Case 1

Amanda Case
Historical and Legal Foundations Narrative
The competency of Historical and Legal Foundations connects to the CCTC Common
Standards 10, 11, M/M Standard 25, and TPE 12 and 13. This competency requires the
candidate to demonstrate, at a high level, the ability to orally express or write with artifacts, the
historical and legal foundations of special education that apply to their site; also to show that the
practice somehow aligns with state/district, legal, and ethical mandates. This competency also
states that this must connect with the candidates personal philosophy.
Throughout my coursework in the Education Specialist Credential Program at California
State University of Long Beach, and my training as a student teacher at Enders Elementary in
Garden Grove, I have displayed the competency of Historical and Legal Foundations.
The contents of this section include my EDSP 480 Philosophy of Education essay, EDSP
480 Legal Principles Exam, and two reflective journal articles. All of these documents contain
evidence of demonstration of the competency of this competency. My personal teaching
philosophy, specifically to special education, is expressed through my Philosophy of Education
essay. In this essay, I explain how I believe motivation is one of the most important factors to
teaching, along with recognizing that every child learns differently. In my Legal Principles
Exam, I demonstrate the knowledge of historical and legal foundations through thoughtful,
written responses relating to the important legal factors of special education. In my two
reflective journal articles, I explain how the historical and legal foundations of special education
relate to my experience in student teaching, while giving daily examples of real-life
circumstances.

Case 2
This competency is extremely important to the field of special education, and I feel as
though I have had a multitude of practice with implementing the factors of historical and legal
foundations.