Kentucky Special Education Certification & Requirements

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Kentucky Special Education

The U.S. Department of Education evaluated Kentucky’s ability to meet academic targets for its students in special education programs as “Meets Requirements.” According to the National Center for Education Statistics, 15.2 percent of Kentucky’s students have been assigned Individualized Education Programs, significantly above the national average of 13 percent. The state employs over 6,730 special education teachers to work in its 1,565 public schools that are organized into 174 districts. The state also has 380 private schools. The Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) and its Division of Learning Services oversee education within the state.

Licensure Requirements

For Undergraduates

Kentucky’s Education Professional Standards Board (EPSB) oversees all matters concerning certification, as delineated on its website. Aspiring special educators must complete a teacher preparation program, verify one year of teaching experience at the relevant grade level, pass qualification exams and submit official transcripts to qualify for a teaching license. The teaching preparation program can be completed at the undergraduate level, as long as the course of study meets all Kentucky requirements for licensure, including student teaching or another form of supervised, mentored instruction.

For Graduates

Choices for graduates interested in teaching students with special needs include enrolling in a non-degree teacher preparation program that emphasizes the area of focus in which they wish to teach (such as special education), or obtaining a graduate degree in education or special education that also awards a Kentucky teaching license.

Kentucky Licenses for Teachers

Kentucky educators can obtain teaching certificates in numerous grade levels, specializations and endorsements. The Base Teaching Certificate can be obtained in several grade levels and one area of specialization, Exceptional Children (Grades 1-12), with an emphasis in learning and behavior disorders, moderate and severe disabilities, hearing impaired, hearing impaired with sign proficiency, visually impaired or communication disorders. Teachers apply for certificate renewal every five years.

Reciprocity

The EPSB grants reciprocity to out-of-state applicants who have completed teaching credential programs and alternative teacher training programs at accredited institutions outside of Kentucky. These candidates must also pass state-required tests; however, the full requirements for licensure may be waived for out-of-state teachers who have two years of teaching experience in the same subject area and grade level in which they earned their out-of-state certificate. Applicants with foreign academic backgrounds and professional experience must meet the same requirements as those who studied in other states. In addition, they must submit all academic records and degrees to an approved evaluation agency.

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Special Education Degrees in Kentucky

EPSB’s Get a Degree to Becomes a Special Education Teacher in Kentucky guide provides key information on how to accelerate your studies and start working in Kentucky special education classrooms. Scroll to the bottom of the page to see a list of Kentucky’s special education degree programs. Western Kentucky University’s College of Education & Behavioral Sciences, located on a hilltop in Bowling Green, oversees the School of Teacher Education. Undergraduates can earn a Bachelor of Science in special education, with a dual focus on learning and behavioral disorders and moderate and severe disabilities (primary through 12th grade); this program leads to certification to teach in a wide range of special education settings. Graduate students can take coursework leading to a Master of Arts in special education with a focus in learning and behavior disorders (P-12) or moderate and severe disabilities (P-12). The department also offers an endorsement as a Director of Special Education and an alternative route to special education master’s degree program. Situated in the metropolitan area of Kentucky’s most populated city, the University of Louisville awards several levels of degrees and certificates through its Department of Special Education. Undergraduates can earn dual certification in elementary and special education, while those pursuing a master’s degree can specialize in assistive technology, autism, learning and behavior disorders, moderate and severe disabilities or teacher leadership (with special education opportunities). The school also offers Master of Arts in Teaching programs for those seeking a certificate or alternative certificate in moderate and severe disabilities, as well as a doctorate in Special Education. Several of these programs are available in an online format. In addition, The University of Louisville is home to the Kentucky Teacher Internship Program, which mentors new teachers during their first year in the classroom.

For profiles of all the schools in Kentucky that offer master’s in special education programs, click here.

Alternatives to Certification

The EPSB has approved eight alternative routes to teacher certification for would-be Kentucky teachers who wish to waive requirements for traditional licensure. These include:

Option 1, Exceptional Work Experience Certification: For candidates with 10 or more years of relevant work experience in an area other than teaching, and a bachelor’s degree.
Option 2, Local District Training Program Certification: For candidates who have completed 30 hours of study or who have five years of relevant field experience.
Option 3, College Faculty Certification: For people holding graduate degrees who have five or more years of experience teaching in higher education. This option is only for those seeking to teach students in grades 8-12.
Option 4, Adjunct Instructor Certification: For people who have a job offer or contract from a Kentucky public school and who have a degree and expertise in a relevant area.
Option 5, Veterans of the Armed Services: For veterans who have a bachelor’s degree in a relevant subject area.
Option 6, University-Based Alternative Route to Certification: For qualified students currently enrolled in Kentucky teacher preparation programs.
Option 7, Institute Alternative Route to Certification: For candidates with an undergraduate degree in a relevant area of concentration who hold a job offer from a participating district.
Option 8, Teach for America (TFA) Alternative Route to Certification: For students who complete TFA’s training program and have a bachelor’s degree as well as a Kentucky public school job offer.

Special Education Jobs

Public schools

The KDE’s Kentucky Educator Placement Service matches qualified special educators with open positions in Kentucky public school districts; however, the KDE recommends that educators also go directly to hiring schools’ websites (included in each job posting) to learn about any special requirements for application. The KDE also maintains a list of school and district websites.

Private schools

Louisville’s The de Paul School provides educates children with learning differences in grades 1-8.

Other programs

The KDE operates the Kentucky School for the Blind and the Kentucky School for the Deaf.

Professional Development

The KDE’s Professional Development Standards guide outlines the state’s policies regarding earning continuing education units. The agency’s Professional Development Training Opportunities Bulletin Board contains announcements about training programs and workshops.
The Kentucky Special Education Cooperative Network consists of nine cooperatives representing every public school district in Kentucky. The cooperatives provide technical assistance, professional development courses, district trainings and specialized services to Kentucky special educators and general education teachers.
The EPSB’s Kentucky Teacher Internship Program supports new teachers during their first year of assignment while providing professional development credit.
Kentucky Educational Television delivers self-paced modules and facilitated courses for teachers seeking professional development.

Kentucky Groups for Special Educators

The state teacher’s union, the Kentucky Education Association, is an affiliate of the National Education Association. It advocates for its membership of current and retired public school teachers, administrators, school support staff and student teachers.
The Kentucky State Advisory Panel for Exceptional Children is a state-mandated group that advises the KDE regarding special education policy.

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Kentucky Special Education Bloggers

Learning Disabilities: Douglas Haddad, author, teacher, and regular TV guest expert on parenting and education, is the About.com Guide for Learning Disabilities. His posts are national in scope.
Mrs. H.’s Resource Room: This blog is about Mrs. Hinton’s work as a resource room teacher and collaboration/co-teaching instructor in grades 3-5, and includes ideas for creative projects.