Make a Difference by Earning a Degree in Special Education

What Is Special Education

Special education teachers offer services and support to students who have special learning needs. Their responsibilities often include adapting activities and assignments, providing individualized help, and arranging for accommodations.

Career Landscape for Special Education

Special education teachers work in a variety of settings, including general education classrooms, special education classrooms, homes, and hospitals.

Most special education teachers work with students who have mild to moderate disabilities and are still able to attend school, often alongside their non-disabled peers. Some specialize in more severe disorders such as mental retardation or autism, and a small number provides tutoring services to critically ill children who are homebound or in the hospital.

Special education teachers who work with infants and toddlers teach parents how to encourage their child's development through games and other activities.

Special Education: A Good IDEA

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is a federal law that regulates special education in the United States. It guarantees free public education for students with disabilities such as autism, blindness, deafness, learning disabilities, speech impairments, traumatic brain injury, and mental retardation.

Under IDEA, public schools must create an Individualized Education Program (IEP) for each student who meets the criteria for special education. Special education teachers are an integral part of the development and implementation of IEPs. They help determine whether students should be placed in regular classrooms with their non-disabled peers or in special classes, as well as the most appropriate accommodations and therapy programs for each child.

IDEA also establishes minimum requirements for special education teachers who work in public elementary, middle, and secondary schools. These include a bachelor's degree and state certification. Each state may have additional requirements, such as a master's degree in special education.

Education for Special Educators

Many colleges and universities offer bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees in special education. Students take courses that focus on specific disabilities, learning techniques for teaching mentally and physically handicapped children. They also receive instruction in general education. Most programs culminate in a year of student teaching under the supervision of a certified teacher.

Some special education teachers start out as general education teachers and choose to earn a graduate degree in special education at some point during their career. For these individuals and for other professionals, online degree programs can be a convenient option, allowing them to lay the foundation for a future career in special education while continuing to work. Many online schools grant master's degrees in special education, and some offer bachelor's and doctoral degrees as well.

Earnings for Special Educators

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2008, special education teachers working in preschools and elementary schools earned a mean yearly salary of $52,970, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The top 10 percent earned $78,980 and higher. Mean salaries were highest in New York, Connecticut, Alaska, and California.

The mean yearly salary for middle school special education teachers was $53,540, with the top 10 percent making $78,200 or more. Mean salaries were highest in Connecticut, New York, Rhode Island, and California.

For secondary school special education teachers, the mean annual salary was $55,050. The top 10 percent made upwards of $82,000. Mean salaries were highest in New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Virginia.

Special Education: What Does the Future Hold?

Special education employment is expected to increase by 15 percent between 2006 and 2016, at a faster rate than the average for all occupations. This growth is largely due to recent legislation such as IDEA, better diagnostic techniques, and medical and technological advances.

Special education teachers in the U.S. can look forward to excellent job prospects in the coming years, particularly in inner cities and rural areas.