard of Hearing (DHH)
What new credential authorization areas does LACOE provide?
Mild to Moderate Support Needs (MMSN), Extensive Support Needs (ESN), and Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE)
What's new in the authorizations?
Both Mild to Moderate Support Needs (MMSN) candidates and Extensive Support Needs (ESN) candidates will be prepared to work with students identified with a range of disabilities instead of prepared to work only with certain Federal Disability categories. Additionally, Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) credential holders will now be able to serve in a Kindergarten classroom.
What is the difference between Mild to Moderate Support Needs and Extensive Support Needs?
Definition of Mild to Moderate Support Needs (MMSN) for use in New Authorization Statements: Mild to Moderate Support Needs (MMSN) includes providing specially designed instruction to access grade level California Content Standards in the Least Restrictive Environment. The education specialist provides instruction and supports in one or more of the following domains: academics, communication, gross/fine motor, social-emotional, behavioral, vocational, and learning environment access skills. The supports may also include health, movement and sensory support. Mild to Moderate Support Needs (MMSN) practices may include lower student to educator ratio.
Definition of Extensive Support Needs (ESN) for use in the New Authorization Statements: Extensive Support Needs (ESN) include providing specially designed instruction to access grade level California Content Standards in the Least Restrictive Environment. The education specialist provides intensive instruction and supports in two or more of the following domains: academics, communication, gross/fine motor, social-emotional, behavioral, vocational and adaptive/daily living skills. The supports also often include health, movement and sensory support. Extensive Support Needs (ESN) practices include lower student to educator ratio.
Who decides (and how) what "intensive" means to differentiate Extensive Support Needs (ESN) from Mild to Moderate Support Needs (MMSN)? Will there be further guidance from CTC when districts are looking at assigning caseloads?
CTC is working with CDE about providing guidance around the definitions for Mild to Moderate and Extensive Support Needs as it relates to the IEP meeting and determining the best placement for a student as that is more under their purview…more information to follow.
When do districts redesign caseloads as Interns will be on an intern credential under the new authorizations, but currently credentialed employees are under current authorizations?
CTC advises districts to hold off on redesigning caseloads until 2024 since the majority of teachers will have the current Mild to Moderate Disabilities / Moderate to Severe Disabilities authorizations. In the interim, Interns will have an expanded authorization and will be able to teach any of the same classes and students that a Mild to Moderate Disabilities / Moderate to Severe Disabilities teacher currently does.
If I hold an Education Specialist Credential with the Mild to Moderate Disabilities, Moderate to Severe Disabilities, or Early Childhood Special Education authorizations, can I earn the new Education Specialist authorizations?
LACOE BTP will offer a Bridge Authorization Program to begin Fall 2023.
As the employer, what impact does the new credential authorization areas have on hiring?
There is a new release time requirement of 10 days in year 1 of the District Intern program.
If a district intern works for a high school district, is there any guidance or advice on scheduling that candidate to have experience at the elementary or middle school level?
The interns should have experience outside of their own classroom. The general education hours are at a different grade level and are outside of the grade levels they are currently working with. Please work with neighboring districts or contact LACOE to create observation partnerships.