Certification Requirements for Preparing General Education Teachers to Teach Students with Disabilities

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With more than half of children with disabilities being educated in the general education classroom, and federal education law requiring improved learning outcomes for these students, preparing general education teachers to work effectively with all students is critical.

This report on teacher certification requirements in the nine Northeast and Islands Region jurisdictions finds that eight of them require some coursework in teaching students with disabilities for initial licensure of general education teachers. Specifically, it finds that:

• Four jurisdictions require teacher candidates to take a set number of credit hours focused on special education or teaching students with exceptionalities; four others require approved professional preparation programs to demonstrate that courses develop knowledge and skills in this area.

• Two jurisdictions require general education teacher candidates to spend at least part of their student teaching experience working in classrooms with students with disabilities.

• Five jurisdictions use professional teaching standards to outline the knowledge, skills, and practices required of general education teachers to teach students with disabilities.

• Eight special education content areas for teacher preparation were required or recommended by one or more jurisdictions, such as understanding the development of exceptional children; adapting, differentiating, accommodating, or modifying instruction; and participating in field experiences with students with disabilities.

• State education agencies continue to review and update their policies in this area. All the jurisdictions examined either have some requirements in place or are adopting such policies.