Re: SpecEd Endorsement and Reply to Question
Posted by spedhead on 6/24/08

In answering this question, I should be able to cram info for
both posts in there.

On 6/23/08, JJ wrote:
> Hello to All,
>
> I have a few questions regarding the Special Education
> Endorsement. The thing is, is that I am fairly confused on
> the whole issue. Can one teach SpecEd simply by having the
> endorsement (my degree is in SocSciED)?

Yes.

Did I read
> correctly in a prior post that you only need four classes to
> get this endorsement?

Yes.

If so, what exactly does the
> endorsement "allow" you to teach?

If you get an "unlimited" LBS I, which I believe is all ISBE
issues now, you will be able to teach any special education
class within the limits of your certificate. So, if you are a
type 09 secondary, you can teach 9-12 Sped. If you've taken
the middle school classes, you can teach 6-12 sped. Same
thing with a type 03. You can teach K-8 sped if you have the
middle school classes.

You can teach all fields of special education. YOu could be a
resource teacher, co-teaching "inclusion," or self contained
classroom. YOu could teach any combination of students with
LD, ED, MR, or Phys. Disabilities. The difference: Special
Education "majors" usually get a Type 10 K-12 certificate.
They take many more Sped Courses.

Now, you might think we're looking for them first, and many
times we are for self-contained classes, like an ED or MR room
(though on the ED side we sometimes have to take who we can
get). However, these positions are actually very few and far
between and most special education positions are working with
students in the regular ed environment part or all of the day.

The whole "highly qualified" thing gets involved too. Type
10s have majored in Sped, and may not be highly qualified in
any academic subject. Type 09s may be highly qualified in a
number of subjects, which makes them attractive. BTW, you're
"highly qualified" if you pass the test, even if you have
never taken a course in college on the subject matter.

Where can I find more
> information on this without going to a university advisor
> and being sold into a two-year program?

Yeah, that's a problem. Universities are out to sell their
program. ISBE isn't really out to sell anything, so they
don't have much available for adding the endorsement: Here's
something though:

http://www.cook.k12.il.us/ROEServices/Certification/SpecialEducationApprovals/tabid/101/Default.aspx

Look under Special Ed approval areas. Difference between
approval and endorsement: ICTS LBSI content area test #155.
Approvals are only good for 3 years and are not HQ in Sped.
Hard to get a job with only an approval. You need to take the
test, and then you're fully qualified. That's key to getting
a job with the endorsement.

Roosevelt University has info on this here:

http://www.roosevelt.edu/education/recse/sped/spedmaapprov.htm

I hear they're expensive. I know other schools offer the
program and people add it through University of Phoenix
online, though that program isn't specifically made for IL, so
there are a couple more classes to take than just 4.

Keep in mind, your Intro to Sped course that you probably took
is one of the courses, so some people only have to take three
courses.

Posts on this thread, including this one

• SpecEd Endorsement, 6/23/08, by JJ.
• Re: Another question...especially for spedhead!, 6/23/08, by history certified=no job.
• Re: SpecEd Endorsement and Reply to Question, 6/24/08, by spedhead.
• Re: SpecEd Endorsement and Reply to Question, 6/26/08, by Hollywood.
• Re: SpecEd Endorsement and Reply to Question, 7/02/08, by jeanie.
• Re: SpecEd Endorsement and Reply to Question, 7/04/08, by spedhead.