Special Education

Special Education

About Our Program

Our High-Incidence Special Education program provides education majors with the fundamentals for working with students who have mild to moderate intellectual disabilities, emotional disturbances, high functioning autism spectrum disorders, ADD/ADHD, and learning disabilities. Endorsements are offered for 1)  grades kindergarten through sixth grade or 2) grades six through twelve or 3) preschool through grade twelve. Our graduates can be found working in the special education or general education classroom. Classes meet mostly online, creating flexibility for full time students and classroom teachers pursing continuing education. KICA is accredited by the Kansas State Department of Education.
  • KICA has determined its curriculum meets the Kansas educational requirements for endorsement in high-incidence special education.  KICA has not determined if our endorsement will work for other states.
Endorsement Advantages:
  • The US Department of Education and Kansas State Department of Education both report special education as a teacher shortage area.
  • Teachers with the endorsement are prepared to serve the diverse needs of ALL students in both general and special education.
  • Because additional preparation is required for teaching children who have special needs teachers are more effective.
  • Additional financial aid is available to offset the total cost of education.

Advantages of Our Program:

  •  Online coursework provides flexibility.
  •  Undergraduate students can add the endorsement at no additional cost.
  •  Program emphasizes hands-on experience working with students who have mild to moderate disabilities.
  •  We are accredited by the Kansas Department of Education. 
Conceptual Framework:
The KICA Conceptual Framework serves as the foundation which our High-Incidence Special Education program is built. The framework steps are shown below.
 
KNOW: the high-incidence special education professional educator demonstrates knowledge techniques to meet the high-incidence special education needs of children and youth.
Invest: the high-incidence special education professional educator invests in lifelong learning and ethical principles.
COMMUNICATE: the high-incidence special education professional educator can communicate and collaborate effectively to meet the needs of high-incidence special education students.
APPLY:  the high-incidence special education professional educator can apply research-based concepts, principles, and skills necessary to be an effective teacher of students with high-incidence special education needs.

Endorsement Types

Course Descriptions

Please follow the link below to see a complete listing of course descriptions.

Steps to Apply

Steps to Apply

 
 
Advisement and Enrollment (Step One):


Traditional Student- After completing a plan of study at your home campus, make an appointment with a KICA Special Education Advisor. Bring a copy of your home campus plan of student to the appointment.


Post B.A./B.S. Degree- Make an advisement appointment with a Special Education Advisor at KICA. Bring a copy of all college transcripts. 
 
Contact Information: 

 

Dr. Bev Schottler, 620-241-5150, bev@kscolleges.org 
 
 
 
Enrollment:

  • Enroll in Special Education courses through your member college.
  • Member colleges:
    Bethany College, Bethel College, Central Christian College of Kansas, Kansas Wesleyan University, McPherson College, Sterling College, and Tabor College

Step Two Field Experience Requirements:

KICA's High-Incidence Special Education program includes field experience in the following courses:

  • SPED 310 Foundations for Special Education Services
  • SPED 315 General Methods for Special Services
  • SPED 321 Grades K-6 Field Experience
  • SPED 341 Grades PreK-3 Field Experience
  • SPED 361 Grades 6-12 Field Experience
  • SPED 381 Grades 4-12 Field Experience
  • SPED 431, 433, 451, 453, 471 & 473 Clinical Experiences and Internships

Most courses require an additional 15-20 hours of field experience in addition to the academic requirements.

Documents required for field placements:
  1. Proof of negative TB test within the past three years (check with your placement site to make sure they do not require a more current test).
  2. Proof of $1,000,000 profession liability insurance.
  3. Signed felony statement.
 
Step Three Acceptance (Into KICA's High-Incidence Special Education Program):
  • Application deadline is the first Friday in January before a scheduled clinical or internship.
  • ALL students must be accepted into the Teacher Education program at their home college.
  • Post BA/BS students should contact the education department chair for instructions at the college they are enrolled.
  • Students must have earned at least a 2.5 grade point average (determined by home college).
  • Students must demonstrate satisfactory progress in the program based on ACCK Special Education forms and field-based evaluations.
 Step Four Clinical or Internship Placement:
 
Application for clinical or internship is made in the semester prior to the planned clinical or internship.

Application Deadline:
  • Spring Placement - Third Friday in October
  • Fall Placement - Second Friday of March

Step Five Content Tests: 
 
Students must complete the special education content area test, Praxis II, to receive an endorsement. Students will complete the 5543 Special Education Core Knowledge and Mild to Moderate Applications test.

Step Six Endorsement:

Students will apply, working with the member college on the application, to the Kansas Department of Education for the High-Incidence Special Education endorsement upon successful completion of all coursework