ALERT
7/1/08 Robert Powell, CSHA Advocate, www.csha.org

CTC Credential Reform Stakeholder Input Hearings
(9-9:30 AM sign-in to 3:30 PM) 
July 16th Sacramento
(Sacramento City School 5735 47th Ave.)
August 13th Costa Mesa
(National U., 3390 Harbor Blvd., Costa Mesa)

As you have heard (see recent CSHA publications or on CSHA's web site under "Legislation; What's New"), the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) is proposing a new special education credential proposed to be labeled, "Communication Development Specialist".

CSHA has opposed new CTC special education credentials but a large and strong group of school entities and administrators are screaming for a solution to the SLP shortage crisis, and they believe this proposed new credential is the "silver bullet" answer.

CSHA has participated in two CTC Work Groups that have recommended mostly a "pre-referral" to special education Response to Intervention (RtI) type additional training for teachers and others in "language & literacy" tutoring-to type certification for those struggling students in general education -- and to collaborate and assist SLPs for those children in special education. CSHA's recommendation for such a specialist would be a "Language/Literacy" specialist. CTC staff have rejected this recommendation.

Now the CTC staff and a "Design Team" after reviewing the Workgroup comments will make recommendations for a new "Communication Development Specialist" special education credential. Some of the CTC staff work is available on CTC's web site under Special Education Credentialing Reforms. Public input for the Design Team has been announced (note above) and strong support for the concept is expected.

CSHA will: 1) Oppose new special ed credentials; 2) Object to a misleading title that implies competencies for special education language and speech disorders but actually requires only "add-on" training for language development tutoring and social communication issues; and 3) Ask where are the protections for parents and their children for referral to federal IDEA required assessments for speech and language disorders by fully qualified SLPs as well as protections for Due Process and other rights under the law.

Your local input as well as parent input is hereby solicited for the July 16th Sacramento and the August 13th Costa Mesa hearings. Note these day-long hearings may be crowded requiring brief statements that are best backed up by written statements placing on the record who and what input.

 Details at CTC website:
 http://www.ctc.ca.gov/educator-prep/special-education.html