Office of Accreditation & Teacher Quality

24:15:06:41 Grade K through grade 8, grade 7 through grade 12, and grade K through grade 12 special education endorsement. A special education endorsement requires:

1) Teacher certification and three years of general classroom teaching experience, or special education certification and one year of special education teaching experience;

2) The passage of the state special education teacher licensing examination; and

3) A minimum of a three semester-hour special education practicum under the supervision of a certified special education teacher and university supervisor at each level of endorsement. A K-8 special education endorsement requires a minimum of 26 semester credits with a minimum of 23 credits in special education. The credits in special education shall include a special education practicum of three semester hours. The candidate must demonstrate through coursework knowledge and skills at the K-8 endorsement level to meet the Council of Exceptional Children’s performance-based standards covering: foundations, development and characteristics of learners, individual learning differences, instructional strategies, learning environments and social interactions, communication, instructional planning, assessment, professional and ethical practice, and collaboration.

A 7-12 special education endorsement requires a minimum of 26 semester credits with a minimum of 23 in special education. The credits in special education shall include vocational transition and a special education practicum of three semester hours. The candidate must demonstrate through coursework knowledge and skills at the 7-12 endorsement level to meet the Council of Exceptional Children’s performance-based standards covering: foundations, development and characteristics of learners, individual learning differences, instructional strategies, learning environments and social interactions, communication, instructional planning, assessment, professional and ethical practice, and collaboration.

A K-12 special education endorsement requires a minimum of 27 semester credits with a minimum of 24 in special education. The credits in special education shall include vocational transition and a special education practicum of two semester hours at the elementary level and two semester hours at the secondary level. The candidate must demonstrate through coursework knowledge and skills at the K-12 endorsement level to meet the Council of Exceptional Children’s performance-based standards covering: foundations, development and characteristics of learners, individual learning differences, instructional strategies, learning environments and social interactions, communication, instructional planning, assessment, professional and ethical practice, and collaboration.

Reference: 2001 Council of Exceptional Children’s performance-based standards. Copies may be obtained from the Council of Exceptional Children Web site.

General Authority: SDCL 13-1-12.1, 13-42-3.