What's New

• Effective July 1, 2008 SMP will no longer offer free retakes or allow participants to make-up missed CSET and RICA classes.
• Online Classroom Management and Online Differentiated Instruction courses have been approved for two (2) LAUSD salary points (Effective October 2007).
• CSET courses targeting the January 10, 2009 CSET exam have been posted. Please check the Course Schedule for availability of the CSET Multiple Subjects and Single Subjects preparation courses. If you have any further questions, please call 323-932-4660 and ask to speak with an advisor.
• Free CSET courses and free CSET exam vouchers are being offered for the January 10, 2009 CSET examination. Teacher eligibility for these free services include: - (1) Elementary/Middle School Core teachers with (a) preliminary or clear credentials earned on or after July 1, 2002; (b) Liberal Arts majors; and (c) no subject matter compliance; (2) Provisional Math teachers; and (3) Provisional Science teachers. If you have questions about whether or not you qualify, please call our office Monday - Friday from 8:00 am until 5:00 pm at 323-932-4660 or 213-241-4140. Applications are posted on our Web site under Free CSET Courses. Applications containing SMP policy information are now available.
• Beginning Teacher courses satisfying the 15-hour Provisional Internship Permit requirement are posted under Professional Development Courses: 
  • Online Classroom Management and Online Differentiated Instruction courses will fulfill this requirement.
  • Educational Research & Dissemination (ER&D) - Foundations of Effective Teaching - The completion of any five of the three-hour modules will fulfill this requirement.

Click on the links below to locate the following topics:

Subject Matter Preparation Program Courses

Special Education update

Contact information
Course fees and eligibility for fee subsidy

Which examinations do you take?
2008-2009 Exam administration dates

When you pass your CSET examinations

Course Schedule

>Multiple Subjects test preparation courses
>Single Subjects test preparation courses

>Professional Development Courses:

      Foundations of Effective Teaching

      Online Classroom Management

      Online Differentiated Instruction

Other helpful links:

CSET home page 

L. A. County Office of Education CSET Preparation

The Subject Matter Preparation (SMP) courses are offered to LAUSD teachers, LAUSD teacher applicants, and other LAUSD employees.  The courses provide assistance with the content covered by the California Subject Examination for Teachers (CSET) in multiple subjects and a variety of single subjects.  Preparation classes are organized by subtests and target specific test dates.   We recommend that participants take a maximum of two subtests during the five-hour CSET exam session.   

Courses are typically two to six weeks in duration, held on Saturdays or selected weekday evenings, and precede CSET exam dates.  Course hours vary from three to six hours, depending on the subtest covered. 

By clicking on a particular course, you will generate a PDF application to be completed on your computer.   To enroll in a course, simply print the course application, sign and date both pages of the SMP policy statement, and mail them with your money order.  When we receive the completed application and course fee(s), you will be sent a confirmation of your enrollment.

Due to the differing types of special education authorizations, teachers with questions regarding special education and the corresponding required CSET examinations should call the NCLB unit at (213) 241-2062.

Courses are sponsored by the Subject Matter Preparation Program.  If you have questions after reviewing the information on this site, please contact the program offices at (213) 241-4140 or (323) 932-4660 and ask to speak with an advisor.

Our CSET preparation courses are open to any person interested in taking and passing the CSET. Please see course fees below for reduced fee eligibility.

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Eligibility for Reduced Fees

Reduced fee subsidies are available for any current LAUSD employee including prospective teacher candidates with a written employment offer. SMP must be able to verify employment.

Full Fee Payers

• Participants who are not employees of LAUSD must pay the full fee.

Exam Passing Incentives Continue for 2008-2009

Full-time, contracted LAUSD teachers who pay for these classes are eligible for a passing incentive equivalent to one full exam fee when they pass all of the required exams for the subject area of their assignment. The effective period of the reimbursements is July 2008 through June 2009.  Substitutes and teachers adding supplemental subject authorizations do not qualify.

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Refund Policy

The Subject Matter Preparation (SMP) Program will consider refunds for CSET or RICA courses provided the following conditions have been met:

• Proof of payment can be verified; and
• All course materials have been returned in the same condition as they were distributed; and
• A refund request has been made no later that the day of the participant’s first course attendance; or,
• If you fail to attend any classes.

Retake Policy

Effective July 1, 2008 SMP will NO longer:

• Offer free retakes of CSET and RICA preparation courses
• Allow participants to make-up missed CSET and RICA classes.

Your understanding and support are greatly appreciated.

Rollover Policy

Effective September 2007, you will no longer be eligible to rollover funds from one course to the same course in another session.  However, you may rollover funds from one class to another class within the same session as long as you return all course materials in original condition and tell an advisor during the first class session.   This is only a possibility if the new course is the same cost as the original course you enrolled in. 

Otherwise, your money order will be returned to you.

Registration Policy

CSET Preparation course applications and payment are due no later than the Monday prior to the first class meeting. Applications and/or payment received after this date will not be honored if classes are filled to capacity.  Therefore, we strongly encourage you to register early.  Participants expecting to register as walk-ins on the first day of class or after are in serious risk of being turned away.  There are NO EXCEPTIONS to this policy!

K-8 teachers:   Multiple Subjects CSET

9 -12 teachers:   Single Subject CSET of current subject teaching assignment

Special Education teachers:   K-8, Multiple Subjects; 9-12 Single Subject math, science, or English (See Note below)

Note:  Special Education teachers in grades K-8 must take the CSET multiple subjects exam.  Secondary special education teachers should contact the No Child Left Behind Unit at (213) 241-2062.  You may also visit the NCLB Web site at www.teachinla.com/nclb.html for additional information.

For additional information about the examinations, please visit the CSET Web site at http://www.cset.nesinc.com.

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The good news is that once you pass the CSET in all required subtests in your subject area, you are deemed subject matter competent. However, under the No Child Left Behind mandates, you are NOT YET “highly qualified.” 

To become highly qualified, you must convert to “intern” status by satisfying the following (for LAUSD teachers): 

• Be eligible for continued employment, based upon your site administrator’s recommendation.

• Meet all intern program requirements, including U.S. Constitution, grade point, and any prerequisites, specified by individual programs.

• If applying to a University Intern program, request an “Intern Verification” form which verifies that you are employed as a contract teacher.  You may obtain this form from the Certificated Credentials and Contract Services Unit at Beaudry -- (213) 241-6520 -- or contact the Subject Matter Preparation Program at (213) 241-4140 or (323) 932-4660.  This form is not needed for the District Intern Program.

• Prove admission into an approved intern credentialing program.
  • If applying for a District internship, the District Intern Program will assist you in the conversion process.  Contact them at (213) 241-5581.
• For University programs, request a C-19 letter from the University.  The C-19 verifies application for an intern credential.

• Bring your C-19 letter to the Certificated Credentials and Contract Services Unit on the 15th floor of the District offices at 333 S. Beaudry Avenue.  Based upon your C-19, a Credential Analyst will process a change of credential to convert you to intern status.  You will then sign a new contract.

For approved intern programs in the greater Los Angeles area, click here.

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The following are the beginning dates for Saturday classes:

Classes are held on Saturdays and selected weekday evenings.  Please check dates below for each course offering. 

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MULTIPLE SUBJECTS (MS) COURSES

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SINGLE SUBJECTS (SS) COURSES

Subtest	Course Title	Reduced Fee/Full Fee	Time	Day	Dates
I	SS Algebra,Subtest I	$100/$250	9:00 am-12:00 pm	Sat.	11/8, 11/15, 11/22, 12/6, 12/13 & 12/20/2008
II	SS Geometry, Subtest II	$100/$250	1:00 p.m-4:00 p.m.	Sat.	11/8, 11/15, 11/22, 12/6, 12/13 & 12/20/2008
III	SS Calculus, Subtest III	$100/$250	5:30pm-8:30pm	Mon.	11/3, 11/10, 11/17, 11/24, 12/1, 12/8 & 12/15/2008
I	SS Science, Subtest I	This course is not offered during this session. It will be offered in preparation for the March 14, 2008 CSET Exam.
II	SS Science, Subtest II	150/$350	8:00a.m.-1:00 p.m.	Sat.	11/8, 11/15, 11/22, 12/6, 12/13 & 12/20/2008
	PE, Business and other classes offered by the Los Angeles County Office of Education	Varied Fees			See dates listed on their Web site

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PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT COURSES

FREE CSET COURSES and FREE CSET EXAM VOUCHERS

The Subject Matter Preparation (SMP) Program will offer CSET preparation courses and free CSET exam vouchers to the following teachers:

• Elementary/Middle School Core Teachers (Liberal Arts majors) with clear or preliminary credentials who must meet subject matter competency requirements as mandated by NCLB legislation

• Secondary provisional math or science teachers (does not include those who are obtaining supplemental authorizations in subjects other than the subject currently taught)

CSET preparation courses and CSET exam vouchers are offered at no cost under the following conditions:

• Participants must take the corresponding CSET preparation course in order to remain eligible for free CSET exam vouchers.  The CSET exam must be taken on the next CSET exam date immediately following the preparation course.

• Participants must attend the first two class meetings of each course in order to remain eligible for free CSET exam registration.

• Participants must arrive no later than the first hour of the first class meeting or they will be dropped from the course.

• Participants enrolled in a free course who wish to withdraw from the course* must do so in writing no later than the first hour of the first class.  If participants drop a class after the first hour, this dropped class will be counted as one of the three courses they are eligible to take at no charge for that specific subtest; and, they will waive their option to the free CSET examination voucher for that test date. In other words, both the course and that exam will be counted as one of your free attempts.  * Elementary/Middle School Core teacher must take a minimum of two CSET preparations to be eligible for the free CSET exam voucher. 

• Participants can miss no more than one hour total of class time during the first two class meetings in order to remain eligible for free CSET exam vouchers.

• Participants taking the CSET Multiple Subjects (Elementary/Middle School Core) prep courses and examinations must enroll in a minimum of two (2) CSET prep courses during the same six-week session and take both the corresponding examinations immediately following the prep courses.  If the participant has already passed two of the three required subtests, then s/he must submit a valid CSET score report as verification.  In such a case, the participant may enroll in the one remaining subtest prep course and then take that exam following the course.

• Participants taking the CSET Single Subject (secondary) prep courses in Math or Science are not required to take more than one preparation course during the same six-week (or seven-week) session.  However, if the participant chooses to take more than one prep course during the same session, s/he is required to take all corresponding examinations immediately following the courses.

• Participants are eligible to take each required CSET prep course three times and attempt each required subtest three times at no cost.

• Participants must show current valid photo identification at the first class meeting before entering the class.

• Participants must sign in (and sign out as required) every class meeting.

• Participants who do not take the CSET examination as registered will forfeit any future CSET exam vouchers for the subtest they failed to take.

• Free CSET services are based upon continued program funding.

CSET Exam Vouchers

In order to receive a CSET examination voucher, participants must attend the first two CSET class meetings and miss no more than one hour total of class time for each course.

CSET registration forms will be handed out at the first class meeting.  You must complete it and return it to an SMP staff member at the second class meeting.

If the registration form is completed as required and eligibility is verified, the CSET registration forms will be sent to Evaluation Systems of Pearson (ESP) and ESP will forward the admission ticket to the address indicated on the registration form. 

SMP staff will review all CSET registration forms to confirm eligibility and completeness.  Participants are ultimately responsible for incomplete CSET registration forms.  Failure to complete paperwork is cause for denial of voucher for CSET examinations. 

LAUSD must be identified as the CSET exam score report recipient (Recipient Code 708). 

Those participants required to take two CSET exams will be provided a registration form at the first meeting provided that attendance requirements have been met for both courses.   Participants must indicate both subtests on one registration form.  If the participant does not satisfy all attendance requirements for all required courses, then the registration form will not be submitted to Evaluation Systems of Pearson for that participant.  In that case, the participant will be notified of ineligibility.

Retakes

Additional course books and materials will not be provided for course retakes.

Participants must provide a valid CSET score report in order to receive a free retake.  If the CSET score report is not available in time to enroll for the subsequent course offering, then the participant has the option of waiting for the next session to enroll for a free retake or the participant may pay for the course.  If the participant chooses to pay the course fee and later finds that s/he has passed the exam for that subtest, no refund will be given.

Participants may not retake a free course for the purpose of earning salary point credit, if they already passed that CSET subtest.  

Make-ups

Participants are not allowed to make up missed class meetings for courses offered in subsequent CSET course sessions. 

Participants may not attend another class offered during a different day of the week or different time of day (e.g., Saturday classes) for any missed classes in the same CSET session.

If any course is taken with the intention of making up any class meeting(s) missed in a previous session, then that course will count as one free retake.

Passing Incentives

Once a participant takes a free course s/he is not eligible for a passing incentive. 

Salary Point Credit Statement

All classes that meet for fifteen (15) hours or more are eligible for salary point credit.

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