When Teachers Aren’t Qualified, Your Child Pays the Price

Now that school is back in session, you have likely had the chance to meet your child’s new teacher. Regardless of how kind they might seem, or how well organized the classroom might be, you should also be asking yourself, “Is this person truly qualified to be providing my child’s specialized academic instruction (SAI)?” How to find the answer to that question, and why you truly need to know, is explained below. 

What Parents Need to Know About Teacher Credentials in California

As a parent of a child with an IEP, you play a powerful role in ensuring your child receives the support and education they deserve. One important, and often overlooked, piece of that puzzle is understanding the qualifications of your child’s teachers. In California, special education teachers must hold specific credentials that ensure they’re trained to provide specially designed instruction and supports to students with disabilities.

What Is a Special Education Credential?

A special education teaching credential is granted by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialling (CTC) when a teacher has been trained and approved by the state to teach students with IEPs. In California, the special education teaching credential is formally called an Education Specialist Instruction credential. The three most common California education specialist credentials are: Mild to Moderate Support Needs (MMSN), Extensive Support Needs (ESN), and Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE).

There are several other credentials that relate to specific disabilities and services, such as Visual Impairment (VI), Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH), and Adapted Physical Education (APE). This post is only going to focus on the three listed above.

How Can Parents Check a Teacher’s Credentials?

You can look up any California teacher's credential online using the Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) website: 👉 https://www.ctc.ca.gov

Click on Search For An Educator, then Public Search, and enter the teacher’s name to see:

• Their credential type

• Expiration date

• Any additional authorizations

On that teacher’s main credential page, you will see tabs that also enable you to see their past/archived credentials and any adverse actions taken by CTC (such as suspension).

Education specialists who have been in the field for a while might have earned their credential prior to the new MMSN and ESN credentials. Some common types of older credentials you might see are Mild/Moderate Disabilities (MM), Moderate/Severe Disabilities (MS), Learning Handicapped (LH), and Severely Handicapped (SH). Those are all perfectly appropriate so long as the teacher is working with students who are covered by their specific credential (more about that coming up next).

If a teacher has changed their name in the time since their credential was issued, you might not be able to find them in the database. In that case, don’t be afraid to ask your school about their qualification. It’s your right as a parent!

Once you see what type of credential(s) the teacher has you can take a look at this chart https://www.ctc.ca.gov/credentials/calsaas-information/Appropriate-credentials-for-SPED to see the details of what specific students they are qualified to teach. In a nutshell though, think of disability as a spectrum from mild, to moderate, to severe/extensive needs. Students can be more or less impacted by their disability; credentials are limited by the needed level of student support. For example, teachers with ESN credentials are only qualified to work with students who have extensive support needs (these are students who are typically not accessing the general education curriculum and require an alternative curriculum focusing on functional and daily living skills).

What If a Teacher Doesn’t Have the Proper Credential to Work WIth Your Child?

Sometimes schools do face teacher shortages and hire people with limited/temporary permits or interns who are still in training, they may also have teachers working “out-of-area” (i.e., with students not covered by their credential). If this happens request an IEP meeting to discuss and ensure that an appropriately credentialed person is providing the services in their IEP.  

Final Thoughts

Special education credentials aren’t just paperwork; they represent real training and experience. Understanding what these credentials mean helps you make informed decisions and ensure your child is getting the education they deserve. If your child’s teacher does not have the appropriate credential, you may be entitled to compensatory services to make up for that.

If you ever feel unsure or want more information about a teacher’s credential, don’t hesitate to reach out to your child’s school or the district’s special education department.

Because when it comes to your child’s future, knowledge really is power.