Early Intervention and Inclusion

The Early Intervention and Inclusion Certificate prepares students with specialized skills to work with children with special needs and other disabilities and/or an occupation in an early intervention program. This certificate meets the State's competencies for early childhood intervention/early childhood special education paraprofessionals. This Certificate meets or exceeds California Title 5 requirements for the Child Development Master Teacher Permit (when combined with 16 general education units.) To earn the Early Intervention and Inclusion Certificate of Achievement, students must complete the 37 units of required coursework listed below. All courses must be completed with a grade of “C” or better.

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Early intervention is a supportive educational service for young children who are at high risk due to their developmental disabilities or delays and/or who are victims of abuse and/or neglect. However, it is inclusive of all children regardless of their abilities. High quality early intervention services can change a child’s developmental path resulting in improving the outcomes of children and families. This will be a 37-unit course certificate that will enhance students to be effective in their performance. The Child Development and Education Department has the instructors and practicum laboratory to accommodate the offering of the courses required for the certificate. This certificate supports teachers and paraprofessionals working with children with special needs and/or Early Intervention Programs. It acts as a pathway to career opportunities in education, California child development permits, Early Intervention Assistant Personnel Competencies for California’s Early Start Program, A.S and A.S-T degrees. This certificate meets the State’s competencies for early childhood intervention/early childhood special education paraprofessionals and California Title 5 requirements for the Child Development Associate Teacher permit. It also aligns with the Teacher, and Master Teacher Child Development Permits issued by the State of California, Commission on Teacher Credentialing (when combined with 16 general education units.) Students completing this certificate will work effectively with children with special needs and other disabilities in early start programs, inclusion programs, as well as school districts’ classrooms and special education settings. Based on the data, it appears there is an unmet need for individual who qualify to work in early intervention and inclusion services and programs in Los Angeles County. Based on the data, the COE can determine there may be a continued need for the child development program in the Los Angeles County region. Currently, there are four occupations in the standard occupational classification (SOC) system related to the proposed certificate: 11-9031, 25-2011, 25-2051, and 25-9041. In Los Angeles County, the number of child development occupations is expected to collectively increase by 1% over the next five years. The number of special education preschool teachers is expected to grow by 24% over the next five. More than 14,000 job opportunities will be available annually for this occupation group through 2022 due to new job growth and replacement need (e.g., retirements). In Los Angeles County, the entry-level average wage for special education preschool teachers in the region is $40,000 per year, preschool teacher (except special education) is $36,000, teacher assistant is $32,000, and education administrator is $50,000, assuming full-time employment. To identify job postings related to child development, the following SOC codes were used: Education administrators, preschool and childcare center/program (11-9031); preschool teachers, except special education (25-2011); special education teachers, preschool (25-2051); and teacher assistants (25-9041). These are middle-skill occupations, or jobs that require some post-high school training and/or education but less than a Bachelor’s degree. In 2017, there were 3,562 employer job postings in Los Angeles County of middle-skill occupations related to child development, out of which 1627 were for teacher assistant, 858 postings for preschool teachers (except special education), 118 for education administrator and 110 postings for Special Education Teacher. On average, Los Angeles County community colleges confer more than 2,400 awards annually, signaling a possible undersupply of qualified child development workers in the local workforce. There are only four community college in Los Angeles and Orange counties that offers a similar certificate. Students will observe, document, assess, set individualized goals, and implement curriculum required for “Early Intervention” occupation. Students will observe, reflect, assess, set individualized goals, and plan curriculum required for “Teaching” occupation. Students will observe, document, and implement curriculum required for “Teaching Assistant” occupation. Students will observe classrooms and program for regulation compliance, collect data and compile reports and plan of action required for “Administration, Child Development” occupation.

Year 1-Fall CHLD 11 – Child and Adolescent Development CHLD 5 – Principles & Practices in Child Development Programs CHLD 64 – Health, Safety, and Nutrition of Young Children CHLD 73 - Infant and Toddler Development Year 1-Spring CHLD 1 – Child, Family, School, and Community (3 Units) CHLD 6 – Survey of Child Development Curriculum CHLD 68 – Introduction to Children with Special Needs CHLD 85 - Infants at Risk Year 2-Fall CHLD 79 - Infant/Toddler Care and Education CHLD 66 – Early Childhood Development Observation & Assessment CHLD 66L - Early Childhood Development Observation & Assessment Laboratory CHLD 80 - Curriculum and Strategies for Children with Special Needs Year 2-Spring CHLD 84 - Guidance and Discipline in Child Development Settings CHLD 67 - Early Childhood Development Practicum (AND) CHLD 67L - Early Childhood Development Practicum Laboratory (or) CHLD 86 - Infant Toddler Practicum Seminar (AND) CHLD 87 - Infant Toddler Practicum Seminar Field Experience

Advanced Certificate Program for teachers and paraprofessionals working with children with special needs.

Citrus College Long Beach City College Los Angeles Mission College Santa Monica College

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