Special Education Teacher Approval

• Establish that a properly certified and endorsed teacher is not available for assignment.
• The candidate must possess a valid Michigan teaching certificate.
• Temporary approval is granted to the requesting school district or intermediate school district (ISD) for a time period of not more than one school year. It is granted only when the candidate is employed in the category for which the request is intended.
• The candidate must get accepted into the appropriate Teacher Preparation Institution that matches the category of assignment. For resource program teacher candidates, this includes any area of special education.
• A request for approval must be received by the Michigan Department of Education, Office of Special Education (MDE, OSE) during the school year (July 1 to June 30) in which the effective date applies.
• A fee of $50 must be paid by the employing district for all temporary approvals in teaching positions (see Public Act 339 of the Public Acts of 1988). Temporary approval will be issued once the fee has been paid. The fee must be paid no later than June 30 of that school year.
• Temporary approval is granted from the beginning of the school year in which the request was initiated or the candidate’s date of employment as a special education teacher, whichever is later. Approval is granted any time throughout the school year for which the approval is effective, but no later than June 30.
• Temporary approval is not granted to teachers in private schools and other agencies that are not included in the definition of special education programs and services in the school code of 1976, section 380.6(8).
• Temporary approval is not transferable from one school district to the next.

Resource Program Teacher Approval

• Establish that a properly certified and endorsed teacher is not available.
• The candidate must possess a valid Michigan teaching certificate.
• Temporary approval is granted to the requesting school district or intermediate school district (ISD) for a time period of not more than one school year. It is granted only when the candidate is employed in the category for which the request is intended.
• The candidate must get accepted into the appropriate Teacher Preparation Institution that matches the category of assignment. For resource program teacher candidates, this includes any area of special education.
• A request for approval must be received by the Michigan Department of Education, Office of Special Education (MDE, OSE) during the school year (July 1 to June 30) in which the effective date applies.
• A fee of $50 must be paid by the employing district for all temporary approvals in teaching positions (see Public Act 339 of the Public Acts of 1988). Temporary approval will be issued once the fee has been paid. The fee must be paid no later than June 30 of that school year.
• Temporary approval is granted from the beginning of the school year in which the request was initiated or the candidate’s date of employment as a special education teacher, whichever is later. Approval is granted any time throughout the school year for which the approval is effective, but no later than June 30.
• Temporary approval is not granted to teachers in private schools and other agencies that are not included in the definition of special education programs and services in the school code of 1976, section 380.6(8).
• Temporary approval is not transferable from one school district to the next.

Teachers assigned to a resource program may hold any special education endorsement. The only exceptions to this requirement are for teachers whose only special education endorsement is Physical Education for Students with Disabilities or Early Childhood General and Special Education.

As per rules 340.1749a(5) and 340.1749b(4) of the MARSE, if a special education teacher assigned to an elementary or secondary resource program and does not have an endorsement in the area which matches a student’s disability, the IEP Team shall determine if a teacher consultant with such credentials is needed to provide consultation, resources, and support services to the resource teacher. This is an important consideration which has implications on free appropriate public education (FAPE) in the least restrictive environment (LRE).

Supervisor of Special Education Approval

Note: Temporary approval may be requested by the candidate’s employing school district or intermediate school district (ISD).

• The candidate must possess a master’s degree or higher.
• The candidate must possess a valid full approval or endorsement in at least one area of special education from the Michigan Department of Education, Office of Special Education (MDE, OSE).
• Temporary approval is granted to the requesting school district or intermediate school district (ISD) for a time period of not more than one school year.
• A request for approval must be received by the MDE, OSE during the school year (July 1 to June 30) in which the effective date applies.
• The candidate must have three years of successful experience in special education.
• The candidate’s Michigan university/college must verify that the candidate is enrolled in a supervisor of special education program approved by the MDE.
• Temporary approval is granted from the beginning of the school year in which the request was initiated or the candidate’s date of employment as a special education supervisor, whichever is later. Approval is granted any time throughout the school year for which the approval is effective, but no later than June 30.
• Temporary approval is transferable from one school district to the next.

Full Approval Policy and Criteria

• The candidate’s Michigan university/college must verify that the candidate completed all training requirements.
• A request for approval must be received by the Michigan Department of Education, Office of Special Education (MDE, OSE) during the school year (July 1 to June 30) in which the effective date applies.
• Full approval is granted from the beginning of the school year in which the request was initiated or the candidate’s date of employment as a special education supervisor, whichever is later. Approval is granted any time throughout the school year for which the approval is effective, but no later than June 30.
• Full approval does not expire and is transferable from one school district to the next.

Director of Special Education Approval

Note: Temporary approval may be requested by the candidate’s employing school district or intermediate school district (ISD).

• The candidate must possess a master’s degree or higher.
• The candidate must possess a valid full approval or endorsement in at least one area of special education from the Michigan Department of Education, Office of Special Education (MDE, OSE).
• Temporary approval is granted to the requesting school district or intermediate school district (ISD) for a time period of not more than one school year.
• A request for approval must be received by the MDE, OSE during the school year (July 1 to June 30) in which the effective date applies.
• The candidate must have three years of successful professional practice or administrative experience in special education, or a combination of practice and experience.
• The candidate’s Michigan university/college must verify that 12 semester or equivalent hours of graduate credit toward full approval have been completed.
• Temporary approval is granted from the beginning of the school year in which the request was initiated or the candidate’s date of employment as a special education director, whichever is later. Approval is granted any time throughout the school year for which the approval is effective, but no later than June 30.
• Temporary approval is transferable from one school district to the next.

Full Approval Policy and Criteria

• The candidate’s Michigan university/college must verify that the candidate completed all training requirements. This includes 30 semester or equivalent hours of graduate credit and a successful 200 clock-hour practicum in special education administration.
• A request for approval must be received by the Michigan Department of Education, Office of Special Education (MDE, OSE) during the school year (July 1 to June 30) in which the effective date applies.
• Full approval is granted from the beginning of the school year in which the request was initiated or the candidate’s date of employment as a special education supervisor, whichever is later. Approval is granted any time throughout the school year for which the approval is effective, but no later than June 30.
• Full approval does not expire and is transferable from one school district to the next.

Teacher Consultant Full Approval

• The candidate must possess a master’s degree in education or a field of study related to special education.
• The candidate must meet all of the requirements of R 340.1782 of the Michigan Administrative Rules for Special Education (MARSE).
• Approval is specific to the category of endorsement. A request for Teacher Consultant approval may be made for each area of special education endorsement.
• A request for approval must be received by the Michigan Department of Education, Office of Special Education (MDE, OSE) during the school year (July 1 to June 30) in which the effective date applies.
• The candidate must show evidence of a minimum of three years of satisfactory teaching experience, not less than two years of which shall be teaching in a special education classroom. Substitute teaching in general or special education classrooms is acceptable in meeting this requirement.
• Private school teaching experience is recognized by the MDE, OSE as meeting the one year of teaching experience that candidates are not required to spend in a special education classroom. Private school teaching experience, however, does not meet the two years of required special education classroom teaching experience.
• Teacher Consultant approval is granted from the beginning of the school year in which the request was initiated or the date that all requirements for the approval are met, whichever is later.
• Teacher Consultant approval does not expire as long as the teacher maintains a valid Michigan teaching certificate.
• Teacher Consultant approval is transferable from one school district to the next.

Transition Coordinator Full Approval

• The candidate must possess a bachelor’s or graduate degree in special education or a field related to the transition of youth with disabilities.
• The candidate must have completed a minimum of three years of satisfactory teaching experience in special or vocational education at the secondary level or a minimum of three years of satisfactory employment providing transition related service to individuals with disabilities ages 13 to 26.
• A request for approval must be received by the Michigan Department of Education, Office of Special Education (MDE, OSE) during the school year (July 1 to June 30) in which the effective date applies.
• Transition Coordinator approval is granted from the beginning of the school year in which the request was initiated or the date that all requirements for approval were met, whichever is later.
• Understanding of outcome measurement and evaluation of transition services.
• The employing superintendent must provide evidence that the following competencies can be demonstrated:
  • Knowledge of transition foundations to develop transition education, activities, and services for students, families, and service providers.
  • Possession of effective facilitation, coaching, and leadership skills at the individual and group level.
  • Ability to engage in collaborative transition service delivery and utilize interagency agreements.
  • Ability to facilitate/teach pertinent transition practices (issues) to support special education and agency staff including:
    • Federal/Michigan Law
    • Curriculum/Best Practice
    • Delivery of Transition Services
    • Interagency Collaboration
• Transition Coordinator approval does not expire and is transferable from one school district to the next.
• Transition Coordinator approval is transferable from one school district to the next.

Early Childhood Special Education Permit Approval

• The Early Childhood Special Education Permit may be issued when a properly certificated teacher is unavailable for a teaching assignment for children with disabilities or developmental delays, per R 340.1795.
• The candidate must possess a bachelor’s degree or higher, including completion of 15 semester or equivalent hours of appropriate professional education credit.
• The Early Childhood Special Education Permit Approval is non-renewable.
• Is effective through June 30 of the school year for which it is issued and may not be transferred.
• The Early Childhood Special Education Permit Approval is not a permit from the Office of Educator Excellence (OEE).

Early Childhood Special Education Full Teacher Approval

• The candidate must possess a valid Michigan teaching certificate with an endorsement in at least one area of special education and a major or minor in early childhood education or child growth and development.
• An employer can request approval for an Early Childhood Special Education teacher if the candidate has a major or minor in early childhood education or child growth and development and has an endorsement in an area of special education. (Candidates who have a ZA, ZS or ZN endorsement with a special education endorsement do not need this approval.)
• Programs may be titled as something other than “Early Childhood Special Education.” However, if more than half of the students in the program are younger than six years old, the teacher must have an Early Childhood Special Education approval.
• A request for full approval must be received by the Michigan Department of Education, Office of Special Education (MDE, OSE) during the school year (July 1 to June 30) in which the effective date applies.
• Early Childhood Special Education Teacher approval is granted from the beginning of the school year in which it is requested or the date that all requirements for the approval are met, whichever is later.
• Early Childhood Special Education Teacher approval does not expire as long as the teacher maintains a valid Michigan teaching certificate. Approval is transferable from one school district to the next.