Program Requirements - Special Education

Special Education License Admission Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university. 
• An official copy of transcripts. 
• Minimum of 2.75 cumulative GPA. 
• Credential review process: Upon receipt of a candidate’s complete application packet, credentials will be reviewed by the CESA 9 Excellence in Teaching Program admissions team. The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) guidelines will be used to determine that the candidate possesses the necessary degree or concentration of courses in the given subject area to ensure basic skills and mastery of subject matter knowledge.
• Completed application with three (3) letters of recommendation.
• A $75.00 non-refundable application fee (payment to CESA 9 by check, money order, or PayPal).
• A current resume.
• Candidate Interview Process: Selected candidates will be invited for an entrance interview prior to final admissions approval. This interview will help the admissions team determine if the candidate has the disposition desired for teaching and meets program requirements. All applicants will be notified of the status of admission (admission approved, admission denied). All admission decisions by the Excellence in Teaching Program team are final.
• A criminal background check. Candidates will give permission for the background check and CESA 9 personnel will conduct the check.

Please contact the Excellence in Teaching Program team at CESA 9 if you have any questions about the admission process or have difficulty fulfilling any of the requirements.

Once a candidate is offered acceptance, the following items are due:

• A $600.00 non-refundable deposit.
• A Wisconsin License with Stipulations, Substitute Teacher, or Paraprofessional License is required before September 30th of the program start year.
• Completion and return of informational packet paperwork: Payment Agreement and Affirmative Action Plan (due by August 15th of program start year, unless hired on a License with Stipulations after August 15)
• Completion and return of the Verification of Experience Working with Children form detailing prior experience of (20) hours working with children. Participants enter the program with either having already completed the (20) hours or will complete the (20) hours prior to the Clinical Experience.

Special Education License Program Completion Requirements

Once admitted, students will receive access to our Handbook, which details all program requirements.

Coursework

• Participants are expected to complete all online coursework. 
• Participants are expected to attend and be engaged for the duration of every face to face class and attend all professional activities as required by the Excellence in Teaching Program.
• Required documents are expected to be done in a timely manner.
• Courses 1-5 must be completed no later than the beginning of the student teaching experience.
• Participants will demonstrate proficiency in the Wisconsin Teacher Standards through reflections, projects, presentations, discussions, artifacts, and demonstrations of their competence through their coursework and clinical experience.

Clinical Experience

The CESA 9 Excellence in Teaching Program incorporates varied and unique experiences throughout the program including intensive, supervised, and supported experiences for both pre-teaching and student teaching whereby the latter is a full semester (or equivalent) assignment. The Clinical Experience will be in accordance with PI 34.023 and 118.19(3)(a). 

Placement in a clinical experience can include:

• District requested-license with stipulations. Candidates must possess a District Requested License with Stipulations. These candidates perform all onsite duties of a full-time educator and are compensated by the school district. These placements meet the requirements of PI 34.023(2).
• Traditional student teaching. These placements will be full time (full school days) for an equivalent of one semester (18 weeks). These placements are not compensated. Placements meet the requirements of PI 34.023(2).

Required Content Competencies

• A minimum of six transcripted credits in each core content area (English, math, science, and social studies) with a GPA of 3.0 or greater. 
• A candidate who does not meet the core content requirement may demonstrate content knowledge with a passing score on the Praxis II Middle School Content Knowledge Exam (5146).
• A passing score on the Foundations of Reading Test (FoRT) or other measure as determined by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction.

Program Fees

• Candidates pay a $75 non-refundable application fee when applying.
• Upon admission, participants pay a $600 deposit to secure their place in the cohort. The $600 deposit will be applied to total program fees.
• Participants sign a payment plan agreement by the first day of Course 1 and are required to make payments by deadlines established in the agreement. 

Click here to view more information about Program Fees.