Job description: Most special education teachers work with children with mild to moderate disabilities, modifying their state’s general education curriculum to meet the child’s individual needs and providing required remedial instruction. A relatively small number teach students with severe cognitive, emotional, or physical disabilities, primarily instructing them in life skills and basic literacy. The majority of special education teachers work with students at the preschool, elementary, middle and secondary school level, although some teach infants and toddlers.
Job Summary for Special Ed Teachers
- Like all teachers, special education teachers must be organized, patient and able to motivate students.
- Because they work with students who have one or more disabilities, special education teachers must also be understanding of their students’ special needs and accepting of differences in others.
- All states require teachers to be licensed; for this specialty, traditional licensing requires the completion of a special education teacher training program and at least a bachelor’s degree.
- Some states require special education teachers to earn a master’s degree.
- Job prospects are expected to be excellent due to rising enrollments of special education students and reported shortages of teachers with special education training.
Work Environment
Working with students who have disabilities can be highly rewarding, but it is sometimes emotionally demanding and physically draining. Many special education teachers experience high stress levels from heavy workloads and administrative tasks. They must produce a substantial amount of paperwork documenting each student’s progress, and they often work under the threat of litigation against the school or district by parents if correct procedures are not followed or if the parents feel that their child is not receiving an adequate education. However, recently passed legislation is intended to reduce the burden of paperwork and the threat of law suits, so some of the burden placed on special education teachers may ease.
Most special education teachers work only the traditional 10-month school year, though some schools do offer year-round education for special education students.
Special Education Teacher Training and Licensing
Programs in special education at the undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral degree levels are common in colleges and universities across the U.S. Because of the unique requirements of their field, special education teachers often undergo longer periods of training than do general education teachers. Bachelor’s degree programs in this specialty typically last four years and include general and specialized courses in special education. In the last year of most special education programs, the student teaches in a classroom supervised by a certified special education teacher who has years of practical experience.
An increasing number of institutions are requiring a fifth year or other graduate-level preparation for those who want to become special education teachers. In fact, some states now require a master's degree in special education to enter the field.
Special education teachers must be licensed in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Each state’s board of education or a licensure advisory committee usually grants licenses, so requirements can vary. In some states, special education teachers receive a general education credential, then train in a specialty like learning disabilities or behavioral disorders. Many states offer general special education licenses across a variety of disability categories, while others license several different concentrations within the special education field.
As for advancement, special education teachers can become supervisors or school administrators. They can also earn advanced degrees and become college instructors who prepare others to teach special education. In some school systems, highly experienced teachers can become mentors to less experienced teachers, a practice which can be particularly beneficial to those who work in special education.
Employment Figures, Jobs Outlook and Earnings for Special Education Teachers
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that special education teachers held a total of about 473,000 jobs in 2008. The vast majority worked in public and private educational institutions. A few worked for individual and social assistance agencies, residential facilities, or in homebound or hospital environments.
Because of improvements that have allowed learning disabilities to be diagnosed at an earlier age, the number of students requiring special education services has grown steadily in recent years. Legislation emphasizing training and employment for individuals with disabilities, and educational reforms requiring higher standards for graduation, have also increased demand for such services. As a result, the number of special education teachers is expected to increase by 17% through 2018, which is faster than the average growth rate for all occupations.