Special Education Teacher Assistant

Build your skills your way.

We invite you to strengthen your skills in our individual courses. Note that this certificate program is currently suspended. Courses may be applied to a certificate only if you are currently declared in a program.
 

Informal Assessments Workshop | June 27

With more than 850,000 students in California receiving special education services, schools urgently need well-prepared support professionals. The Special Education Teacher Assistant Certificate gives you with the knowledge, skills, and credentials to serve as a highly effective paraprofessional in today’s diverse learning environments. Designed to meet California’s growing workforce needs, this fully online program combines foundational early childhood education with specialized training to support children with disabilities.

Grow your skills in the classroom

In these courses you will learn to:

• Integrate early childhood education coursework with specialized special education training.
• Fulfill educational requirements for the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing:
  • Child Development Assistant Permit.
  • Child Development Associate Teacher Permit.
• Emphasize culturally responsive, inclusive teaching practices.
• Prepare graduates to step directly into classroom roles.

These courses provides an accessible, career-focused pathway into education — and prepare you to confidently support students with diverse learning needs in compliance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. You won’t just learn theory. You’ll build practical, classroom-ready skills aligned with real school environments.

Course objectives

• Explain how child development, family dynamics, community factors, and cultural influences impact the growth and education of all children, including those with disabilities.
• Understand the various definitions and characteristics of learning differences in students.
• Apply differentiated educational strategies to support the instructional needs of children with disabilities.
• Demonstrate competency in child development, family/community relationships, and early childhood curriculum to fulfill the education requirements for the Child Development Associate Teacher

Read our new program announcement.

NINET MORADI, M.A.
Instructor/Chair, UCSC Silicon Valley Extension Early Childhood Education Programs

SHARMILA ROY, Ph.D.
Chair/Instructor, UCSC Silicon Valley Extension Special Education Teacher Assistant Certificate Program

ROBYN STONE, M.A.
Coordinator, Santa Clara County Office of Education
Instructor, UCSC Silicon Valley Extension Early Childhood Education Program