| CAPSAIS | Certificate of Aptitude for Special Education Programmes for Academic Integration and Adaptation (for teachers of children with special educational needs) | |
| CCPE | Pre-elementary and elementary district committee (for special education), see 2.1.4 | |
| CCSD(s) | Secondary school district committee (for special education), see 2.1.4 | |
| CDES | commission départmentale de l'éducation spécialisée | Département district committee for special education, see 2.1.4 |
| CFG | Certificat de formation générale | general education certificate |
| CLIS | classes d intégration scolaire | Special 'integration classes' in a mainstream primary school, see 3.2.5 and 3.2.5.1 |
| EREA(s) | Regional institutions for adapted education | |
| GCA(s) | Special workshop-classes for secondary-level students with special educational needs (usually integrated in mainstream collèges) | |
| ICT | Information and communications technology | |
| LEA(s) | Lycées for adapted general education | |
| MJENR | Ministère de la Jeunesse, de l'Education Nationale et de la Recherche | National Ministry of Education (Youth and Research) |
| MSUHS | Ministry of Social, Urban and Health Services (responsible for providing a substantial proportion of special education services in France) | |
| NFER | National Foundation for Educational Research (in England and Wales) | |
| QCA | Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (in England) | |
| SEGPA(s) | sections d enseignement général et professionnel adapté | Special general and vocational education departments/ classes for secondary-level students with special educational needs (usually integrated in mainstream collèges) |
| SES | Special education departments in mainstream state or private collèges (responsible for organising SEGPA and GCA classes). | |
| UPI(s) | 'Educational integration units' (which provide special education for young people between the ages of 11 and 16 in units in collèges, alternated with integration in mainstream classes) | |
| AIS | adaptation et intégration scolaire | school adaptation and integration sections |
| CAPA-SH | certificat d’aptitude professionnelle pour les aides spécialisées, les enseignements adaptés et la scolarisation des élèves en situation de handicap | primary level certificate of aptitude for specialist help, adapted teaching and the schooling of students with special educational needs |
| 2CA-SH | certificat complémentaire pour les enseignements adaptés et la scolarisation des élèves en situation de handicap | secondary level certificate of aptitude for specialist help, adapted teaching and the schooling of students with special educational needs |
| CAPSAIS | certificate d’aptitude aux action pédagogiques spécialisées d’adaption et d’integration scolaire | supplementary certificate for adapted education and the schooling of students with special educational needs. Superseded in early 2004 by the CAPA-SH and the 2CA-SH. |
| CAPES | Certificat d’aptitude au professorat de l’enseignement du second degré | Certificate of aptitude for teaching at secondary level |
| CAPE | certificat d’aptitude au professorat des écoles | Certificate of aptitude for teaching at the primary level) |
| CNEFEI | Centre national d'études et de formation pour l'enfance inadaptée | National Centre of Study and Training for Children with Special Educational Needs |
| IUFM | Institut universitaire de formation des maîtres |
| certificat de formation générale | is a certificate provided to students, aged over 16, who complete their compulsory schooling with no other diploma or certificate. In cases of students with special educational needs, the CFG validates the basic knowledge that students in the third and fourth years of SES, SEGPA and EREA classes have acquired in French and mathematics, knowledge of the modern world, and the capacity to adapt to social and professional circumstances. |
| classes d'intégration scolaire | Special 'integration classes' in a mainstream primary school, see 3.2.5 and 3.2.5.1 |
| collège | non-selective lower secondary schools providing compulsory education for students aged 11-15. |
| commission départmentale de l'éducation spécialisée | see CDES above |
| commune | lowest administrative sub-division in France. Communes are responsible for the administration of nursery and primary schools. |
| département | one of 96 metropolitan and five overseas administrations, sub-divisions of the 22 régions. Départements are responsible for the administration of collèges and are further subdivided into communes. |
| école élémentaire | five-year primary school catering for students aged 6-11 in compulsory education |
| lycée | upper secondary school (15+ to 18+), providing the final year of compulsory education and two years of post-compulsory upper secondary education. |
| recteur (de l'académie) | most senior representative of the national Ministry of Education at the level of the région, responsible for the administration of lycées. S/he is a senior civil servant accountable to the (national) Minister. |
| région | one of the 22 administrative authorities into which metropolitan France is currently divided. Each région contains from two to eight départements which are, in turn, divided into communes. The régions are responsible for the administration of lycées and of regional institutions for special education. |
| sections d enseignement général et professionnel adapté | see SEGPA(s) above. |
| région | one of the 22 administrative authorities into which metropolitan France is currently divided. Each région contains from two to eight départements which are, in turn, divided into communes. The régions are responsible for the administration of lycées and of regional institutions for special education. |
| mémoire professionnel | a dissertation on an aspect of special educational needs teaching |
| académies | regional educational headquarters; the local arm of the Ministry of Education |
| Elementary school | See école élémentaire |
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