Navigating the Role of a Special Education Assistant in LAUSD

The Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), the second-largest school district in the nation, employing 60,000 employees, is dedicated to providing innovative public education. LAUSD is focused on a clear and inspiring vision of the future for all of our students as they venture forward on their journey as lifelong learners. Within LAUSD, the Division of Special Education plays a crucial role in ensuring that students with disabilities receive the support and services they need to succeed. Special Education ensures that the unique needs of students with disabilities are met through additional services, support programs, specialized placements, or environments. Special Education services are provided to eligible students at no cost to families. A key position within this division is that of the Special Education Assistant. This article delves into the role of a Special Education Assistant in LAUSD, outlining the responsibilities, qualifications, and the broader context within which these professionals operate.

The Crucial Role of Special Education Assistants

Special Education Assistants work under the direction of certificated staff, assisting in the presentation of learning materials and working with individual, small groups, and occasionally large groups of children in assigned special education programs in various subject matter areas to reinforce class lessons and assist students in completing class and homework assignments.

Responsibilities and Duties

The duties of a Special Education Assistant are varied and encompass a range of support functions designed to enhance the learning experience for students with disabilities. These duties are performed on-site and in-person. Key responsibilities include:

Instructional Support: Monitoring and assisting students in a variety of subject areas utilizing several instructional materials according to instruction/guidance of certificated staff. Explaining basic concepts of reading, writing, arithmetic and other subjects and reinforces instruction appropriate for each student both in the classroom and off-campus as needed. Providing instructional support per student needs in General Education or Special Education classroom.
Classroom Management: Assisting teachers in maintaining appropriate order and student conduct in the classroom; observes behavior of students to assure safety; assists in resolving student disputes; refers serious discipline problems to the teacher or administrators.
Record Keeping and Collaboration: Maintaining a variety of records, including but not limited to, charting of goals and objectives, District benchmark assessments and behavior intervention documentation based on IEP requirements and assist certificated staff in assessing the continued needs of students. Consults with certificated staff regarding student progress and behavior, observes, monitors and records student performance and behavior. Confers with certificated staff or specialists on programs and materials for students to meet student individual needs as identified on student Individual Education Plan (IEP).
Student Support: Assisting students with activities and development of small muscles and eye-hand coordination; leads activities designed to help students achieve motor control and body awareness.
Clerical and Administrative Tasks: Preparing work areas for reading, crafts and other activities; set up exhibits, displays, collections and bulletin boards. Assists in performing general clerical duties, during non-instructional time, related to classroom instruction and activities, such as typing, duplicating, filing and taking attendance. Prepares, copies and distributes classroom materials and visual aids in support of instructional programs; perform general clerical duties related to classroom instruction and activities; operate standard office equipment.
Supervision: May monitor children on the playground, on educational field trips and during lunchtime; may monitor students getting on and off school buses as assigned.
Professional Development: Attends staff meetings and in-service programs related to the unique needs of the students.
Health and Safety: Performs first aid in emergencies according to established procedures; observe health and safety rules and procedures.

Essential Skills and Knowledge

The ideal candidate for this position will possess knowledge of the physical and emotional needs of children at various age levels, general nature and causes of physical, mental, and emotional disabilities, first aid techniques, and the functioning of special equipment, such as wheelchairs and braces.

Substitute Special Education Trainee

A Substitute Special Education Trainee works on an as needed basis performing beginning-level work in assisting in meeting the physical and educational needs of students in special education schools and classes.

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Qualifications and Requirements

To be eligible for a Special Education Assistant position in LAUSD, candidates must meet specific educational and experiential requirements.

Education: Graduation from high school or the equivalent.
Experience: One (1) year of experience working with children in an organized setting. Completion of two years of higher education study OR possession of an Associates or higher level degree in Child Development, Early Education, or other related field may be substituted for required experience.
Licenses and Certifications: Valid First Aid and CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) certificates. Certificates are required 30 days after initial hire date and must be maintained during employment. Subject to changes in accordance with program governing agencies.
Language Requirements: None

The Hiring Process

The selection process for this employment opportunity will require applicants to view a realistic job preview video, and complete a willingness questionnaire related to the realistic job preview and the general duties that must be performed by all incumbents. In addition, an application screening will be conducted to ensure that candidates possess the minimum requirements for this position.

Application

Complete an ONLINE Bassett USD employment application by clicking the "Apply" button above. All applications must be submitted online. Applications and requests for testing will not be accepted after the recruitment closing date and time. Applicants may be rejected on the basis of an incomplete application or failure to meet minimum qualifications. The application is part of the selection process and is part of an overall assessment of acceptability for employment. All information provided is subject to independent verification of its accuracy. It is the responsibility of the applicant to provide correct contact information by which to be notified.

Note: You will eventually be disqualified in the recruitment process if you fail to disclose relevant information regarding your conviction history. It is the disclosure of the conviction that is most important in many cases.

Screening Process

Applications will be screened to select the most qualified candidates. The screening process for this position, which may be subject to modification, will include some form of a(n): application screening, initial qualifications screening, documentation/certification screening, and supplemental application screening. The stated qualifications for the position represent only the minimum requirements and do not guarantee qualification for examination or placement on an eligibility list.

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Examination Process

The examination plan will consist of:

a. Written Exam (100% of final score) - To Be Scheduled Visit our Recruitment Calendar for more details.

Examination dates may change or be canceled without advance notice. The examination may consist of any combination of a(n): training and experience (T&E) evaluation, written knowledge test, structured panel interview, situational judgement interview, or other type of exam of fitness for duty. All parts of the examination process are job related. Any protest must include rationale to support the protest and shall include supporting documentation or references. Protests must be based on illegal discrimination, abuse of discretion, or procedure/process error. Protests should NOT be based on receiving unexpected results.

Establishment of Eligibility

Candidates who are successful in all screening and testing stages will be placed on an eligibility list. Typically, an eligibility list for a classification expires after one (1) year. Candidates on the expired eligibility list are no longer considered for positions within the class. Eligibility lists may be extended beyond one year or expire sooner than one year. Eligibility lists may be merged, in which case candidate ranks may change.

Selection Process

Candidates on the eligibility list will be called in rank order to participate in final selection interviews with the hiring manager until three ranks of candidates have accepted the invitation to interview. Ranks may include ties so more than three candidates may be called to interview for one vacancy. Please note that candidates will be removed from the eligibility list for declining the invitation to interview more than three (3) times.

Offers of Employment

Official offers of employment are ONLY made by the Bassett Unified School District Personnel Commission office. Offers are subject to satisfactory completion of ALL the pre-employment processing including: successful completion of a drug test, tuberculosis examination, fingerprint clearance by the California Department of Justice, and proof of eligibility to work in the United States.

Advanced Step Placement

All new regular classified employees shall be paid in accordance with the salary range established for the class to which assigned. Initial placement will normally be the first step of the salary range. However, a new employee may receive advanced step placement with an approval from the Personnel Commission. Requests for advanced step must be submitted in writing to the Personnel Commission office before the employee's first day of work. Approval will be based on the following criteria:

a. Additional qualifying experience beyond that required for entry into the class.

b. Additional education at the college level when related to the position, beyond the established educational requirements for entry into the class.

Working Conditions

The working environment for a Special Education Assistant typically involves:

Work Environment: Special education classroom or other special education learning environment.
Physical Requirements: Employees must be physically able to perform the essential duties of a position with or without reasonable accommodation and without hazard to themselves or others. Sit, stand, walk for extended periods of time. Mobility of arms, dexterity of hands and fingers. Ability to speak, hear and visual acuity. Lift, move, carry, push or pull objects and equipment weighing up to 50 pounds. Kneeling, bending at the waist, and reaching overhead, above the shoulders and horizontally. Persons with disabilities may be able to perform the essential duties of this class with reasonable accommodation.

Benefits

DISTRICT BENEFITS ARE FOR PERMANENT (FULL-TIME POSITIONS OR at least 6 Hour/Day assignments ONLY):

Pay increases are subject to the Step Advancement agreement per the CSEA contract.

This position includes the following benefits:

Paid Holidays: Up to 16 holidays per year.
Paid Vacation: Up to 12 vacation days per year. Vacation is prorated based on months worked per year. Employees may earn up to 24 vacation days per year based on longevity with the District.
Health Benefits: For positions 30 hours or more per week.
Childcare & Education: As an employee of the district, your children can enroll and attend school (K-12) at Bassett. Children aged 18-months to 11-years-old may be able to enroll in full day/full year childcare services.

LAUSD's Commitment to Equal Opportunity

The Los Angeles Unified School District intends that all qualified persons shall have equal opportunities for employment and promotion. Reasonable accommodations in completing an application and testing are available to individuals with disabilities.

The Los Angeles Unified School District is committed to providing a working and learning environment free from discrimination, harassment, intimidation, abusive conduct, or bullying. The District prohibits discrimination, harassment, intimidation, abusive conduct or bullying based on actual or perceived race or ethnicity, gender/sex (including gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding/lactation status and related medical conditions), sexual orientation, religion, color, national origin (including language use restrictions and possession of a driverâs license issued under Vehicle Code), ancestry, immigration status, physical or mental disability (including clinical depression and bipolar disorder, HIV/AIDS, hepatitis, epilepsy, seizure disorder, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, and heart disease), medical condition (cancer related and genetic characteristics), military and veteran status, marital status, registered domestic partner status, age (40 and above), genetic information, political belief or affiliation (unless union related), a person's association with a person or group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics, or any other basis protected by federal, state or local law, ordinance, or regulation in any program or activity it conducts or to which it provides significant assistance.

Selection and promotion are based on a competitive employment assessment process. Candidates who pass all parts of the assessment process are placed on a hiring (eligibility) list based on their assessment score. Hiring departments may make job offers to candidates on the top three ranks of the hiring list. Eligibility typically lasts for 12 months.

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