How can spec. ed teacher not be licsensed spec. ed?

In the state of Oklahoma a degreed teacher(not necessarily special ed.) may do long term substuting in a special ed. classroom, but the IEP must be written and signed by a certified special ed. teacher for that disability.

Hmm. I don’t believe that was brought to my attention in the IEP. Thanks for the info.

The US has been on a no new taxes theme for years - special ed children are “the redheads in the woodpile” so to speak. To think you can get specialists with the ridiculous low pay, extra requirements, unbelievable paperwork, high caseloads, is ludicrous. To me, special education professionals appear much like the German army in 1945 - a few very well trained veterans, but the majority are warm bodies thrown into the melee. Sorry to be so bleak, but in a country repeatedly voting greedy - it’s only logical.

In my state a licensed teacher can fill in any position for up to three years. This is often the case in special education simply because the need for certified sp.ed. teachers is greater than the amount of teachers certified in special education. Also, the turnover rate for special education is tremendous. In the school in which I teach we have two certified non-special education teachers in special education classrooms. It is an injustice to the students and very difficult for the certified sp.ed teachers. We have to pick up the slack for the teachers because, again they are not trained in sp.ed. We constantly monitor them and provide assistance when needed but it never seems to be enough. I wish there was an answer to the solution and I wish you and your child the best.

Laurie

Ken,

Hope you are feeling better. According to my six years experience with sped I sadly have to agree with you.

This year is great, great teacher and guess what? She borrowed my Great Leaps and is using it with the class and loves it.

Of the five courses I taught for Florida Southern’s certification in special ed program, all three in behavior disorders are no longer required, nor has anything substantive replaced them. The new special ed teachers are going to have to learn on the frontlines. I hope we’re there for them.

IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK,MY STATE, I WAS A FIRST YEAR TEACHER PLACED IN A MIDDLE SCHOOL SPECIAL ED. POPULATION. I WAS, ASND STILL UNCERTIFIED, YET ALLOWED TO TEACH. I LOVE CHILDREN AND TEACHING ON THE WHOLE BUT–– I NEVER RECEIVED ANY MATERIALS WITH WHICH TO UTILIZE IN MY CLASSROOM, SO I PURCHASED MY OWN UNTIL FEB. IN THE SCHOOL YEAR. UNFORTUNATELY FOR MY STUDENTS, AND OTHERS IN SIMILAR SITUATIONS, THEY GET SHORT-CHANGED, FOR WITH NO INSTRUCTIONAL (STANDARDIZED) MATERIALS WITH WHICH TO TEACH, AND VERY LITTLE TO NO ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT, THESE CHILDREN SUFFER AND ARE FURTHER ‘LEFT BEHIND’, NO MATTER HOW GENUINE THE TEACHER’S INTENTIONS ARE, AND ONCE AGAIN UNFORTUNATELY, THE TEACHER IS BLAMED FOR PERFORMANCE OF HIS/HER STUDENTS AND THE ADMINISTRATION APPEARS JUSTIFIED IN PLACING THAT BLAME ON THE PEDAGOGUE.
ULTIMATELY, IN ORDER FOR THE STUDENTS AND TEACHERS ALIKE TO SUCCEED, THERE MST BE PARENTAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORTS IN PLACE TO ASSIST YOUR CHILD’S SPECC. ED. TEACHER IN THIS NATIONALLY SHORTAGE AREA. CERTIFICATION IS THE ULTIMATE GOAL FOR YOUR TEACHERS, BUT PROPER ON-GOING SUPPORTS(MENTORING,PROF. DEV’PT ACTIVITIES) MUST BE IN PLACE. LOBBY, STAY INVOLVED, AND BY ALL MEANS, ASSIST YOUR CHILD AT HOME BY SUPPLEMENTING THE CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION, BECAUSE YOU DON’T KNOW WHETHER OR NOT THE TEACHER IN HIS CLASSROOM IS STATE CERTIFIED AND WE ALL DO WANT THERE TO BE ‘NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND’.