Section 226.810  Special Education Teaching Approval

Special education approval may be issued by the State Board of Education to an individual who does not hold a special certificate or who lacks some of the qualifications for one of the endorsements enumerated in 23 Ill. Adm. Code 25.43.

a)         Special education teaching approval will be issued in the following areas:

1)         Educable mentally handicapped;

2)         Learning disabilities;

3)         Social/emotional disorders;

4)         Trainable mentally handicapped; and

5)         Physically handicapped.

b)         An individual who holds an early childhood, elementary, or high school certificate shall receive approval to teach in a special education area listed in subsection (a) of this Section if he or she has successfully completed at least one college-level course in each of the following areas:

1)         Survey of exceptional children;

2)         Characteristics of special education students in the specific area of approval sought;

3)         Methods of teaching in the area of special education approval sought; and

4)         Psychological diagnosis for children with all types of disabilities.

c)          Except as provided in subsection (d) of this Section, an individual who wishes to receive special education teaching approval shall submit an application for a special certificate on a form supplied by the State Board of Education and shall comply with such other application procedures as the State Board may require.

1)         If the individual qualifies for a special certificate, the State Board shall issue one and endorse it as warranted.

2)         If the individual does not qualify for a special certificate, the State Board shall evaluate the application for special education approval and either issue such approval or notify the applicant of any deficiencies.

d)         The State Board shall issue early childhood special education approval to an individual who holds either an early childhood certificate or a special certificate in one of the areas of specialization enumerated at 23 Ill. Adm. Code 25.43, provided the individual makes application for such approval on a form supplied by the State Board demonstrating that he or she has successfully completed coursework in all the following areas:

1)                  Survey of exceptional children;

2)                  The development of language in young children;

3)                  Early childhood assessment; and

4)         Early childhood or elementary school curriculum and organization.

e)         Special education approval shall not be limited with regard to time or district of employment but shall be valid only for the special education area(s) indicated and the grade level(s) to which the individual's certificate applies.