(a) “Resource Specialist” as used in Section 80070.2(a)(2) is an individual who provided instruction and services as specified in subdivision (a) (1)-(5) below for two years prior to September 1, 1981; or provided instruction and services as specified in section 80070.5, for two years prior to June 30, 1983, including:

(b) “Prerequisite Special Education Credential” as used in section 80070.2, 80070.3, 80070.4 and 80070.6 means a teaching or services credential that specifically authorizes the teaching of students with special needs as listed in 80047 through 80047.9. This includes the Speech-Language Pathology or Clinical and Rehabilitative Services Credential in Language, Speech and Hearing, including a Special Class Authorization. A Short-Term Staff Permit, Provisional Internship Permit, Emergency 30-Day Substitute Teaching Permit, Emergency Substitute Teaching Permit for Prospective Teachers, Emergency Career Substitute Teaching Permit, and Variable and Short-Term Waivers are not appropriate prerequisite documents.

(c) “Three or more years of teaching experience, including both general and special education teaching experience” as used in section 80070.3, 80070.4 and 80070.6 means full-time experience in one or more of the combinations specified in (1) through (6) below. All experience must be gained in public schools in California. The candidate shall be responsible for obtaining verification of this experience on the official letterhead of the employing agency by the superintendent, assistant superintendent, director of personnel, special education services region director, or the director of human resources in which the teacher was employed.

The minimum amount of general education classroom teaching experience required is one semester of student teaching. Various other general education classroom teaching experiences may be substituted. These may include such experience as summer school teaching in a general education classroom, or organized inservice programs designed to provide teaching experience with general education classroom students, conducted by a school district, or county office.

(d) “Local plan” as used in sections 80070.3 and 80070.6 means a plan which meets the requirements commencing with Education Code section 56205 and is submitted by a school district, special education service region, or county office.

(e) “Educational Assessment”: as used in section 80070.5 includes assessment of students in a comprehensive manner within the authorization of the added authorization using multiple sources of information and a variety of strategies that directly measure a student's performance to meet goals in areas of grade-level academic curriculum and/or functional goals designed to meet the Individualized Education Program (IEP), Individualized Family Service Program (IFSP), and/or Individualized Transition Plan (ITP) goals and objectives regarding eligibility and services that directly result from the student's disability according to state and federal accountability systems. The assessment process may include both formal and informal assessments to evaluate students' educational instruction needs and strengths for the purpose of making accommodations, modifications, and instructional decisions.

(f) “Special Education Support”: as used in section 80070.5 includes participation in the Individualized Education Program (IEP), Individualized Family Service Program (IFSP), and/or Individualized Transition Plan (ITP) process including planning and implementation of the student's IEP, IFSP, and/or ITP; providing consultative, collaborative, and coordinating instruction with students, parents, teachers including general education teachers, and other community and school personnel; planning, developing, and implementing instructional program plans relative to and within the authorization of the added authorization. Special Education Support does not include providing speech, language and hearing, orientation and mobility, or audiology services found in Sections 80048.9, 80048.9.1, and 80048.9.2.

(g) “Service Across the Continuum of Program Options Available”: as used in section 80070.5 means pursuant to Education Code Sections 56031, 56360, and 56361, the continuum includes resource rooms or services; special education settings; general education settings; special schools; home/hospital settings; state hospitals; development centers; correctional facilities; non-public, non-sectarian schools and agencies as defined in Education Code Sections 56365 and 56366; and alternative and non-traditional instructional public school settings other than classrooms.