Meeting Changing Rural Needs: Recruitment and Preparation of Culturally Diverse Specialist Cadres in an Award Winning Rural Internship Program.
Author(s):
Savelsbergh, Mary
Format:
Report
Publisher:
1995.
Language:
English
Abstract:
California State University (CSU) at Chico developed a teacher credentialing program to provide culturally diverse, certified special education teachers for 12 rural counties in northern California. These counties are sparsely populated; include remote areas with difficult access; and contain large Hmong, Meo, American Indian, and Hispanic populations. The CSU-Chico program focuses on recruitment, training, and placement of trainees from underrepresented ethnic minorities as special educators that can meet the needs of rural multiethnic multilingual pupils with disabilities. Highlights of the program include integration of knowledge and skill bases of special education, bilingual education, and general education; early field experiences and career exploration; group or cadre affiliation; research-based instruction; student teaching under the guidance of a professional role model; and mentoring during teacher induction. Application requirements are rigorous, but culturally diverse students are eligible for substantial scholarships. After meeting special education prerequisites, students begin a three-semester credentialing program. Each semester consists of 16 credit hours of coursework plus field experience at a practicum training site. Students may then be hired as teacher interns within the 12 counties, have mentor support, and have 5 years to complete a fourth semester of coursework. Includes an outline of program requirements. (SV)