Nebraska Special Education Certification & Requirements

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Nebraska Special Education

The U.S. Department of Education gave Nebraska at its highest rating of “Meets Requirements” for its special education services. According to ED.gov, 15 percent of students in Nebraska have disabilities, two percentage points above the national average. Nebraska has 253 public school districts, administrating 1,142 public schools. The state also has 226 private schools. The Nebraska Department of Education (NDE) oversees licensure, curriculum and instruction, as outlined on the Teach in Nebraska section of its website. The NDE’s Office of Special Education provides educational and support services to students with disabilities.

Licensure Requirements

For Undergraduates

The teacher certification section of the NDE website explains that Nebraska awards initial certification to individuals who complete undergraduate degree programs that satisfy coursework and fieldwork requirements. Majoring in education or special education is the typical approach; students should focus on the core curricular area and grade level in which they want to teach.

For Graduates

Graduates can opt to enter a teacher preparation program that emphasizes special education, add a special education endorsement to an existing license or pursue a master’s degree program that results in licensure. Consult the NDE for the most up-to-date list of approved programs.

Types of Licenses

The NDE website lists the types of teaching certificates issued in Nebraska and the guidelines for application. First-year teachers pursuing a traditional path to certification apply for an Initial license. Educators with at least two years of experience can apply for a Standard license. The Professional license is granted to experienced educators who have National Board Certification designating them as highly-qualified teachers; candidates with a master’s degree or a doctorate degree might also be eligible for this level of licensure. The Temporary and Provisional licenses allow nearly-qualified candidates to teach for a limited amount of time as they complete NDE requirements, while the Transitional Teacher Certificate allows candidates who hold a bachelor’s degree to fill positions for which qualified teachers could not be found as these candidates complete their coursework and testing.

Reciprocity

Nebraska grants reciprocity to out-of-state teachers holding valid licenses from accredited institutions. Teachers may qualify for a one-year Provisional Teaching Certificate or a Temporary Teaching Certificate if they have a bachelor’s degree but need to complete additional teacher preparation coursework to meet the full requirements for licensure.

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Special Ed Degree Programs in Nebraska

The Special Education & Communication Disorders department at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) offers a diverse range of special education degrees and certificates, for generalists as well as specialists. Famous for its sports teams, particularly football, the school is located in the state capital, the second most populated city in Nebraska. Choices for undergraduates include a dual major program in elementary education and mild to moderate disabilities (grades K-6), a major in mild to moderate disabilities (grades 7-12) and a deaf education pre-professional program. At the graduate level, UNL offers a Master of Education and Master of Arts, both of which allow students to earn an endorsement in special education. Educators who hold certificates in general education can pursue an endorsement in Deaf Education, Early Childhood Special Education, Severe Disabilities/Autism, Visually Impaired, Supervisor of Special Education, Mild/Moderate Disabilities (primary or secondary grades) or School Transition Specialist-Special Services. Students who wish to specialize can complete undergraduate or graduate coursework in Speech-Language Pathology or Audiology.The department also offers an Educational Specialist terminal degree for those who desire post-master’s study but not a doctorate, as well as a doctorate in educational studies with an emphasis in special education.

For profiles of all the schools in Nebraska that offer master’s in special education programs, click here.

Alternatives to Certification

The NDE’s Transition to Teaching program places qualified professionals and recent graduates who hold bachelor’s degrees in accelerated training programs so that they can begin teaching in high-need Nebraska public schools. Educators receive a Nebraska Transitional Teaching Certificate while in training and completing all requirements. Consult the Troops to Teachers Zone 4 webpage for information regarding how eligible military personnel can qualify to teach in Nebraska public schools. Participants must meet the minimum qualifications for a temporary or provisional license before they can work as special education teachers.

Special Education Teaching Jobs in Nebraska

Public schools

The NDE’s Teach in Nebraska website organizes state public school employment openings by zone, grade level and endorsement or subject area.
The AIM Institute webpage maintains employment listings for special education teachers in Omaha public schools.

Private schools

Day programs, a vocational school and school-site support are some of the services offered by Berniklau Education Solutions Team.
Heartland School, located in Omaha, is a special education day school.

Other programs

The Munroe-Meyer Institute is part of the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC). Its Academic Evaluation and Intervention Clinic supports children with learning disabilities, helping them reach academic goals.

Professional Development

Consult the Nebraska section of the Knowledge Delivery Systems website for the current professional development offerings. Courses typically cover issues related to classroom management, behavior, assessment and diversifying curriculum and instruction to meet children’s educational needs.

Nebraska’s Professional Groups for Special Educators

The state teacher’s union, the Nebraska State Education Association (NSEA) is a member-directed union representing 28,000 public school teachers and other educational professionals across Nebraska.
Administrators and other leaders in special education comprise the membership of the Nebraska Association of Special Education Supervisors.
Advocacy, collaboration and research are the primary goals of the Nebraska branch of the Council for Exceptional Children and Disability Rights Nebraska.

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Nebraska Special Education Blog

Autism News: The Autism Society of Nebraska maintains an archive of its online newsletters concerning special events and news related to autism spectrum disorders.