Education Specialist Intern Program

Introduction

The Charter College of Education (CCOE) at California State University Los Angeles (CSULA) prepares educators to serve the culturally and linguistically diverse population of urban schools and related institutions.  The Division of Special Education and Counseling at CSULA offers intern credentials in the following programs:

• Mild to Moderate Disabilities
• Moderate to Severe Disabilities
• Early Childhood
• Physical and Health Impairments
• Visual Impairments

The Special Education Intern Program was established to provide candidates with specific support while teaching and completing credential requirements for the Preliminary credential. The University collaborates with the employing school district or non-public school to provide guidance, professional support, and supervision while the intern completes a two-year program of coursework and fieldwork.

Support and Mentorship:

Interns will have the opportunity to participate in three training sessions throughout the academic year. Seminars will be provided in the following areas:

• Classroom Management
• Teaching Accommodations
• Discipline
• Individualized Education Program (IEP) Development
• English Language Development

Grant Funding The intern program has a grant from the Commission on Teacher Credentialing to provide financial and professional support to interns while they complete the Preliminary credential requirements.

Support Providers: Each intern is assigned an on-site support provider and throughout the school year, the support provider meets weekly with the intern and provides ongoing assessment and teaching support. Support providers follow a peer-coaching model and use numerous methods to interact with the intern. The support provider: (a) conducts observations of the intern's teaching and gives the intern positive and constructive feedback; (b) listens and tries to understand intern concerns; (c) assists the intern when challenges arise and helps analyze problems; and (d) provides resources, co-plans and team teaches with the intern.

This website funded by a special project of the California Department of Education, Division of Special Education, State Personnel Development Grant (SPDG). More information on SPDG

The California Department of Education’s one-stop center for future teachers, TEACH California, provides information about what it takes to teach, credential pathways, teacher preparations, financial aid, and jobs.