What is the role of a special education teacher?
| 6 Min Read
The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) reports that 7.5 million students received special education services in 2022–23, representing 15% of students in public schools.1 Special education teachers are trained to provide accommodations and services that help students reach their full potential. If you’d like to become a special education teacher who can make a difference in the lives of students with cognitive, emotional or developmental disabilities, you already have the passion and empathy these roles require. You’ll also need the right combination of academic preparation and hands-on experience. As you explore special education degrees and endorsements from Brenau University, consider the primary responsibilities for these professionals and the skills needed to become a special education teacher.
Core responsibilities of a special education teacher
Special education teachers foster academic achievements and build skills that benefit students throughout their lives. While some duties will depend on a position’s unique context, core responsibilities for special education teachers are to assess students’ abilities and needs, collaborate with teachers and community members, advocate for appropriate accommodations and prepare students to thrive beyond their education.
Assess students’ abilities and needs
As they determine their students’ unique abilities and needs, special education teachers develop IEPs, or Individualized Education Programs. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics explains that “Students’ IEPs outline their goals, including academic or behavioral milestones, and services they are to receive, such as speech therapy.”2 Parents, other educators, administrators and health specialists turn to IEPs to maintain a record of students’ progress. An IEP isn’t just helpful—it’s required by law. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) from the U.S. Department of Education stipulates that students with learning disabilities are entitled to IEPs that “meet the child’s unique needs and that prepare the child for further education, employment and independent living.”3 Because it is a legal agreement, an IEP must meet specific criteria provided by the IDEA. Special education teachers need comprehensive training to create and maintain IEPs that meet these standards.
Collaborate with teachers and professionals
Special education teachers are crucial to making a positive difference in the lives of students with learning disabilities. According to Career Explorer, a career matching platform, special education teachers work with school administrators, speech therapists, occupational therapists, psychologists and more to ensure that students receive the specific instruction they need to succeed.4 This collaboration happens via IEPs, where all parties have access to updates and changes. As examples, a teacher’s classroom notes can help a student’s behavior specialist address their individual circumstances, and documenting their differentiated instruction can help other teachers do the same.
Advocate for their students’ accommodations
Because they work so closely with their students, special education teachers become important advocates. Career Explorer explains that “Special education teachers advocate for students with disabilities, ensuring that they receive appropriate accommodations, services and resources to succeed in school.”4 Accommodations can include changes in the classroom environment, extending the time to take tests and learning from other types of media besides print text, according to Understood, a nonprofit organization supporting those with learning disabilities.5 Special education teachers should be prepared to make accommodations, note them in IEPs and keep track of developing needs. Teachers and administrators can reference the IEP and continue appropriate accommodations throughout grade levels and across schools.
Encourage forward-thinking skills
Special education teachers provide support to help students build social skills in addition to academic achievements. According to Parallel, a resource for parents and children with learning disabilities, these skills include communication, problem solving, regulation and more, all of which “contribute to their overall success and well-being” even after schooling is finished.6 Many special education teachers prepare their students to succeed in life after school by creating transition plans. Parallel describes a transition plan as an individualized resource tailored to a student’s goals and skills, ultimately “empowering them to pursue their goals confidently.”6 Transition plans can focus on living independently, navigating employment, continuing education, seeking community support and more.
Choosing a special education degree
Brenau University offers several online degrees and endorsements to help you launch or advance in your special education career.
- BS in Special Education: Pursue certification* from the Georgia Professional Standards Commission (GaPSC) as a special education teacher. Learn to plan, implement and evaluate successful lesson plans for students with mild disabilities from pre-K through high school.
- MAT in Special Education: Pursue certification* from the Georgia Professional Standards Commission (GaPSC) as a special education teacher. Choose one concentration from language arts, mathematics, reading, science or social studies. Gain 9-12 credit hours of clinical experience through student teaching (9 hours) for one semester or an internship (12 hours) over several semesters.
- M.Ed. in Special Education: Learn how to enhance your teaching for students with learning disabilities and prepare for leadership roles in your school or community. In addition to core coursework in special education, the program has one area of content concentration, autism, which is built in.
- Ed.S. in Special Education: Explore the latest special education research and teaching strategies in this program, which is designed for those who hold a master’s degree in special education and want to get an advanced education degree. The Ed.S. helps you reach an administrative role at the district level and can also lead to teaching at the community college level.
Brenau also offers an Autism Endorsement, Reading Endorsement, Dyslexia Endorsement and ESOL Endorsement (English to Speakers of Other Languages) to further enhance your special education career. You can expand your expertise in an additional subject area and provide additional services to students with learning challenges.
How to become a special education teacher
Brenau’s BS in Special Education is a great first step toward a career as a special education teacher. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics states that public school special education teachers need their bachelor’s degrees plus certification/licensure; private school special education teachers, however, may not need certification/licensure past their bachelor’s degree.2
If you’d like to hone your special education teaching skills and increase your salary potential, Brenau’s MAT in Special Education will help you stand out as an exceptional educator. If you’re seeking a leadership role, Brenau’s M.Ed. in Special Education can open doors to positions that influence schools, school districts and the education system.
With a special education degree or endorsement from Brenau, you’ll receive the career preparation you need in fully online courses taught by faculty who are experts in the field. No application fee or test scores are required, so now is the time to explore Brenau’s special education programs. Request more information today.
Sources and Disclaimer
- National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). “Students With Disabilities.” May 2024. Retrieved November 25, 2024, from https://nces.ed.gov/programs/coe/indicator/cgg/students-with-disabilities.
- Bureau of Labor Statistics. “Special Education Teachers.” Occupational Outlook Handbook. August 29, 2024. Retrieved November 25, 2024, from https://www.bls.gov/ooh/education-training-and-library/special-education-teachers.htm.
- Individuals With Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). “Topic Areas: Individualized Education Program.” Retrieved November 25, 2024, from https://sites.ed.gov/idea/topic-areas/#IEP.
- Career Explorer. “What Does a Special Education Teacher Do?” Retrieved November 25, 2024, from https://www.careerexplorer.com/careers/special-education-teacher/.
- Understood. “Common Accommodations and Modifications in School.” Retrieved November 25, 2024, from https://www.understood.org/en/articles/common-classroom-accommodations-and-modifications.
- Parallel. “Special Education Teachers: Roles and Responsibilities.” Retrieved November 25, 2024, from https://www.parallellearning.com/post/special-education-teachers-roles-and-responsibilities.
* All students must pass initial certification before progressing to student teaching. This program is geared toward the Georgia Licensure exam and may not help prepare you for the licensure exam of any other state.