Education Specialist Credential in Mild/Moderate Disabilities
ACT(Accelerated Collaborative Teaching Program)
ACT student teachers participate in an intensive two-semester fieldwork and student teaching experience under the supervision of credentialed, experienced special educators. Students are part of a cohort that works collaboratively with students in the elementary and secondary teaching options.
Student Teaching Requirements
- First semester ACT students participate in 120 hours (approximately 8 hours a week) of observation and participation during the semester, under the guidance of a credentialed special educator.
- During the second semester of the program, ACT students complete 66 hours of advanced fieldwork and a 12-week, full-day student teaching experience.
Preparatory Coursework
ACT students complete their fieldwork and student teaching while concurrently taking coursework to receive a special education credential. They are expected to develop a solid understanding of the skills and competencies of the special education professional while participating in their 2-semester experience.
Assessment of Student Teachers
Observation Requirements
- Semester One: ACT student teachers will be observed a minimum of 2 times during the first semester by both their University Supervisor and their Cooperating Teacher.
- Semester Two: ACT student teachers will be observed a minimum of 5 times by their Cooperating Teacher and 3 times by their University Supervisor. The observer will fill out an Education Specialist Feedback Form, and discuss it with the student teacher before distributing the copies as indicated on the form. Informal observations and feedback should be conducted throughout both semesters as appropriate.
Expected Competencies
- At the end of the first semester, ACT students are expected to have begun to develop skills in teaching and classroom management. They should be skilled at working with students one-on-one, facilitating small groups, and planning and teaching small or whole group lessons.
- At the end of the second semester, special education ACT student teachers are expected to have attained competency in all 6 domains of the California Standards for the Teaching Profession. They should be able to plan and implement all of the instructional, assessment and management responsibilities of a special education teacher.
- By the last few weeks of the assignment, they should be able to assume the role of the classroom teacher throughout the entire school day.
Evaluations
ACT student teachers will be evaluated twice during each semester, by both their University Supervisor and their Cooperating Teacher.
- Passwords and links for on-line evaluations are send out to Supervisors and Cooperating Teachers by email twice each semester, near at mid-term and at the end of the semester. For information about passwords, please contact Keisha Douglas, the Teacher Education Assistant, at 818 677-2596.
- By the end of their second semester, ACT students must receive an average score of 3 on the final evaluation, completed by their University Supervisor in collaboration with the Cooperating Teacher, with no scores of 1.
Inclusive Experiences
ACT student teachers must participate in at least 25 hours of observation/participation in an inclusive classroom during their 2-semester experience.
Other Expectations
ACT student teachers are expected to observe and/or participate in assessment of students with disabilities, writing of IEPs, IEP meetings, SST meetings, and other responsibilities of the special educator during their student teaching experience.