Educator Resources for Special Education Certification and Professional Development

Texas must maintain an adequate supply of well qualified special education professionals in order to provide quality services for students with disabilities in our state. Recruiting new special educators and retaining experienced special educators are both essential factors in meeting staffing needs. The purpose of this web page is to provide resources for individuals interested in becoming special education teachers as well as resources for school administrators interested in providing effective support and quality professional development for special education teachers. The following sections provide links to sites with information helpful for undergraduates, teachers, and administrators.

Resources for Becoming a Special Educator

Certification Requirements and Teacher Preparation Programs

• The Educator Preparation home page on the TEA web site provides links for current teachers and aspiring teachers with information on becoming a teacher in Texas and approved certification areas and programs. 
  
  
• Additional links on the Educator Preparation home page including Educator Testing and Information for Educator Preparation Programs provide comprehensive information on all certification requirements and exams.
  
  
• Becoming a Certified Texas Educator Through an Alternative Certification Program (ACP) provides information on requirements and links to approved ACPs.
  

Highly Qualified Requirements for Special Education Teachers and Paraprofessionals

• NCLB Quick Links allow easy access to information regarding the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB), including information on Highly Qualified Teacher requirements.
  
• Guidance for Implementation of NCLB Highly Qualified Teacher Requirements for Special Education Teachers excerpts and compiles all references related to Highly Qualified requirements for special education teachers and paraprofessionals from the original NCLB guidance documents.

Financial Assistance

• Be A Special Educator, a TEA grant administered by TAMU-Texarkana, offers tuition assistance and resident teacher stipends to students in special education certification programs at nine universities of the TAMU system and the following four independent universities: Midwestern State University, Stephen F. Austin University, Texas Southern University, and Texas Woman’s University.
  
• Links to State programs (College for All Texans Educational Aide Exemption, College for All Texans Financial Aid, Taxpayer-Teacher Protection Act of 2004, Teach for Texas, Troops for Teachers) offering varying types of financial assistance for individuals seeking teacher certification as well as recent graduates. 
  
  
• Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board provides information on higher education programs and financial assistance in the State.
  

Resources for Teachers and Administrators

Mentoring and Professional Development

• Education Service Centers (ESCs) offer varied training opportunities for mentoring and professional development in each region. ESC Special Education departments provide technical assistance on special education issues.
  
  
• The National Comprehensive Center for Teacher Quality (NCCTQ) is a recommended resource for guidance in addressing issues for teachers serving students with special needs.

Conferences / Organizations

• The Inclusion Works (IW) web site provides links to a variety of resources for educators as well as information on the annual IW Conference. The Conference features sessions of interest to both general and special educators and a Principals Academy for administrators.
  
• The Texas Council of Administrators of Special Education (TCASE) web site offers resources for special educators and information on TCASE conferences and training events.
  
• Texas Council for Exceptional Children (TCEC) has active chapters around the state and holds an annual conference for educators and parents. 
  

Texas Education Agency web resources

• Best Practices Clearinghouse supports schools in meeting the educational needs of all students by providing a means for schools to share information about evidence-based best practices.
  
• The Continuing Professional Education (CPE) link on the Educator Preparation home page of the TEA web site provides information on CPE requirements and links to documentation worksheets and approved providers. 
  
  
  
  

Division of Federal and State Education Policy

1701 North Congress Avenue | Austin, Texas 78701-1494

Telephone: 512.463.9414 | Fax: 512.463.9560

Email: sped@tea.state.tx.us

Updated: February 11, 2011

Copyright Texas Education Agency (TEA) 2007-2012